Gwenn Knapp says, "Forget the Money"

When thinking about Barry Zito, we all need to forget about the $126 million contract. "He has an 0-6 record and a 7.53 ERA, yet the numbers, as hideous as they are, only begin to explain the problem," Knapp writes.

Zito is fast becoming the pitcher's answer to Chuck Knoblauch and Steve Sax, second basemen who unaccountably lost the ability to throw to first base. Whatever it is that made him a major-league athlete has gone missing.

She later reiterates a good point that I've heard a few times this week.

The upper-level brass gave Zito an extravagant contract to prove a point. They wanted to appease fans who thought that the club had sold out the future when it invested another wad of cash in Barry Bonds. The $126 million was pure showboating.

Let's hope that Zito can work out the psychological kinks and at least return to some semblance of decency. Meanwhile, you should look on the bright side - Jason Schmidt will receive more money from the Dodgers this year, and he hasn't started a game in a year.