i think zito will have a stellar game on wednesday. maybe he will collapse again after, but he wins on wednesday. if he loses on wednesday none of his teamates are going to show for his bday party.
Zito hasn’t pitched since April 27, when he gave up eight runs and seven hits in three innings during a 10-1 loss to the Reds.
“I think it was good to take a step back and get objective on some things,” Zito said. “I’m excited to get out there. I’m real excited to go pitch to hitters and take those adjustments into the game. … Now, it’s about me sticking with the game plan I know works, staying in that mind-set I know that got me here.”
Zito has thrown two extended bullpen sessions that were monitored by pitching coach Dave Righetti. He also plans to adjust his approach by being more aggressive early in the count. Zito said he was repeatedly hurt earlier by not throwing early count pitches for strikes.
“If you’re not in an aggressive mind-set, you’re going to nitpick, and that’s what get guys in trouble, that’s what got me in trouble,” Zito said. “For me, it’s about being aggressive. You can definitely get away with pitches early in the count that you can’t late in the count. Late in the count, you’ve got to be fine. That’s when you walk guys and you leave things over the middle.”
Zito, who turns 30 on May 13, believes he worked out his problems while throwing on the side despite not appearing in any games.
