Marty Lurie Talks San Francisco Giants Baseball
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Barry Zito a late Christmas present

It was not until Thursday the 28th day of December 2006 that Santa Claus made a late stop at Giants fans with a huge 7-year $126 million contract and Barry Zito will not have not move from his residence in San Francisco, he will pitch just a few minutes away at ATT Park in 2007.

When the Giants acquired lefty Barry Zito they got considerably stronger in their starting rotation,one still young with Matt Cain and Noah Lowry.
The 7-year deal at $126 million for the 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner is the largest ever given to a pitcher. Zito also has an option of $18 million for the 2014 season. At 28 years old he is at the prime of his pitching career and with a 102-63 3.55 record Barry Zito has been one of the top starters in the business. In a year where mediocre pitchers like Gil Meche and Jeff Suppan got over $10 million per year contracts,it is only logical that the best Free Agent pitcher in the market got the most lucrative contract.

There was little doubt that Giants fans were not happy this off season with the Giants and their dealings. Dave Roberts,Rich Aurilia,Ryan Klesko are not the guys that are going to set the world on fire. The Giants needed to make a splash and they did when they signed the ex A’S pitching star.

The question is: How much better are the Giants as of today(12/28/06)for the 2007 season ? With the signing of Ray Durham, Pedro Feliz and Steve Kline the Giants kept some of their players but originally the "youth movement"that they talked about never really materialized. Kevin Frandsen I thought should have been given a chance to play at second base everyday but that is not going to happen. Benji Molina is a good catcher that cost the Giants a lot of money and will be their #1 catcher. His biggest asset is the way he calls the games.

The Giants biggest need continues to be the closer position. Is Armando Benitez going to be healthy for 2007 ? New Giants manager Bruce Bochy had the luxury during his tenure as Padres manager counting with the great Trevor Hoffman, who this past season became the number one reliever in games saved. The Giants(who have some good young arms like Jonathan Sanchez)will need some bullpen help. Robb Nen was the last consistent closer the team had. Nen pitched from 1998 until 2002. In today’s game nobody wins without a certified closer. In 2006 the Giants staff had a total of 7 complete games. Jason Schmidt, no longer with the team completed 3, Matt Morris 2, and Matt Cain and Noah Lowry 1 each.

The Giants lineup is basically the same as 2006. They will have a good new leadoff hitter in Dave Roberts. But the key here will be Mr.Barry Bonds and can he stay healthy. Bonds played in 130 games had 367 at bats and hit 26 home runs, driving 77 runs. Those numbers are very good for a 42 year old slugger just 22 home runs shy of the biggest record in American professional sports, but the Giants still need a hitter that can drive 100 or more runs in a full season. Do not expect too much of veteran first baseman Ryan Klesko. Although he loves to play for his boss in San Diego,now Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Pedro Feliz was the top run producer with 98 RBI along with his 22 home runs and then came a big surprise from Ray Durham who in 2006 had his best ever offensive season with a .293 average 26 home runs and 93 runs batted in. They finished 13th in hitting in the National League. As a team the Giants had an on-base-percentage of .324, only Chicaco with a .319
had a lower percentage in the league. If the Giants are going to be a contender they need to get on base more often.

Giants fielding was the 4th best in 2006 in the National League, a lot had to do with the best defensive shortstop in baseball, Venezuelan Omar Vizquel, who at the age of 39 won his 11th Gold Glove only two shy of the record(Ozzie Smith). This past season as we spoke and told him that I have seen his countryman and Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio [;ay and in my opinion he was "at least as good as Little Louie".He kind of smile,he knows he is a great defensive player and one that someday will manage in the Major Leagues.

The Western Division of the National League has gotten a bit better this off season and probably the Los Angeles Dodgers will be the favorites to win it with the San Diego Padres also in contention and Arizona and Colorado still a ways back.

The Giants finished third in 2006 with a 76-85 record and 11 1/2 behind San Diego and Los Angeles who finished in first place. The signing of Barry Zito could be, I repeat, could be a big difference. Barry Zito has been one of most consistent starters in all of baseball, he has been healthy and he gets the ball every 5th day. All he has to do is just be Zito. His biggest enemy is his wildness. When he cannot find the strike zone he will walk bunches, but when he is on, he is on and is unhitable.
Barry Zito should be the Giants #1 starter and Openind Day pitcher.
Would Zito be enough to make the San Francisco Giants the team to beat in 2006?
Let’s wait at least until Spring Training, how healthy are the teams going to be by Opening Day,there are still lots of factors but there is no doubt that on this day, December 28, 2006, Santa Claus came in late for Giants fans but he delivered well.

0 comments

1 Anonymous { 12.29.06 at 6:52 pm }

Barry Zito lives in Alamo.

2 Maury { 12.30.06 at 9:53 pm }
IN THE RECENT CONFERENCE CALL WITH REPORTERS AFTER HE SIGNED WITH GIANTS HE WAS ASKED AND HE SAID HE WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND MENTIONED PACIFIC HEIGHTS, AS A MATTER OF FACT HE EVEN SAY HE LIKS THE CAFETERIAS OUT THERE.

THNAK FOR THE FEEDBACK.

GOD BLESS.

SALUDOS,

APG

3 Anonymous { 12.31.06 at 8:07 pm }

No doubt Barry Zito, will be the pillar of the Giant’s pitching rotation in 2007, but, he will need help from Noah Lowry and Matt Morris for the Giant’s aspiration to be in the playoff hunt in 2007, to become a reality. Secondly, who knows how healthy Armando Benitez will be to save the games instead of blowing them. Jonathan Sanchez, still not a proven starter or reliever is another question mark, but the fact that the Giant’s were able to sign Zito for seven years, may finally bring a World Series to the City by the Bay. It will be a very interesting and hopefully successful year 2007.
                                                                   Manuel Provedor Sr

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