Zito's first start vs. the A's

by Scottbass on May 11, 2007 4:09 AM PDT Comment 24 comments

Reading online, I saw that if the Giants stay on their current rotation, Zito will start next Friday in Oakland. I have no idea what to expect, but I can't wait to watch. What a bummer that would be to have him miss that series. I'm not sure if the A's are going to rake him out of the park, or just be completely lost. He is known for walking a batter or two though...

What do you guys expect?

Poll

Zito will give up:

3-5 - Average stuff

82 votes

6-9 - A typical Zito flameout involving 2 innings, 5 walks, and three homers

29 votes

0 runs - Z will thrive in the moment at the Coliseum

6 votes

1-2 runs - Kendall gets thrown out at first three times from right field

12 votes

129 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 24 comments

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Comments

I just hope he doesn't get booed.

"Don't your coworkers find a baby on your head to be kind of weird?" ~ salb918

by Poppy on May 11, 2007 8:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd boo.

He wears the wrong shirt.

The Kendall Shift: 6 infielders and 2 catchers.

by Ozzz on May 11, 2007 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd boo too

by Bleeding the Green and Gold on May 13, 2007 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will be there and I will cheer.

If he went to the Yankees or Angels or Red Sox, I would boo, but we aren't competing with the Giants. We're talking about a guy who is a symbol for the great teams we've had under Billy Beane's tenure. He was a hell of a pitcher here in Oakland, and we all need to remember that. He helped us into the playoffs 5 times this decade. In fact, I would go so far as to say we wouldn't have been in the playoffs most of those years if it hadn't been for Zito. There is not enough of a reason to hate the Giants enough so that you can't cheer when you see Zito next Friday.

That said, I hope we hang an "L" on Zito.

by Philip Christy on May 11, 2007 10:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll cheer in the pregame and boo during the game

The only ex-A I seriously boo is Jason Giambi, specifically for his remarks on the Letterman show, and never once acknowledging it or apologizing since. (No Jason, I don't boo because I miss you!)

by OaklandSi on May 11, 2007 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What did he say on the letterman show?

by Amnesiac727 on May 11, 2007 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

top-ten reasons bit

"Have you BEEN to Oakland?"

"San Jose A's of Fremont" makes baby Jesus cry

by ArakSOT on May 11, 2007 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought it was uncalled for

to insult the city as well as the team that had treated him very, very well.

it was the top ten reasons to be glad he was a New York Yankee.

by OaklandSi on May 11, 2007 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus his coquettish behaviour

towards the Yankees and their fans during a playoff series against them.

Irredeemable asswipe.

by green star oakland on May 11, 2007 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I wouldn't cheer either. I give former A's either some "I miss you/still love you" applause (Miggy, Jermaine... Hatte & Kirk next month, too), or else I give them nothing (Giambi). I wish Zito well, but he'd get my nothing if I were going to be there.

(of course, he'll REALLY be getting my nothing if I'm not there... LOL)

"Don't your coworkers find a baby on your head to be kind of weird?" ~ salb918

by Poppy on May 11, 2007 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I hate the Gnats but will cheer Zito. He had some very memorable games here. I can't hate on him just because he's across the bay.

Top of the 9th, two outs, batter pops up on 1st swing to end game. Guess who?

by sf drift king on May 11, 2007 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"we aren't competing with the Giants"

that's not true, we are competing with the giants, for money, fans, media coverage, etc.

but that's WHY a's fans should cheer zito: $126 million

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on May 12, 2007 6:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My prediction:

4 IP, 150 pitches thrown (70 for strikes), 1 H, 14 BB, 1 HR, A's win 1-0.

"I was trying to be too fine. I don't know if I just didn't eat enough breakfast or what. Surf's up, dude! Cowabunga!"

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on May 11, 2007 11:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he deserves a boo in the first inning...

then a round of applause in the second and then that should be the end of it.

Let him hear it for jumping ship to the Giants and then let him hear it for the good memories with us.

"I hate the Angels"

by Vegas A's Fan on May 11, 2007 11:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll be yelling "Lewwww!!!"

Just randomly, representing the surrealists.

Actually, were I going to be there, I'd cheer Barry's intro. He was good to the fans and the team, and I'm happy he got his money (and even happier we didn't pay it). What's not to cheer?

by FreeSeatUpgrade on May 11, 2007 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't really like Zito

but I'll cheer. good pitcher for us.

Sigs cause injuries.

by mikeA on May 11, 2007 12:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll cheer for him during pregame

Once the game starts then he's the enemy. I hope we light him up. Ken Doll gets his only home run this year off 'Z' on a hanging curve ball. Wait, let me rethink that, Jason would have to supply the power. I'll retract that statement.

by 66th ave tailgatter on May 11, 2007 12:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Got jumper cables?

"Don't your coworkers find a baby on your head to be kind of weird?" ~ salb918

by Poppy on May 11, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I expect

...Zito to walk to wrong dugout if he makes it through the 1st inning. If he pitchs well there will be a lot of self serving crap about how he loves Oakland and its fans and he is glad he justified the midgets investment. If he pitchs poorly he will blame it on his routine being screwed up because he is not used to warming up in the right field bullpen at the Coliseum.

by NoeValley on May 11, 2007 4:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll cheer

If for no other reason than his performance against Minnesota in the ALDS last year, beating Johan Santana head-to-head and immediately giving us an unbeatable edge in that series.

Predictions: Like always, it'll depend on whether his stuff's on or not. If he's Cy-Barry, the change is working and he's throwing the hook for strikes, it doesn't matter who he's facing, he should dominate. If he's regular-Barry, I think he could have some trouble, as the A's realize you have to have patience when facing Zito. And if he's bad-Barry, where the curves hang and the changeups are cookies...well, we all remember what that's like.

by Nate on May 11, 2007 4:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs