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I couldn’t help but chime in on the Barry Zito fiasco in my newspaper. The situation with Giants is too idiotic, and just painful to watch.
Although, I’m sure I’ll be eating those words in the next few weeks as they make a turn for the better.
Here’s a clip of what I wrote in today’s Union:
Let me tell you something, $126 million can mess with a man’s head. Zito strolled into the Cactus League with a new swagger and apparently a new throwing motion for the 2007 season, much to the dismay of pitching coach Dave Righetti.
“If he feels like it’s going to be successful for him, he knows what he’s been doing the last six, seven years, and all through high school and college,” Righetti told the San Francisco Chronicle in February 2007. “At some point, you have to trust him. We’ll work off of that.”
All of which just leaves you to wonder, who was going to rein this guy in?
Now take a look at the 2008 team, encouraged by embattled Matt Cain, who received the fourth-lowest run support in the majors (3.53) during the 2007 season, while Tim Lincecum and Noah Lowry were surprising upstarts. With the other Barry leaving, the focus for the organization was supposed to shift to these young guys and prop them up for a “hopeful” 2008 year.
Somewhere, the politics of a ballclub veered horribly wrong …
T.O. can’t stay out of the news, even in the offseason after enjoying his most productive season in a while. Looks like the horrors of the Philadelphia experience are still following this playmaker. The Eagles filed suit against Owens, trying to recoup $767,000 in bonus money from the 2004-05 season. Owens lost the money in arbitration earlier this year.
In my mind, what the hell do the eagles need $700,000 from Owens for? In fact, why would they try and recoup his bonus money when they withheld his game checks after benching him toward the end of the 2005-06 season?
This just feeds to the whole mentality that the NFL owners and franchises are crooks when it comes to paying players. There are already no guaranteed contracts. (Just yesterday, Dominic Rhodes got released from the Raiders for goodness sake after he restructured his deal to stay with the team!)
I’m pretty sure that if any of major leagues were hated by pro athletes, it would have to start with the NFL. From first round draft picks being thrown money at (something veterans have disdain for) to the fact that virtually no contract is safe from the cutting block, the NFL cannot eschew contempt.
Wow. In one word: amazing. Manager Bruce Bochy may actually be showing some cajones with this one, possibly sending struggling San Francisco Giants ace Barry Zito to the pen after another humiliating performance Sunday in which he gave up six runs in the first inning en route to a 10-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Zito is 0-6 on the year and has struggled to throw strikes and compete with batters. In fact, his velocity has slowed as well, barely reaching 90 MPH.
“We’ve got to do something,” said Bochy, after Zito allowed a six-run first inning. “We can’t keep doing what we’re doing and getting what we’re getting.”
I have to say, this may be a good move for the Giants in the long run, even with Kevin Correira on the 15-day disable list right now. If Zito can find his spark in a relief role, this will free up a four-man rotation right now for Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez and newbie Pat Misch, who pitched in relief of Zito only allowing two runs in six innings.
I am all for this. It could be a wake up call that the Giants who everyone, including myself, expect to hit 100 losses, is not going to take it. And for the first time, Bochy is acting like a manager should and stepping to the plate to fix an error when it should be addressed — albeit a bit late.
It’s weird knowing cats who get to the NFL, the NBA, and so on and so on. It’s like I went to Penn State instead of Chico State.
I was catching up on all the draft coverage this weekend, particularly with the 49ers, and came across a gem. Larry Grant, a Bay Area guy and Ohio State graduate, was drafted in the seventh round by my team.
I remember him specifically for a couple of reasons. He played for City College of San Francisco when I was there and was actually covering the team. He was one of a few linebackers on the team that were highly touted all over the country. The other, more glamorous player jumped to the NFL. You may have heard of him: Desmond Bishop.
But even weirder, here we are passing another draft with the 49ers jumping on the local guy who can possibly help in a position that needs solidifying. Last year, it was my good friend Jason Hill, who I wrote about when I was attending the 49ers’ training camp for the Marin Independent Journal and in this blog.
This marks the fifth major Bay Area athlete to make it to the pro level in the last couple of years (add Leon Powe of the Boston Celtics to that list along with Eric Wright of the Cleveland Browns.)
I think this is a good opportunity to pull out the contact list and call these guys up.
You know what, scratch that.
I’m going down to Santa Clara to write a story on this. Mini-camp is this upcoming Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I’ll be there.
So if you have any questions you want answered from these Bay Area natives, or any other 49ers players or coaches, let me know before Friday rolls around. I’ll ask all the questions that don’t make me look like an idiot.
With the 29th pick in the NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected North Carolina defensive end Kentwan Balmer and then with the 39th overall pick selected offensive guard Chilo Rachal from USC.
These guys, I’m pretty sure, are supposed to solidify the scraps of a 25th ranked defense and the league’s worst offense.
Grade: B-
The 49ers get no love for surprise or for the talents of their picks but they definitely aren’t hurt by the selections. With Baas going down last week and Larry Allen likely retiring, an offensive lineman was critical for the 49ers to protect Alex Smith or Shaun Hill as well as keep the running game going. Just as well, Balmer can fit easily into the 3-4 defense the 49ers have implemented. They’ll see the benefit of a 6 feet, 5 inch and 298-pound lineman. That’s nothing but a plus.
Looks like your boy Justin Forsett is still taking a back burner in the Raiders’ plans. Darren McFadden changes the dynamic of the Raiders for sure, especially with now a strong running game and of course, the quarterback of the future JaMarcus Russell.
My grade on the pick: A-. He was the best player available. The other possible option would have been another defensive piece to replace Warren Sapp (Glen Dorsey) or take a wide receiver to help the cast on the team (Desean Jackson). Overall though, smart move with talent and depth in those other areas.
This has got to be some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever read from Mr. Rod Benson, blogger for Yahoo, NBA D-leaguer and owner of his own TooMuchRodBenson.com.
Here’s just a snippet of what I’m talking about from his readers:
Pistol Pete never turned the ball over ever. The numbers that indicated otherwise on stat sheets were on the order of Pistol himself, just to show his supreme humility; one among many of his countless outstanding qualities.
Pistol Pete knows where Carmen San Diego is.”
The 3PT line wasn’t ready like spaghetti for Pistol Pete
The Pistol often pissed his name onto the opposing teams locker rooms just like we piss our names into snow. Most of the floors had to be replaced becase of the seriousness of his piss’ architectual damage.
Pistol Petes calander goes straight from the 31st March to the 2nd of April - No one fools pistol Pete.
In the interest of defeating stupidity, Josh Howard only thinks he’s being honest. He really does mean well, that is, by telling people what he does and that he controls it. Too bad he doesn’t control his mouth.
The dopest white boy in college basketball (yes, even better than Kevin Love) is staying in the minor leagues. And I say, good for him.
Let me point this out: Underclassmen should stay in school all four years. I know the money is tempting. In fact, if I had millions waved in my face I would probably think twice about saying this. But in reality, however enticing the money is, the product is hurting. That’s you (mr. college basketball all-star) and college basketball in itself. Furthermore, the money isn’t going anywhere.
I can’t help but think of the reasons David Stern and the NBA instituted the one year out of high school rule, which is now failing miserably because folks like Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and now Kevin Love jump after one pretty good season. There are countless others who I don’t remember, that aren’t getting the same acclaim these guys are getting (at least now) because they didn’t refine their skills on the college level and give scouts as well as NBA coaches a chance to evaluate them over time.
The latter being the reason why that 1-year rule was put out there in the first place.
Why not take the benefits of a college education seriously? Why not, get the degree, get the girl, then get the money? Hell, isn’t that what being a college athlete is all about?
With the 29th pick in the NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected North Carolina defensive end 
The 49ers get no love for surprise or for the talents of their picks but they definitely aren’t hurt by the selections. With Baas going down last week and Larry Allen likely retiring, an offensive lineman was critical for the 49ers to protect Alex Smith or Shaun Hill as well as keep the running game going. Just as well, Balmer can fit easily into the 3-4 defense the 49ers have implemented. They’ll see the benefit of a 6 feet, 5 inch and 298-pound lineman. That’s nothing but a plus.
