Although he made no official announcement, Barry Zito believed his playing career had concluded with the end of the minor league season earlier this month.
That was why he did not initially know how to react when Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane called on Monday and asked if he was up for pitching in the major leagues again.
“I turned the page on the game eight days before, so it was a little daunting and strange to have to pull that page back again after 15 years,” Zito said on Wednesday after joining the A’s before the game with the Chicago White Sox.
“Just, was it the best thing for me? It ended up that my wife was really telling me all the things I needed to hear and ended up saying this is going to be a lot of fun,” he said.
Zito returned to the A’s with a minor league contract this season and spent the entire year in Nashville, Tennessee, where he went 8-7 with a 3.46 ERA in 24 games. He last pitched for the A’s in Game 1 of the 2006 AL championship series against Detroit and has not pitched in the majors since 2013, with San Francisco.
Zito won the 2002 AL Cy Young Award with Oakland and went 102-63 with a 3.53 ERA over seven seasons with the A’s before leaving as a free agent to sign with the Giants in December 2006.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the A’s placed right-hander Jesse Chavez on the 60-day disabled list with a broken rib.
Zito, 37, is to pitch out of the bullpen.
“It’s going to be great to bring him home and get him in games in our place in front of our crowd,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “They love him there. Particularly when we play the Giants, it’s gonna be a really exciting weekend. It’s really gonna add to that having him there.”
Zito said he has not thought about playing beyond the three weeks remaining in the season, but conceded it would be fitting if he ended his career in an A’s uniform.
“Absolutely,” he said. “This is where I started. That mound in Oakland is where I threw my first major league pitch and I don’t know how it’s all going to shake out with the rotation, days and all that, but I’m going to throw one of my last major league pitches probably on that mound. That’s like storybook, it’s amazing.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely