ZITO'S ZERO SUM: BULLPEN BECKONS / Former Cy Young winner will miss start for first time

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AP: Giants send struggling pitcher Barry Zito to bullpen
Published 4/29/2008 at BBTF's Baseball Primer Newsblog
... Monday by the San Francisco Giants, who hope the former ace can correct his problems by working in relief. Zito, who only 16 months ago signed a $126 million, seven-year contract with the Giants to lead their rotation, was informed of the move in a meeting with manager Bruce Bochy. The left-hander has lost his first six starts this season and has a 7.53 ERA that jumped considerably after Zito was tagged for eight earned runs in a 10-1 loss Sunday to Cincinnati. SF Chronicle: Zito Demoted to Bullpen

Schadenfreude is the best kind of freude
Published 4/29/2008 by Colin Wyers at GoatRiders of the Apocalypse -
Do you remember where you were when you learned that the Cubs, given the choice between Jason Schmidt, Barry Zito and Ted Lilly, signed Ted Lilly? Were you frustrated? Despondent? Well, maybe this will brighten your day: One year and one month into his seven-year contract, Barry Zito has become the most expensive long reliever in the history of baseball. The man who leads the majors in starts the past eight seasons will miss his turn in the rotation for the first time in his career. Zito, who's 0-6 with a 7.53, was told by Giants manager Bruce ...

Moving Zito to the bullpen is the wrong move...
Published 4/29/2008 by The Big Picture at The Big Picture
...because the Giants should send him back to the minors. But that's not the case, unfortunately. The Giants have a $126 million long reliever. Barry Zito is heading to the bullpen. Zito was told the news before Monday's game, one day after he surrendered eight earned runs in three innings to the Reds and fell to 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA. "Barry is all for doing whatever he can to help the club," Bochy said. "This is the best for Barry and the ball club right now."No. No it's not. If Giants brass ...

Giants Completely Mishandling Barry Zito
Published 4/29/2008 by Larry Brown at Larry Brown Sports
... Sure it would be funny to make some crack about Barry Zito being the most expensive long reliever in history, but that would be trite. I don’t feel like piling onto Barry even though people say it’s hard to sympathize with a man making $126 million. He signed the contract, he made the choice, he has to deal with the pressure, should we all be so unfortunate. But I think there are a few problems here that the Giants are making to magnify the situation rather than ameliorate it. All parties want Zito to be pitching well and starting ...

Tony Romo, the perils of gambling and the U.S. Open
Published 4/29/2008 by Chip's Moody Blues at Uwe Blog
... Terrell Owens is being sued by the Eagles. **** Tony Romo's losing $2.5 million gambling. **** The bet had nothing to do with him making golf's U.S. Open. **** Believe or not, arena football has rivalries. And they involve Jon Bon Jovi. **** Say what you want about GM Jon Daniels, but he didn't shell out the money for Barry Zito. **** I'll generally stop down for any Gerry Fraley pieces. Sorry he's no longer at the News. **** Jeff Pearlman: best writer at the World Wide ...