What to do with Barry Zit0-6

Amid Bruce Bochy's strong insinuation after yesterday's abomination of a start that Barry Zito may be out of the rotation and off to the bullpen, DL, or somewhere else, the local press hits come rolling in.

(Photo courtesy The Snitch)

Rick Hurd of the Contra Costa Times believes it's all about confidence, pointing to Zito's shockingly recent excellence in the 2006 ALDS:

Trouble is when it goes missing, because it takes more than devouring videotape for mechanical flaws to get it back. Zito's lack of velocity and inability to command the zone may be killing him -- his eight-pitch leadoff walk to Jerry Hairston Jr. set the tone for a six-run, 39-pitch first inning -- but when Zito speaks of "not being aggressive, not attacking the strike zone, and not pitching to contact," it's worth wondering if his troubles may be originating elsewhere.

It would make sense, because self-confidence and success go together like the chicken and the egg, and right now, the wolf has invaded and eaten both.

"Obviously, it's not great," Zito said of his confidence. "But it's not bad, either. I know what I've done, and what I can do."

Lowell Cohen of the Press-Democrat has a good "Behind the Music" report of the clubhouse following yesterday's game:

It happened in the clubhouse after Zito had failed again - eight runs in three innings, an unacceptable start. Zito was getting ready to speak with the media. He didn't have to speak. He had been yanked from the game hours before and he could have gone home and no one would have blamed him. But he waited to answer all the tough questions because he sees that as part of his job. A public-relations man stopped him, said the manager wanted him.

Zito apologized to the writers and walked down the long hallway to the manager's office and walked in and shut the heavy door. Bochy told him the Giants are thinking of making a change with him, the pitcher with the third-largest total contract in baseball. Options include skipping a start, putting him in the bullpen or letting him take his next turn as usual.

Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News points to concerns, voiced by the ominous "Giants officials" about his mechanics and a possible too many chefs problem:

There was little new in Zito's analysis. He faulted himself for not being aggressive enough, but said he hasn't "delved into the intricacies" of why he has failed to do so.

Zito has consulted many pitching gurus throughout his life and Giants officials have felt at times that the left-hander had too many people whispering in his ear - especially when he arrived in spring camp last year with a totally new delivery that was soon scrapped.

But Zito said he is working only with Bochy, pitching coach Dave Righetti and bullpen coach Mark Gardner.

"I'm not going out there knocking down anyone's door looking for solutions," Zito said. "The solution is inside me and it's up to me to turn it around. Nobody can tell me a magic key that's going to turn it. It's me and my own will and my strength."

And crazy Uncle Scott Ostler believes it's something, ahem, supernatural?

It's hard to pinpoint what's wrong with Zito, but the answer could be as simple as: location, location, location.

Not the location of Zito's pitches, although that's a huge worry. The bigger problem might be the location of Zito's locker.

The row of four locker stalls along the north wall of the clubhouse, once the kingdom of Bonds, has become Kreepy Korner.

The other resident of the Korner is Matt Cain, who is 0-2.

Zito and Cain, the Giants' Nos. 1 and 2 pitchers, have started 11 games and have a combined 0-8 record.

Actually, got to give Ostler some props there - he's got a point.

Dare we utter the unfathomable, though? That perhaps, belying his sweet demeanor and leadership role, that there's something else going on with Zito? There haven't been too many cases where a pitcher suddenly loses MPHs off his fastball at the age of 29.

Personally, I don't believe that Zito messed with PEDs, but it's only a matter of time before someone does voice that concern, media personality or otherwise. This contract is gathering steam in the national media as one of the worst ever, and speculation about the whereabouts of Zito's fastball will only escalate.

Unfortunately, it seems that the trials and tribulations of one Barry that seemed to drag down this team have been replaced by the trials and tribulations of another. Will this have a similar effect the team? And what do you think is up with Zit0-6?