The MLB postseason has arrived, and managers have set their 25-man postseason rosters. For Bruce Bochy and also the San Francisco Giants, the decision was tough. In the end, $ 126 million man Barry Zito failed to make the Giants’ playoff roster. The NL West champs will take the mound with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Barry Zito — with his seven-year, $ 126 million contract intact — will not throw a single pitch as his team competes in the first postseason action since 2003. The financials may cause Giants fans’ and ownership’s blood to boil, but in terms of wins and cuts, Bruce Bochy made the right decision. Article resource – Giants playoff roster omits $ 126 million pitcher Barry Zito by Newsytype.com.
Former ace stays on sidelines with Giants’ playoff roster!
Barry Zito earned more money throughout the 2010 season than any of the 11 pitchers on the Giants’ playoff roster. Zito made more than anybody on the team with an $ 18.5 million salary. The 29-year-old left-hander has had trouble spotting his fastball this season, enabling hitters either hit Zito’s curve hard or watch it drop out of the strike zone. October 2 had been the very first time that Zito had this problem while against the San Diego Padres. The National League West title had been on the line. The performance was sad as Zito forced in multiple runs with walks during bases-loaded. This season he ended with a 9-14 record as he took the loss. The San Jose Mercury News called Zito’s performance “one of the least impressive efforts of his four unimpressive seasons with the team.”
Hard to stop with the long-term guaranteed contract
Long-term deals may seem like a good idea on the surface. However, the guaranteed money that comes from such contracts is astronomical. Barry was intelligent and made this deal at the beginning of the 2007 season. The deal was for seven years and $ 126 million to play for the San Francisco Giants. Zito played for the Oakland Athletics in 2002 where he went 23-5. That was an amazing season that he hasn’t lived up to in any other season since. A highly competitive free-agent market forced the Giants to overpay for the pitching they needed, but seven years at $ 126 million is money only a dominant pitcher deserves within the current market. Zito could get injured, never play again and still be set for life financially. The Giants would be out of luck and out of money.
Citations
Baseball Reference
baseball-reference.com/players/z/zitoba01.shtml
San Jose Mercury News
mercurynews.com/giants/ci_16239259?nclick_check=1
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
stltoday.com/sports/baseball/article_fb8663dd-6c64-5030-8b2d-3b549f4d90cc.html
