Is Zito over-rated?

Answer 1

If he was as good as some web pages made him out to be, more than just the Mets and Rangers would be knocking on his agents door.
That makes it a yes!!!

Answer 2

The Oakland A's are in one of the best pitcher parks, lots of foul territory, not a good park for hitters although a decent park for home runs, Zito does not have a good fast ball he has the curve, and the change. He is not a strikeout pitcher, if he does not have the curve or change working he will have to go to his average fastball. If everything works out, contrary to a couple of answers, he can dominate a game or a string of games and be a dominating pitcher. Unlike Santana who can go to an excellent fastball if his change is not working, Zito can be hit if hitters lay off the curve and wait for the fastball. So all in all it will depend on if he goes to a pitchers or hitters park. I think he would be better served by going to the National League and face weaker hitters and not have to deal with the DH.

Answer 3

Yes, Zito is overrated, but I suppose it depends on the definitions of "overrated." If you mean overrated as in, "Can he be a number one or two guy in a playoff team rotation?," then, yes, he is overrated. If you look at his last two to three years, his strikeout rate per nine innings and OPS against have gone down and up, respectively. Sure, if the Mets sign him, he would effectively become that number one starter, but that's not saying much, considering the poor state of starting pitching with the Mets.

However, if you are looking for a solid three, maybe two starter on any team who will give you above average innings, then, no, he is not overrated. His record shows that he is one of the most dependable and healthy starters in all of baseball (But look at what happened to Kevin Brown, although he was older than Zito when he signed that seven-year deal).

The answer is -- it depends.

Answer 4

He's going to be overpaid like everyone else this offseason but I don't think people are overrating his abilities. Generally Zito is considered to be a solid work horse with an exceptional curve ball and potential to be dominant over short stretches. But he also suffers from mental blocks and monthly slumps (like April) which keep him from being an elite starter. He can be an ace for the lower half of the teams in baseball and probably a solid #2 for most of the upper half.

Answer 5

Well I surely don't think he's worth the 73-100 million that theyre talking about giving him. At best he's a #2 or 3 starter. Rarely is he lights out. He has spurts during the season where he'll lose 3 or 4 games in a row. He's not a stopper.

Answer 6

Are you Crazy? have you seen that dude's curve ball not many people can hit it the break on it I wish my dodgers would have got him but we got a first rate starter now in Jason Scmidt who will win next years cy young watch.

Answer 7

This is not a yes or no question. Over-rated compared to what??

Compared to this year's market?
No, because he stays healthy, pitches a lot of innings. And won't blow out his arm because he is a junk ball pitcher.

He is over-rated compared to previous years because there weren't many big FA pitchers available this winter as Free Agents.

Next year's pitchers will demand even higher wages.

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Enjoy!

I'd appreciate a "best answer" if this was helpful! Thanks.

Answer 8

if he signs with Texas his value will go down. He's not worth 17 mil either

Answer 9

no- he is about average- maybe over-rated for fantasy. not many +_ for k's

Answer 10

no, not that many players that can throw a curve ball like he does