A lot has happened in the Bay Area recently. Lets get to it.
Baron Davis Opts Out and Signs with the Clippers
Baron has stunned Warrior fans by leaving $17.8 million on the table. But he made it up with a long term contract for 5 years, at about $15 million per year with the Clippers.
We feel betrayed. He said he loved the Bay Area. He loved the "We Believe" and the fan support. Now, he just seems like a greedy, arrogant athlete who wants to be paid.
Warriors fans don't know what to do. On one hand, his arrival turned around the franchise and started the "We Believe" mentality. He played all 82 games, and put up 22 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. Baron is one of the top 5 guards in the NBA. He is the best player on the Warriors.
On the other hand, if you look at it, Baron has his downsides. Baron is a guy with a huge ego and thinks extremely highly of himself. He isn't consistent, and has a reputation of being a coach killer because of his ego. Also, this season might have been anomaly compared to his other seasons. The two years before this one: 54 and 63 games played respectively.
Baron doesn't deserve what he thinks he should get. Look at what other elite point guards make. Tony Parker: $11 million. Dwayne Wade: $14 million. Chauncey Billups: $11 million. All of these guys have won championships and made All-Star teams, while Baron hasn't. He is still an injury risk and has a arrogant personality that will hurt the coach. I wonder why Baron thinks he is worth upwards of $15 million.
Barry Zito Flops Again
The $126 million disaster continues. Barry Zito had a good start in Cleveland, allowing 1 run in 6 innings. Giants fans hoped that momentum would carry over and give Zito some confidence. Oops. Zito lost all control, walking 5 batters, while allowing 4 runs in 5 innings.
Zito is now 0-7 at home. It might be the weird shaped pitchers park. The Giants as a team are horrible at home, and decent on the road. This is opposite from all the other teams in the majors, who are great at home and crappy on the road.
Zito is getting booed regularly at home, which makes it worse. He needs to turn it around as soon as possible.
Omar Vizquel’s Struggles at the Plate
Omar just can’t hit right now. He is batting .156, and is 1 for his last 32. Omar still plays great defense, but his offense is hurting the Giants. Omar’s days are numbered. Omar Vizquel’s defense merits some time in the lineup, but his offensive struggles mean he is no longer an everyday shortstop.
Oakland A's Pitching Staff Going Strong
Billy Beane has done it again. Justin Duchscherer, who was a converted reliever, has been great this year. He is arguably one of the best pitchers in the AL. Duchscher took a tough 1-0 loss to the Giant's Tim Lincecum in a game in which both pitchers were excellent.
Greg Smith was again very good, shutting down the Angels by allowing only 1 run in 9 innings. Smith has been solid all season, giving the A's staff a great boost. Dana Eveland, who was acquired from Arizona with Smith, has been good and has exceeded expectations.
Rich Harden has been excellent when healthy. He shut down the Phillies lineup last time out, and gives the A's a great chance to win every time he pitchs. He goes tonight again the Angels. The A's know how to find and develop pitching, thats for sure.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment.
comments (1) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
As far as Davis goes, It's a game of money. His agent probably had the idea, find a fat contract, sign for a few years, and he should be good. It's also true, this might have been his last good year, and wants to spin it for every dollar he can. Time will tell.
With Zito, I think it's pretty simple what the problem is. He's no longer in the comfort zone he had in Oakland. Go look at how the Braves controlled with their pitching rotations. Then, look at anyone, who tried to leave. Steve Avery was a joke. Maddux, while still a great pitcher, doesn't hold a candle to the Brave New World they had. Glavine, same deal, left for money.
Some players enjoy that, and don't realize what it's like once they leave the happy hunting grounds.
Who knows, maybe the Giants will trade him back, but at one heck of a discount to the A's again.
write a new comment