Giants demote 126 million-dollar ace Zito to bullpen

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — Barry Zito, the 126 million-dollar ace southpaw pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, was demoted to the bullpen, a day after falling to 0-6, the worst record in Major League Baseball.

The struggling starter has surrendered a .336 batting average to rival hitters and posted a 7.53 earned-run average, prompting manager Bruce Bochy to drop him from the starting rotation with no timetable for a return.

"We'll watch and see how things go," he said. "Right now, we're going to leave it at that, that he's going to be helping us in the bullpen."

Zito, the 2002 Cy Young Award winner as best pitcher, was jeered by home fans Sunday as he walked off the mound, having surrendered eight runs in three innings in what would become a 10-1 loss to...