The Five Stages of Grief
Barry Zito will no longer wear green and gold. I knew it was coming. I knew we were going to lose Z to some other team that was willing to seriously overpay for his services. Oh and overpay they did. Zito will don the Halloween uni of those clowns from across the Bay for the next seven years and $126 million bones.
I have such mixed feelings about this because I hate the Giants. Not as much as the Angels and Yankees, mind you, but I can't stand that team nonetheless. It was the Giants and their media whore KNBR that initially prompted me to start Athletics Nation. I was so tired of hearing about that team that I wanted somewhere that was Giant free.
Yet here we are full circle whereas I'm discussing the Giants on my haven for A's fans only. Still when the news struck me I found myself feeling those five stages of grief...
Denial: He CAN'T be signing with the Giants. Not that team. It can't be true. We can't be hearing the Giants dingleberry announcers (Jon Miller excluded) talking about Zito for 35 starts, can we? Is this happening? I'm dreaming and it's Vida Blue reincarnated...
Anger: I still hate those Giants. They're old, uncool and decrepit and yet they suddenly made themselves seem much cooler. I can't stand Zito for being money-grubbing and making it clear that he was going to the highest bidder no matter who it was. ARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH.
Bargaining: Well, at least he isn't pitching for the Rangers or the Mariners and is in the National League (which will probably help his pitching stats significantly).
Depression: Ah, forget it, baseball is disgusting and full of money grubbers who have no sense of loyalty at all. I'm done and I'm going back to bed. Please don't wake me up until next November.
Acceptance: Zito is now the enemy. Plain and simple. I've loved the guy for years for that beautiful bender, but he's gone. Forever. He's now tainted orange and black and that's the facts.
Yes, I went through all of that today. It probably would've been a more drawn out feeling had I not known that Zito was already going. The Giants ridiculously overpaid for Zito, but they had to in order to get him and they apparently have the money. And that's the way the market for starting pitching is going, so who knows what kind of contracts starting pitchers will be getting next offseason that might make this contract look small.
At the same time, I'm kind of done with Zito. He's gone to the highest bidder and good for him. But that's his prerogative. It's also mine to decide to forget about the guy. Anyone want a Zito A's jersey cheap?
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I'm ok with it
I won't hold any particular distain for Zito as long as he doesn't pull a Giambi and publicly diss the team, the fans and the city that has treated him so well these last six years.
by OaklandSi on Dec 28, 2006 12:12 PM PST 0 recs
Hmm...
Zito was my favorite player with the A's over the past 7 years, and I'm sad he's gone, but I'm happy that he's going to be pitching close by, and I can go see him on a regular basis if I want to.
I'm not going to go hunting on Ebay for one of those 1989 A's/Giants split caps, but I can't hate the Giants, especially in 2008, when there's only going to be one Barry on the team.
Like I've said in other posts, if you want to get an A's jersey that's going to last, make sure the back says "Beane 11" or "Beane 27" (those were the two numbers he wore in 1989) because Billy ain't going nowhere.
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on
Dec 28, 2006 12:55 PM PST
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Split caps
I bought up all the ones I could find and burned them.
by gregorymark on
Dec 29, 2006 6:42 PM PST
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Wow oh wow.
by matthias on Dec 28, 2006 12:18 PM PST 0 recs
I went through a different 5 stages:
by Nico on Dec 28, 2006 12:20 PM PST 0 recs
don't forget to mention those
by ak_A on
Dec 28, 2006 5:30 PM PST
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we get screwed on draft picks again
by guy incognito on Dec 28, 2006 12:21 PM PST 0 recs
It's okay.
DJ was, what, 7th round? Mark Ellis was 9th. Milton was a 2nd rounder, and we have loads of those.
Mike Piazza? 62nd round draft pick.
We have sandwich picks and 2nd rounders aplenty - we'll do fine.
by Ozzz on
Dec 28, 2006 12:41 PM PST
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Then again
The A's "extra" picks come at 35, mid-50's, low-70's and mid-80's. 2007 is supposed to be a deep draft, but picking 80-something with your 2nd round pick might be pushing it.
by grover on
Dec 28, 2006 1:03 PM PST
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But remember...
In respect of that, I don't see a 1st rounder, a sandwich pick, and a few 2nd rounders as being a bad haul. Especially in a deep draft.
by Ozzz on
Dec 28, 2006 1:43 PM PST
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That happened in '02
by grover on
Dec 28, 2006 3:58 PM PST
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money is quite the issue it was in 2002
by guy incognito on
Dec 28, 2006 7:16 PM PST
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i believe zito...
by AthleticsFanatic4ever on
Dec 28, 2006 4:27 PM PST
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Zito was a first round pick.
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on
Dec 28, 2006 4:33 PM PST
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Zito
by Colorado Fan on
Dec 28, 2006 4:47 PM PST
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And Jeremy Brown and Mark Kiger
by achiappanza on
Dec 28, 2006 5:49 PM PST
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That just goes to show
by Nico on
Dec 28, 2006 5:59 PM PST
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he wasn't in the moneyball draft of '02...
by AthleticsFanatic4ever on
Dec 28, 2006 8:26 PM PST
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Are you sure it mentioned him being in the 9th
It's been a long time since I read the book, but I think it talked about the Zito vs. Sheets issue? And both were first rounders.
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on
Dec 28, 2006 8:44 PM PST
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i think zito was picked twice
by guy incognito on
Dec 28, 2006 10:35 PM PST
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Here's the important stuff
Zito was a re-draft, meaning he had been drafted before 1999 but did not come to terms.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/z/zitoba01.shtml
by grover on
Dec 29, 2006 4:13 AM PST
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Rich Harden
by apilgrim on
Dec 28, 2006 9:50 PM PST
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Rich Harden, 17th round pick
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on
Dec 28, 2006 8:43 PM PST
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So why don't we get a first round pick?...
by SinceIwas7 on
Dec 28, 2006 12:43 PM PST
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because they suck.
by stinkycheese on
Dec 28, 2006 1:20 PM PST
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Impressive, Blez
"It's also mine to decide to forget about the guy"
I'm with you here. Well, as much as I can be, seeing how Zito was never quite my favorite to begin with. He's going to make a boatload of money on a mediocre team. Good for him, blah blah blah. What's next for the A's? That's all I care about right now. Funny how a guy who was so much a part of the team for the last however many years so qucikly becomes a footnote.
by TurnTwo on Dec 28, 2006 12:23 PM PST 0 recs
Gotta agree....
With the A's you've gotta Love the Laundry, Not the Player.
If you love the player, you'll be disappointed in no more than 3 yrs (Chavy's the exception)
by polytician on
Dec 28, 2006 12:27 PM PST
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Zito Jersey
Any suggestions on what I should do with it? Whould I use it to wash the car? polish my shoes? Or just burn the thing, and consider it an offering to the Moneyball Gods?
by polytician on Dec 28, 2006 12:25 PM PST 0 recs
if it's an L or XL ...
by monkeyball on
Dec 28, 2006 12:39 PM PST
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Or you could...
by Ozzz on
Dec 28, 2006 12:42 PM PST
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Go Johnny!
(Go back in time to 1980 and tell some punk rock kid that in 25 years, Johnny Rotten and Henry Rollins are successful TV show hosts, and he'd hock a loogie in yer eye!)
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on
Dec 28, 2006 12:59 PM PST
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Or do what I saw a guy do with a Giambi jersey--
by anomaly_kat on
Dec 28, 2006 1:01 PM PST
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...snakes...
by SF Geoff on
Dec 28, 2006 3:48 PM PST
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Ouch.
by LilAnnieOaktown on Dec 28, 2006 12:25 PM PST 0 recs
I'm with you on that.
by methodrampage on
Dec 28, 2006 1:43 PM PST
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Oh heck yeah.
by Flyin As on
Dec 28, 2006 2:13 PM PST
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agree...
by AthleticsFanatic4ever on
Dec 28, 2006 4:35 PM PST
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Stage #6.......
I can't wait to see the A's whoop-up on Z a couple of times of year in the Bay-Bridge series.
What's the sked say? The first time he pitches in Oakland! Imagine the crowd! Z's patented "rough early innings".....Swisher takes him deep for a 3-run job in the 1st! Pandemonium erupts!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sidenote:
Highest paid pitcher ever? What has the game come to?
by Force on Dec 28, 2006 12:34 PM PST 0 recs
yeah...
But the A's will eat his lunch, taking the curveball low for balls and fouling off the two-seamer. Zito won't get any victories against Oakland this year.
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on
Dec 28, 2006 1:01 PM PST
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Assuming 35 starts this season...
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on
Dec 28, 2006 6:22 PM PST
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Not exactly
Then again, $18 million a year! Holy crap! Add $16 million for the other Barry. For a lot of teams that's half the payroll right there.
by iglew on
Dec 29, 2006 12:02 AM PST
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I'll take the Zito uni......
On the other hand, a fresh start in a new league without the DH may be just the ticket to re-start the clock on his trick pitch of a hammer.
No matter what happens, Scott Boras is THE MAN! Why would any free agent-to-be ever hire any other agent? $40MM more than the next highest bidder? Say goodbye, Brian Sabean.
by BleacherDave on Dec 28, 2006 12:35 PM PST 0 recs
It's not that Boras is the man..
They paid about $8m more for another year of Bonds than anyone else would have offered, even though nobody else was interested enough in the guy to say so publicly.
And here, they've paid about $4m a year more than Texas offered - and Texas are usually the stupid spenders.
by Ozzz on
Dec 28, 2006 1:45 PM PST
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Got over it long ago
-Nick Swisher
by kaweahkaweah on Dec 28, 2006 12:40 PM PST 0 recs
that's exactly how i feel
by xbhaskarx on
Dec 28, 2006 3:48 PM PST
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Three words:
Wait, is that three words or four?
by Ozzz on Dec 28, 2006 12:43 PM PST 0 recs
ahh
by methodrampage on
Dec 28, 2006 1:46 PM PST
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hyphen!
by iglew on
Dec 29, 2006 12:04 AM PST
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I dont see him as an enemy at all...
by OaktownPower on Dec 28, 2006 12:45 PM PST 0 recs
A's / Giants
Living in Colorado, I was glad to see Zito sign with the Giants. It will be fun to tell my Giants buddies, "I told you he wasn't worth the money." As they monitor their heart rates with every Zito start.
Zito is the most frustrating pitcher in the Bigs, and he was only making 8-Million this season. I can't imagine how frustrating it will be when he's making 18-Million per season.
ACE, Zito is Not.
by Colorado Fan on
Dec 28, 2006 1:20 PM PST
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I just never saw why...
by OaktownPower on
Dec 28, 2006 1:25 PM PST
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I'm as puzzled by it as you are
by achiappanza on
Dec 28, 2006 1:32 PM PST
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I can tell you why I hate the Giants.
And the fools who bow to him like he's a god, even though he wouldn't waste spit on them if they were on fire.
And stupid management. And Rotating Name Ballpark.
by Ozzz on
Dec 28, 2006 1:47 PM PST
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hate
by achiappanza on
Dec 28, 2006 2:49 PM PST
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Um...
by Ozzz on
Dec 28, 2006 4:53 PM PST
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Aliens hate Barry Bonds Too!
And this was in November!
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on
Dec 29, 2006 8:57 AM PST
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Do you still talk to Esteban much?
by Ozzz on
Dec 29, 2006 1:39 PM PST
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It's about splitting the market
It wasn't always this way. At one point, the A's were the ones with the better stadium, way more star power, and way more attention (and attendance!) in the area. Some of us long for those days, and blame the Giants (as well as the A's ownership groups) for the decline.
by oblique on
Dec 28, 2006 2:51 PM PST
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When were those days?
Two Words: Crazy Crab
by Colorado Fan on
Dec 28, 2006 4:51 PM PST
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the late 80's....
by BleacherDave on
Dec 28, 2006 9:00 PM PST
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Yeah, I was referring to
by oblique on
Dec 28, 2006 10:29 PM PST
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When "it's" not true
I hate them because they're so bad and we still have to talk about them.
If Barry "wanted to win," he picked the wrong team. 15 wins -- tops. And that's if EVERYTHING goes right. The Giants have 100-loss potential.
by Vacafan on
Dec 28, 2006 2:59 PM PST
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Underclass resentment
Part of the San Francisco media strategy is to badmouth Oakland, San Jose, and other cities, as if they have no culture or class, or (in the case of Oakland) that they're full of slums and rapists and you're risking your life just to get off the BART train. They have to; otherwise they couldn't maintain those high SF property values. The Giants are just part of the general pattern. The San Francisco team gets all the attention, because it's San Francisco which is the real city. Oakland is just a dumb suburb, so our team doesn't matter.
That's why I hate the Giants.
by iglew on
Dec 29, 2006 12:21 AM PST
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Absolutely
by FreeSeatUpgrade on
Dec 28, 2006 1:56 PM PST
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Thanks Blez
by oaklandbbfan on Dec 28, 2006 12:46 PM PST 0 recs
Rob Neyer writes...
The ONLY thing this deal does is make the Giants look ridiculous. Granted, Zito's ERA will get a boost from the National League and the Giants' home ballpark. And this one isn't as dumb as the Mike Hampton deal with the Rockies. But based on the facts at hand, this looks to me like one of the dumber free-agent signings ever. Zito just isn't very good. And if he's worth $18 million per season, Santana's worth $25 million
by louismg on Dec 28, 2006 12:47 PM PST 0 recs
money grubbing? be serious
i don't get the bitterness. he's not the enemy, he's just a giant. personally, if i like a player i tend to keep liking them after they leave. it's not just the laundry for me. i still like watching giambi hit even as i root against his team, and i'll still like watching zito throw the curve. i'll root for him when he isn't throwing it against the A's.
Thanks for the memories Barry -- best of luck to you!
by danh on Dec 28, 2006 12:52 PM PST 0 recs
Really well said...
by OaktownPower on
Dec 28, 2006 12:54 PM PST
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Don't Hate the Player
by ChucklesSD on
Dec 28, 2006 1:28 PM PST
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I don't hate a guy for leaving.
If it's all about the money, then have the balls to say "I'm gonna get my ass rich, man", rather than "I want to be with a team that can win multiple championships," as you leave an ALCS contender for a group of steroid junkies, over the hill vets and departure lounge inhabitants.
by Ozzz on
Dec 28, 2006 1:50 PM PST
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another candidate
by carp on
Dec 28, 2006 2:07 PM PST
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What's to lie about?
by iglew on
Dec 29, 2006 12:28 AM PST
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