Phillips Bashes Zito: "Very Ordinary" (with poll)

by MJB on Apr 11, 2005 6:09 PM PDT

Former GM Steve Phillips jumped on the Zito pile-on today with these comments on an espn.com chat:

Barry started showing signs of weakness in 2004. Left handed hitters dominated him during the season. His velocity has dropped off some and he has difficulty throwing the curve for a strike. Hitters have realized they should take the curve and sit on a mediocre fastball. Zito has become very hittable and very ordinary.

Ouch. A bit too harsh, maybe.

Z needs to buckle down and get guys out. He needs to be better mentally, he's not done physically. I will admit that I'm not comfortable with where he's at right now, and agree that his fastball needs to improve to the point that it can fool hitters.

Phillips also offered the unsurprising opinion that Dotel is here to stay at least until Street has proven he is ready to be big-time in the majors:

Dotel, I don't expect to be traded until they establish Huston Street can thrive at the major league level. The A's have great depth in the bullpen and if they are in the race, Dotel could be a significant chip. I just don't think any trade would happen until much later.

Poll

Barry Zito is....

Making me wish the A's had kept Mulder instead

28 votes

Very hittable and very ordinary

43 votes

Just going through a very brief rough spot

46 votes

About to reel off ten great starts in a row

11 votes

Going to win 18-plus games this season

12 votes

140 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Another Zito thread

I'm conflicted between

and this

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb-thrower

by LowcountryJoe on Apr 11, 2005 7:08 PM PDT reply actions

Hahaha

That's the best Zito-related post I've seen in weeks.

by Vic @ Athletics Nation on Apr 11, 2005 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions

who says

you can't do both?

by Brian in 317 on Apr 12, 2005 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions

May I take some liberties here?

Thanks.

Barry Zito

-Very hittable and very ordinary
check
-Just going through a very brief rough spot [within a long and protracted performance decline].
check
-About to reel off [three] great starts in a row [and then return to the regularly scheduled programming, already in progress (see option two)].
check

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb-thrower

by LowcountryJoe on Apr 11, 2005 7:20 PM PDT reply actions

Oooh...

A guy who got fired from the Mets weighs in about BZ and we're supposed to be impressed?

"He has difficulty throwing the curve for a strike"? Thank you, Captain Obvious.

And let me guess. He chatted about Zito after his recent horrible start. Wow, way to go out on a limb with his opinion. Only 90% of baseball fans agree with him.

Frankly, I respect the opinions of the majority of the people on AN a lot more than I respect the opinion of Steve Phillips.

I'm not going to say any more about Zito; I've posted enough lately.

by almostreggie on Apr 12, 2005 7:52 AM PDT reply actions

Some Truth

There is some truth to what Phillips says. Zito's bread and butter is that curveball. If he can't throw strikes with it he is in trouble. Zito needs to pitch well for the A's to contend this season.

His next start is crucial. If he gets whacked around again it could become a very long season for Zito as well as the A's.

by RudiFan on Apr 12, 2005 8:08 AM PDT reply actions