Keith Law is a retard
On ESPN's "Hot Stove League," Keith Law of Scouts Inc. ranks the Top 10 remaining free agents. He puts Gil Meche at #6 and Barry Zito at #7. This is clearly stupid. In seven seasons, Zito has pitched over 214 innings six times (his last six), and his ERA has never been above league-average. Meche, in six seasons, has never thrown more than 187 innings, and he's pitched above 127 innings only four times. Only twice has his ERA been below league-average, and that was in his age 20 and 21 seasons. He pitched 85.7 innings in each of those two seasons, then missed the next two with arm injuries.
Why is there this perception that Zito is mediocre? Is it because he didn't deserve his Cy Young, and now the baseball establishment is "sticking it to him"? Christ, he has a lifetime 3.55 ERA! In 1430.3 innings! Meche has a 4.65 ERA in 815.3, and he's only one year younger than Zito. In what possible way is that better?
There has been some talk that the Mariners might be able to sign Zito, which I think would be a brilliant move. Unfortunately, Mets GM Omar Minaya is not a retard, like Keith Law, and realizes that Zito is both talented and dependable, so everybody seems to think the Mets will end up acquiring Zito. But apparently he wants to stay on the West Coast, and he likes Seattle "as a city"... I might literally jump for joy if Bavasi can bring in Zito. That goes double for Manny, though apparently those talks are dead.
By the way, Law also ranked Lilly #5. I'm not getting into this because my arguments would be the EXACT SAME ONES that I used for Meche.
Why is there this perception that Zito is mediocre? Is it because he didn't deserve his Cy Young, and now the baseball establishment is "sticking it to him"? Christ, he has a lifetime 3.55 ERA! In 1430.3 innings! Meche has a 4.65 ERA in 815.3, and he's only one year younger than Zito. In what possible way is that better?
There has been some talk that the Mariners might be able to sign Zito, which I think would be a brilliant move. Unfortunately, Mets GM Omar Minaya is not a retard, like Keith Law, and realizes that Zito is both talented and dependable, so everybody seems to think the Mets will end up acquiring Zito. But apparently he wants to stay on the West Coast, and he likes Seattle "as a city"... I might literally jump for joy if Bavasi can bring in Zito. That goes double for Manny, though apparently those talks are dead.
By the way, Law also ranked Lilly #5. I'm not getting into this because my arguments would be the EXACT SAME ONES that I used for Meche.