Barry Zito Is Back

Barry Zito tips his cap after leaving the field in San Francisco during 5-3 win by Giants over the Rockies.

 

Barry Zito may still have a losing record of 9-11 this season but he has been a different pitcher since the All Star break. Since the All Star break, he has 4-2 after having a 5-9 record before. His ERA before the break was 5.01 and 1.92 since then.

Zito had his last bad outing on July 12 when he gave up nine earned runs in a 10-4 loss to the Padres.

That bad game apparently woke him up and he has allowed more than two runs in his nine starts since then. In that game he gave up only three runs.

In his two previous starts before yesterday’s game, he had pitched back to back games allowing no earned runs in six innings in both contests. He didn’t receive the decision in either game.

The Padres are 3-0 against Zito this season and part of the reason he was 1-6 after the first two months of the season.

He has pitched 162 innings this season only 18 innings less than the 180 of last season but has allowed 42 less runs. He has also allowed 36 fewer hits and 37 less walks.

He has a 30-41 record since signing with the Giants. He may never be the pitcher he was 23-5 for the Athletics in 2002. He was 43-17 after his first three seasons with the Athletics.

During his last four seasons with the Athletics, he posted a 55-49 record and only six games over .500 in that time span.

Zito won’t earn the $18.5 million he is being paid this season, but he could still help the Giants reach the playoffs.

With the Giants one game back of the Rockies in the NL wild card race, he should have about six more starts this season.

If he can pitch effectively as he has since July 12 there is a chance he could be pitching in his first postseason for the Giants.

Note: Pablo Sandoval hit his 21st homer and drove in his 75th run of the season. Sandoval has been consistent all season hitting .333 before the All Star break and .340 after.

He leads the Giants in home runs, runs batted in, OBP, slugging, batting average and OPS.

Sandoval is in a three way tie for the NL lead in doubles with 37. Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Tejada also have 37 doubles.

Ryan Howard is only one point ahead of Sandoval who is sixth in NL  in slugging and trails Sandoval in OPS by .953 to .921.