What happened to Zito's curve?

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08:54 AM ET 09.13
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That talent, the best curveball in baseball, made Barry Zito one of the most successful pitchers of the first half of this decade. Zito's high walk ratio is the price he pays for his perfect curveball, the major reason for his success. A perfect Zito curveball will approach the plate at the batter's eye level, then begin to drop, cross the plate at the batter's knees and be caught by the catcher at the batter's shoe tops. Zito's curveball spends nine-tenths of its life out of the strike zone, which is why umpires don't like to call it a strike. It never looks like a strike. That's why it's so difficult to hit. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees once said: "I have never seen anything like it. It drops three to four feet. You might as well not even look for it because you're not going to hit it." "I've made mechanical adjustments lately," Zito said in late June. "My curve and fastball are better now. But your body's gonna do what your mind lets it do. You have to surrender to the pitch. You try to control the process, not the result. A New Age guy told me that the last thought you have before you let the ball go -- I hope the batter doesn???t hit it -- determines where it goes. All the preparation, off-season work, can be done in by that last thought." Zito told me his pitching problems were caused by the fact that he hadn't been himself the last few years.

New York Times

Barry Zito, AP

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September 13, 2008 09:45 AM ET

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he got paid , thats what happened to his curve

space for sale

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September 13, 2008 11:02 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:45 AM ET 09.13 by space for sale

he got paid , thats what happened to his curve

exactly

Field Marshall Sunny…

New York, NY

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September 13, 2008 12:23 PM ET

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This is what happens when you sign a so-so pitcher to a mega contract....right Carl Pavano?

baseballpurist

Monroe Township , NJ

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September 13, 2008 01:44 PM ET

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I wonder if he told the Giants he hadn't been himself for the last few years when he signed his contract?

TenRingsSTL

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September 13, 2008 07:37 PM ET

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Zito got paid and figured he didn't have to pitched anymore like he use too. Zito needs to be traded to another team, matter of fact just give him away. How many wins he has this year, lets break it down how much one win cost the team. Oops don't forget lets figured out how many loses too. We are could agree, he is an over price pitcher just like another pitcher the went to the Dodgers only for the money.

SmackTalk

Chula Vista , CA

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September 13, 2008 10:05 PM ET

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"Zito told me his pitching problems were caused by the fact that he hadn't been himself the last few years."

For the last few years, he's been Jeff Suppan.

Yaz #8

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September 13, 2008 11:12 PM ET

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wow, so i take it that no one here has ever felt like they werent themselves? a feeling that there is just something off about you and you cant shake it nor figure it out? i find that highly unlikely, everyone experiences that, some longer than others. as far as people saying that he stopped pitching like his old-self because he doesnt need to anymore because of the contract is ridiculous. that thought just does not make any sense. any i am sure that everyone here would turn down a $126 million dollar contract to play baseball if it was given to them? quit the hypocrisy and the envy.

sjdurfey

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September 14, 2008 03:06 AM ET

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I think the contract did screw him up but not in the sense that he got lazy. I think he tried to over pitch...failed at that...and the whole thing just snowballed. Now that Lincecum is getting press I think the pressure will lift from him somewhat. Is he a bust? No doubt about it. Pressure is a part of pitching. But I DO NOT think that he just quit once he got paid. It is strange because lately he has had amazing outings mixed in with William Van Landingham outings.

CJ Topspin

San Jose , CA

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September 14, 2008 07:28 AM ET

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QUOTE:

Originally posted by

"Zito told me his pitching problems were caused by the fact that he hadn't been himself the last few years."Uh, who has he been then? When he endorses the back of his paycheck, does not his signature remind him?

"does not his signature remind him?"

Does not this guy Yoda think he is?