Barry Zito

[Yoda]

Yes, the contract was ridiculous. I was just objecting to the idea that Zito was mailing it in because of his big payday.

Agreed. I doubt any professional athlete would enjoy being the joke of the town.

[KCollins1304]

Yes, the contract was ridiculous. I was just objecting to the idea that Zito was mailing it in because of his big payday.

Agreed. I doubt any professional athlete would enjoy being the joke of the town.

Carl Pavano raises you +1.

[Yoda]

Yes, the contract was ridiculous. I was just objecting to the idea that Zito was mailing it in because of his big payday.

Agreed. I doubt any professional athlete would enjoy being the joke of the town.

Carl Pavano raises you +1.

touche

[curious_george_43545]

He was never all that good in Oakland, atleast not deserving of the praise he got. Now hes just awful, his fastball has no velocity and I really do feel bad for him even with that contract of his.

[JasonSeahorn]

I don't think Zito decided "I got paid now, so I will suck it up", more like "I got paid now, I don't have to give it my 1000000% all out performance that I can give." I mean, a lot of players will try their hardest the year before they can get a new contract...Zito doesn't look like he was a beast before in Oakland, but I think the general idea that a player will fall off a bit after they get their big contract can be applied. Zito just took it to a new level

[Yoda]

:-D

I don't think Zito decided "I got paid now, so I will suck it up", more like "I got paid now, I don't have to give it my 1000000% all out performance that I can give." I mean, a lot of players will try their hardest the year before they can get a new contract...Zito doesn't look like he was a beast before in Oakland, but I think the general idea that a player will fall off a bit after they get their big contract can be applied. Zito just took it to a new level

These guys are professional athletes. They are extremely competitive to the point that you nor I can possibly fathom. I doubt they can just turn their competitive switch on and off like you say.

[JasonSeahorn]

These guys are professional athletes. They are extremely competitive to the point that you nor I can possibly fathom. I doubt they can just turn their competitive switch on and off like you say.

There are players that perform better in a contract-year situation than in the following years. Zito is a crazy example, but I'm just saying.

[curious_george_43545]

These guys are professional athletes. They are extremely competitive to the point that you nor I can possibly fathom. I doubt they can just turn their competitive switch on and off like you say.

There are players that perform better in a contract-year situation than in the following years. Zito is a crazy example, but I'm just saying.

I think the whole contract year is blown out of proportion, now that you got paid are you really gonna go out there not caring how you do? Maybe a handful of players are like that, but It's defiantly the minority if at all.

[KCollins1304]

These guys are professional athletes. They are extremely competitive to the point that you nor I can possibly fathom. I doubt they can just turn their competitive switch on and off like you say.

There are players that perform better in a contract-year situation than in the following years. Zito is a crazy example, but I'm just saying.

I think the whole contract year is blown out of proportion, now that you got paid are you really gonna go out there not caring how you do? Maybe a handful of players are like that, but It's defiantly the minority if at all.

The whole contract-year theory is a complete myth. For every Adrian Beltre there is an Andruw Jones.

[deerayfan072]

:-D

I don't think Zito decided "I got paid now, so I will suck it up", more like "I got paid now, I don't have to give it my 1000000% all out performance that I can give." I mean, a lot of players will try their hardest the year before they can get a new contract...Zito doesn't look like he was a beast before in Oakland, but I think the general idea that a player will fall off a bit after they get their big contract can be applied. Zito just took it to a new level

These guys are professional athletes. They are extremely competitive to the point that you nor I can possibly fathom. I doubt they can just turn their competitive switch on and off like you say.

I totally agree.

It is like Baldelli for the Rays and Sims for the Bucs. People in Tampa call up saying they are stealing from the organization because they take the money even thought they are hurt. They act like players are ok with taking money and either not playing or playing terribly. They want to play.