Cubs offer Zito 5/60 (RUMOR)

[Knyption]

zito would be nice.

[Omar]

Its been over a week after Hendry has signed someone. About time rumors that we all doubt but will eventually come true start coming in.

[Derwood]

I think it would be hilarious if Hendry started playing hardball with people now that he's made some waves on the free agent market.

[minnesotacubsfan]

there's no way this is true.

 

there's no way this is true

[Omar]

I checked 670.. Hawks game.. Nothing from ESPN 1000 at the top of the hour . (8:00)

[JWCUB]

IMO the STARTING point for Zito would be 5/80.

[David]

This is just another example of Boras floating a made up offer from the Cubs to drive up the bidding from other teams, as we've seen in the past with Drew and Pudge. Just my opinion.

[Guest]

This is just another example of Boras floating a made up offer from the Cubs to drive up the bidding from other teams, as we've seen in the past with Drew and Pudge. Just my opinion.

 

you think 5/60 is going to drive up the bidding? seems unlikely to me.

[crowes74]

i'm not sure when this was said on xm radio. but the xm ch 175 is only playing replays of this years playoffs till monday. not 100% sure they dont break in for news, but im about 95% sure anyway.

 

sure hope its true, something to build on if we made an offer. i'd love to see zito w/ us.

[AramisRamirez]

now if we just sign Hank Aaron we'll win the world series!!

[Yeti]

i'm not sure when this was said on xm radio. but the xm ch 175 is only playing replays of this years playoffs till monday. not 100% sure they dont break in for news, but im about 95% sure anyway.

 

sure hope its true, something to build on if we made an offer. i'd love to see zito w/ us.

they are still doing the "major league minute" during breaks, im sure if anything happens b4 monday, it will be noted in that segment

[shnsajax]

I don't think I would pay Zito more than 5/60. He will get more from the Mets and it will be a better deal playing in Shea as opposed to Wrigley. I would rather give up Pie to get Bonderman.

[nilodnayr]

I apologize for my fan graph crack binge, but heres a Zito/Schmidt comparison. Fan Graph

 

Looks like Schmidt is better than Zito in most categories and Zito is more depending on BABIP for good seasons.

[CubsWin]

I apologize for my fan graph crack binge, but heres a Zito/Schmidt comparison. Fan Graph

 

Looks like Schmidt is better than Zito in most categories and Zito is more depending on BABIP for good seasons.

Are those numbers adjusted for park factors?

 

And color me uneducated but what evidence is there that supports the idea that a lower BABIP isn't caused by the types of pitches the pitcher throws? I'm asking.

 

It would stand to reason that the less deception a pitcher employs, the easier it would be for a batter to get a good swing on a pitched ball thus hitting it more crisply and improving the likelihood of it being safely hit in play. Greater deception could cause a pitcher to have a lower BABIP than some others.

 

But in order to rule out luck entirely one pitcher would have to have a consistently lower BABIP than the average. When I checked, Zito's BABIP was consistently lower than Schmidt's. Could that be due solely to park factors? If its not due entirely to park factors, Zito can't be simply luckier than Schmidt 5 out of 6 seasons, can he?

[frostwyrm]

5/60 for Zito, in a year when Gary Matthews JR. gets 5/50? I know salary comparisons between pitchers and hitters are difficult, but clearly Zito >>> GMJ. I expect 5/80 is more realistic for Zito.

[nilodnayr]

I apologize for my fan graph crack binge, but heres a Zito/Schmidt comparison. Fan Graph

 

Looks like Schmidt is better than Zito in most categories and Zito is more depending on BABIP for good seasons.

Are those numbers adjusted for park factors?

 

And color me uneducated but what evidence is there that supports the idea that a lower BABIP isn't caused by the types of pitches the pitcher throws? I'm asking.

 

It would stand to reason that the less deception a pitcher employs, the easier it would be for a batter to get a good swing on a pitched ball thus hitting it more crisply and improving the likelihood of it being safely hit in play. Greater deception could cause a pitcher to have a lower BABIP than some others.

 

But in order to rule out luck entirely one pitcher would have to have a consistently lower BABIP than the average. When I checked, Zito's BABIP was consistently lower than Schmidt's. Could that be due solely to park factors? If its not due entirely to park factors, Zito can't be simply luckier than Schmidt 5 out of 6 seasons, can he?

 

I do not believe any of those #s are park adjusted. However, if you were to adjust for park factors, Schmidt would look even better compared to Zito. BABIP can be controlled to an extent (by certain players), however as you can see by the graphs, it is not consistent year to year. Zito has had 50 point swings in BABIP most years hes pitched. Has his delivery somehow been deceptive some years, yet not deceptive others? Look at the king of deceptive delivery Dontrelle Willis

[RynoRules]

Buried in Olney's blog:

 

The Mets, Cubs and Rangers are the teams bidding on Barry Zito, writes Ken Davidoff

 

Could you live with this rotation?:

 

Z

Zito

Hill

Lily

Prior/Miller

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What if we got Zito and Schmidt. :pigfly:

[Danny82]

What if we got Zito and Schmidt. :pigfly:

 

I don't want anything to do with Zito for what he is going to get paid.

[Post Count Padder]

What if we got Zito and Schmidt. :pigfly:

 

I don't want anything to do with Zito for what he is going to get paid.

I think Zito benefits a bit from all the foul territory at McAfee Coliseum. Put him in Wrigley and his ERA may hover close to 4. He's a flyball pitcher too, isn't he?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

What if we got Zito and Schmidt. :pigfly:

 

I don't want anything to do with Zito for what he is going to get paid.

I think Zito benefits a bit from all the foul territory at McAfee Coliseum. Put him in Wrigley and his ERA may hover close to 4. He's a flyball pitcher too, isn't he?

 

Yes he is.

[TB_11]

While I'm pretty sure, on this market, thats nowhere near enough to get Zito, isn't it cool that we're actually trying. Seriously, when is the last time we have seriously pursued three big name free agents ( and signed one )

 

It's good to know we're trying. If we can somehow land one of Schmidt/Zito I'd be a very happy man.

 

The Cubs had similar tactics in the 2004-05 offseason toward marquee free agents. They offered Beltran 5-$75M, and Ordonez a 1-year deal (the amount escapes me), knowing they would get richer offers elsewhere. I agree it's good that we're trying, but I'm not sure what good going to desired free agents with deals that they will obviously turn away does.

[RynoRules]

I like Zito, but not at the price he is likely to command. I wonder whether JH is trying to drive that price up in order to increase Schmidt's value. By so doing he could make Schmidt too expensive for his (Hendry's) competition (Seattle, LA, etc.). A risky strategy, but not unheard of.

 

I think I would be OK w/ this rotation:

 

Z

Hill

Zito

Jennings

Miller/Prior

[b_wiggy_66]

Maybe Hendry has been laying in the weeds with Zito. All reports out of New York suggest that neither the Yankees or Mets are really interested. If we were to get Zito, we would nolonger be able to get Lilly, leaving us with Batista or Marquis as our 4th starter.

[RynoRules]

Maybe Hendry has been laying in the weeds with Zito. All reports out of New York suggest that neither the Yankees or Mets are really interested. If we were to get Zito, we would nolonger be able to get Lilly, leaving us with Batista or Marquis as our 4th starter.

 

Not necessarily - they could add Zito and trade for Westbrook or Jennings, a scenario I would strongly prefer to Batista or Marquis.