Giants put Zito back in the saddle

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 7, 2008 | by Laurence Miedema

PITTSBURGH -- Barry Zito returns to the San Francisco Giants rotation today against the Pittsburgh Pirates, ending the embattled left-hander's 11/2-week banishment to the bullpen that didn't include a relief appearance.

Manager Bruce Bochy made the surprise announcement before the Giants absorbed a 12-6 defeat by the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

"This is a good time to put him in the rotation," Bochy said. "He's had a chance to do some stuff on the side. Barry Zito is a starter. He is going to be a starter for us. We just felt we needed to break it up a little bit and give him a break.

"I don't plan on doing anything different with him. We're going to let him go."

The Giants' opening-day starter and $126 million enigma is 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA in six starts. He was removed from the rotation after allowing eight runs and seven hits in three innings against Cincinnati on April 27. Last Friday was the first time in his nine- year career that he skipped a turn in the rotation.

Zito did not appear in a game as a reliever, but he had two bullpen sessions that he said helped correct some issues, primarily pitch location and being more aggressive in the strike zone early in the count. Zito has allowed 41 hits and walked 15 in 28 innings.

"I think it was good for me to step back and get objective on some things," said Zito, who said he learned Sunday that a return to the rotation was possible but didn't know for sure until Tuesday. "I'm real excited to get back out there again and bring those adjustments into the game."

Zito essentially missed one turn in the rotation, although Bochy said the Giants didn't have a predetermined number of days they felt would help solve Zito's struggles. The Giants didn't need a fifth starter until Saturday, but Bochy said he wanted Zito to take Patrick Misch's spot today so Misch, also a left-hander, could break up hard-throwing right-handers Matt Cain (Thursday's starter) and Tim Lincecum (Saturday's starter).

It's worth noting that sliding Zito into this spot in the rotation is favorable for several reasons.

The Pirates aren't nearly as strong of an offensive team as Philadelphia, the Giants' opponent when they return home on Friday, although Pittsburgh did batter left-hander Jonathan Sanchez and three relievers for 14 hits and three home runs on Tuesday. Zito also won't make what figures to be a highly analyzed return at home.

"We wanted to pitch him out of the'pen, but the way those games went, he didn't have a great opportunity," Bochy said of three one- run games over the weekend in Philadelphia. "Now that that didn't happen, he just goes right back in the rotation."

Although today's start is a pivotal moment for Zito and the franchise, his teammates figured Zito's return to the rotation was inevitable. News of his reinstatement drew a collective shrug.

"It's one of a lot of games he's going to pitch for us this year," center fielder Aaron Rowand said. "It's no different than any other. I think he's going to come out and throw the ball well."

Zito said he was not disappointed that he was unable to test his progress in a game. He came close to warming up for a relief appearance Sunday but had barely begun to stretch when the Phillies scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

"You can achieve those things in the bullpen," said Zito, who pitched a full bullpen session after the game Sunday. "It's me just sticking with a game plan I know that works."

Zito has allowed at least four runs in each of his starts. His struggles intensified in recent weeks. He allowed 13 runs in 6 innings in his last two starts.

Zito's dip in fastball velocity, to the low 80s, has been widely reported, but he reiterated that his struggles are not physical.

"It has to do with just being aggressive in the strike zone," Zito said. "If you're not in an aggressive mind-set, then you are going to nit-pick, and that's what got me in trouble."

How they scored

Pirates third: Gomez singled. Duke sacrificed Gomez to second. On Sanchez's wild pitch, Gomez to third. F.Sanchez singled, Gomez scored. McLouth homered to right, F.Sanchez scored. Pirates 3, Giants 0.

Pirates fourth: Nady walked. LaRoche homered to right, Nady scored. Pirates 5, Giants 0.

Pirates fifth. F.Sanchez walked. McLouth lined out. Bay walked, F.Sanchez to second. Doumit doubled, F.Sanchez scored, Bay to third. Nady doubled, Bay and Doumit scored. Pirates 8, Giants 0.

Pirates sixth. With two out, McLouth homered to right. Pirates 9, Giants 0.

Giants seventh: Aurilia doubled. Castillo flied out, Aurilia to third. Ortmeier doubled, Aurilia scored. Pirates 9, Giants 1.

Pirates seventh: With two out, LaRoche walked. Bautista doubled, LaRoche scored. Gomez infield single, Bautista scored. Duke singled, Gomez to second. F.Sanchez singled, Gomez scored, Duke to second. Pirates 12, Giants 1.

Giants eighth: Burriss walked. Bowker singled, Burriss to second. Holm flied out. Lewis grounded into fielder's choice, Burriss out, Bowker to second. Aurilia singled, Bowker scored, Lewis to second. On Burnett's wild pitch, Lewis to third. Castillo homered to center, Lewis and Aurilia scored. Pirates 12, Giants 5.