RINGOLSBY: Zito put in a holding pattern

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, May 2, 2008

Photos By Eric Risberg (Zito) And Kathy Willens (Hampton) / Associated Press

The situations Barry Zito, above, and Mike Hampton experienced after signing contracts that, at the time, offered the biggest guarantees for pitchers have similarities and differences.

With Barry Zito banished to the bullpen -- at least for now - - and the Giants still owing him nearly $108 million for six years, the comparisons immediately were drawn to the Rockies' situation with Mike Hampton.

They are similar in some ways, very different in others.

Both were highly touted left-handed, free-agent pitchers in their late 20s. Neither had a history of medical problems. And both hit on hard times after signing a contract that, at the time, was the biggest guarantee ever given a pitcher.

That's where the similarities end.

Hampton's signing was generally endorsed by folks in baseball, who figured the ultracompetitive Hampton, with his hard sinker, was just what the Rockies needed at the pre-humidor Coors Field.

The signing of Zito, meanwhile, was generally panned -- scouts were concerned about his declining fastball -- and wasn't a baseball decision. It was about marketing and bringing in a "name" free agent with the Barry Bonds era about to end.

How the two teams can deal with the situation also will be different.

The Giants are pretty well stuck with Zito, which could be a challenge in light of the fact he is going to have to reinvent himself to have a chance of success. The problem is, Zito never was a pitcher's pitcher, like a Frank Tanana, who once said he threw in the 90s in the '70s and in the 70s in the '90s.

After arm problems, Tanana initially struggled but then wound up extending his career more than a decade because he realized even with lesser stuff, he had to pitch the same way as when he was a power pitcher -- pounding hitters inside, but more inside.

Trading Hampton was a challenge for the Rockies, but moving Zito would be even more challenging for the Giants.

The key for the Rockies being able to trade Hampton was general manager Dan O'Dowd having two teams he could involve in the talks. There was Florida, which had contracts it wanted to move for players who played positions where the Rockies needed help -- center fielder Preston Wilson and catcher Charles Johnson. So for the Marlins, the idea of obtaining center fielder Juan Pierre and eating $23.5 million of Hampton's contract wasn't so bad because he could be shipped to Atlanta and $51 million would be saved on the contracts of Johnson and Wilson.

Atlanta, meanwhile, was paying $48.5 million for six years of Hampton's services -- and only $5.5 million of that in the first three years -- while figuring that getting Hampton out of altitude would get him back on track. Unfortunately for the Braves, injuries have kept him from pitching in the majors for nearly three years now.

The Rockies saved $21 million, had the services of Wilson and Johnson while they were regrouping and were able to move Hampton, who, after starting out 9-2 with Colorado, won only 12 of his final 38 decisions,

Infield chatter

* Whether the Braves view themselves as contenders could be evident very soon. With John Smoltz ready to return to the bullpen when he comes off the disabled list and Hampton injured again, the Braves need two starters. Jo-Jo Reyes (1.17 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Richmond) is interesting, but the Braves also might need to make a trade. Would they bring back Kevin Millwood, now with Texas?

* The New York Mets have interest in reacquiring outfielder Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh, which initially acquired him from the Mets for pitchers Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez.

* Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi has not given manager John Gibbons an extension, as he did get at this point a year ago. But Gibbons has been given the dreaded vote of confidence.

The rotation

With Zito in the bullpen, Hampton on the disabled list and Matt Morris released, five other contracts that are haunting teams:

* A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays, five years, $55 million, signed before 2006; three years, $36 million remaining. He made 46 starts his first two years, winning 10 games each time. Burnett has made 30 starts only once in his career. He never has won more than 12 games in a season. He was 49-50 lifetime when he signed with the Blue Jays.

* Jason Schmidt, Dodgers, three years, $47 million, signed before 2007; two years, $34.5 million remaining. He made six starts and was 1-4 for the Dodgers last year before undergoing shoulder surgery. Shouldn't the Dodgers have known? GM Ned Colletti used to be the assistant general manager in San Francisco and trainer Stan Conte was with the Giants, too.

* Andruw Jones, Dodgers, two years, $36.2 million, signed before this season. Agent Scott Boras finds pawns every year. Jones has hit .300 once in 11 full big-league seasons, never has struck out fewer than 100 times in a season, and his home runs dropped to 26 and his RBI to below 100 in Atlanta last year.

* Carl Pavano, Yankees, four years, $52 million, signed before 2005; one year, $12.95 million remaining. The injury-plagued Pavano was only 57-58 in his big-league career when he signed. In three-plus seasons with the Yankees, back problems and elbow surgery have limited him to a 5-6 record, 4.77 ERA, 19 appearances and 1111/3 innings.

* Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks, two years, $26 million extension as part of Johnson approving a trade from the Yankees before 2007; one year, $18.5 million remaining. At 44, his fastball doesn't have the extra hop anymore. When the Diamondbacks brought him back, not only was he coming off a season with the highest ERA of his career (5.00), but he also had undergone his second back surgery. Ten starts into last season, the decision was made he needed a third back surgery.

Closing statement

As an athlete, Roger Clemens' macho act worked. Off the field, however, Clemens is learning the hard way he should shut up and get out of the limelight. He should give Mark McGwire a call and get some tips on how to sail off into the sunset.

NUMBERS GAME

353 consecutive games played by Atlanta outfielder Jeff Francoeur, the longest active streak. He's the third player this season to have that distinction. Juan Pierre's consecutive-games streak of 434 ended on Opening Day with the Dodgers, and Grady Sizemore had a 382-game streak with Cleveland end Sunday because of a sprained ankle.

FIT-FOR-DUTY FOUR

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada this week went on the disabled list for the first time in his career, leaving Brad Ausmus, Johnny Damon, Andruw Jones and Derek Lowe as the only active players with 10 years in the majors who never have been on the list, according to baseball statistics guru Bill Arnold.

HE SAID IT

"He doesn't have to be a five-pitch guy. He's one of those guys who has an electric fastball."

Bob Melvin, Arizona manager, on right-hander Max Scherzer, whose 41/3 perfect innings Tuesday was the longest perfect debut in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

MILE HIGH WATCH

Tough times for Rockies alums:

* Left-hander Mike Myers, pitching for the Dodgers' Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate, asked for and was granted his release after Los Angeles bypassed him to call up right-hander Cory Wade from Double-A Jacksonville. Myers, 39 on June 26, had a 3.38 ERA in 10 appearances for the 51s.

* Left-hander Ray King cleared waivers -- that means the 29 other teams had a shot at him and declined -- and was outrighted to Triple-A by Washington, prompting King to demand his release. Looks like he will head into retirement.

* Right-hander Jason Jennings, 0-5 with an 8.56 ERA at Texas, is winless since July 24 and on the disabled list because of forearm soreness that forced him out of his start Tuesday. Doctors say it is a residual of Jennings' flexor tendon surgery last year and that rest will allow it to heal. Right-hander Armando Galarraga, whom the Rangers took off their roster to make room for Jennings, is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts since joining Detroit's rotation.

* Greg Norton thought he had a home in Seattle and was hitting .438 off the bench since being called up by the Mariners on April 11, but he and Brad Wilkerson received their walking papers Wednesday, when the Mariners called up outfielder Wladimir Balentien and catcher Jeff Clement, who will be the designated hitter against right-handed pitchers. The Mariners decided to keep Miguel Cairo instead of Norton because Cairo can be a pinch runner and both are switch hitters.

* First baseman Ryan Shealy is back with Kansas City's Triple-A affiliate in Omaha. He has eight homers in 91 at-bats, has 24 strikeouts and is hitting .209.

• May 3, 2008

  4:39 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  flybys writes:

  Hi Tracy,

  There is but one man in town who I feel can answer this question so here goes -- Todd Helton, great resume in Colorado but obviously continues to show the public he is not the same productive hitter he once was. Do I remember he had or has back problems? Is it something else?

  Yet, you look at the numbers and he still controls the strike zone very well.

  The question?

  Why, if Helton can still see the ball is he not hitting for the outstanding power he showed in the past or at bare minimum, hitting .330 anymore?

  Still respect him as much as I ever did. Think he's a great teammate but he has also become a financial albatross for the slightly above average numbers he produces.

  I assume you will disagree with that last line and I respect that but curious about your analysis on this situation.

  I would add that, to me, and many others, Helton has to be a Rockies' legend.

  From what you know about him will he stay involved with baseball when his playing career ends?

  Thanks Tracy. Enjoy your Hall of Fame work.

• May 6, 2008

  8:53 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  TracyRingolsby writes:

  I think the back problem has definitely had an impact on Helton's ability to have the consistent power. I don't see him as slightly above average in terms of production because I do feel he has a major overall impact on the Rockies lineup. He's a left-handed bat that opposing managers don't want to give a chance to beat him, which means the hitters in front of him will be challenged in criticla situations. What makes Helton so feared by other teams is that he's not afraid to hit behind in the count, will expand his strikezone with a chance to drive in a run, and rarely gets himself out. As far as being a financial albatross, I would say I'm sure if he was negotiating a deal right now it would be different than what he is owed, but remember, when Helton signed his deal he was actually attacked by several agents for underselling his services, but Helton didn't care because he wanted to play for the Rockies and live in Colorado.