Zzzzzzito and other thoughts on pseudo-opening day.

Ah Barry, Zito. Everyone's favorite kooky lefty whom the Giants honored with what will probably go down as the worst contract ever given to a pitcher not named Mike Hampton. His line on opening day:

5 IP, 8 hits, 4ER, 1 K, 1 BB, L.

Now that's what I call an ace. Though I will say that Zito took a step forward from his spring training line:

12 2/3 IP, 21hits, 10 BB, 0 K, 14.92 ERA.

And you wonder why the A's didn't want to spend the money to resign him. In all honesty part of me is a little sad to see Zito struggle, but any fan with a smidgen of baseball intelligence could have told you what a terrible idea it was to hand 126 million over 7 years to a guy who is better at banging movie stars than he is at banging fastballs by right handers with any bat speed.

Apparently the Giants are also starting a guy named Brian BoCock at shortstop while while Omar Vizquel spends April rehabbing from knee surgery. Brian Bocock being a 23 year old "prospect" who has played a total of one year in the minors and put up the following combined numbers at Low-A Augusta and High-A San Jose last year:

.243 Avg .312 OBP .656 OPS, 4 HR, 57 RBI, 51 BB, 124 K's.

It's going to be a long year Giants fan. At least Lincecum and Cain should be decent.

Other thoughts on baseball's real opening day.

Welcome to the AL East cellar, Baltimore Orioles. Might as well set up the futon, hang some posters, plug in the lava lamp, and fire up the bong: you're not leaving anytime soon.

On the flip side of the same coin, enjoy your 2-0 start, Washington Nationals. It's all downhill from here.

Buying: White Sox offense, Nate McLouth, Johan Santana, Carlos Gomez, Lastings Milledge, Nick Johnson.

Selling: The White Sox bullpen, every Giant hitter, Tom Gordon, NL Central closers, the Dallas Mavericks.