mcs81986

I understand what you wrote but I'm pretty sure the topic of discussion is whether the Mets or Rangers are closer to being a winning team and where Barry Zito should end up. Unless I missed something and Barry Zito joined a bobsled team. As I've said before, I feel the Mets are in a better position to be a winner because Zito would be replacing Trachsel, which is very much an upgrade in the rotation. If the Mets won 97 with Trachsel in the rotation, it could be even better with a higher quality pitcher surrounded by young talent (Maine and Perez) along with crusty veterans (Hernandez and Glavine) and you never know what Pedro still has in store once he is healthy.

What does the Winter Olympics have to do with Barry Zito signing with the Mets or Rangers? I have this minor hunch that we're off topic here.

I was one of the very first people to comment and to come back about one day later, I would never expect how out of hand all the commenting became. I agree, the Mets aren't a winner yet until they win the World Series. "Mets think Zito should join a winner" is a headline to grab attention and obviously it did. I still believe the Mets are in a better situation to be a winner than the Rangers. The impressive clutch performances of Perez and Maine in Games 6 and 7 is a huge boost of confidence from a young rotation (considering Perez and Maine we're not in the original plans to start in the playoffs). Adding Zito would give more leadership because he has experience in the playoffs (and he'll be around after Glavine and Pedro are gone) and a reunion with his former pitching coach, with whom he won a Cy Young. Zito will improve both pitching rotations without a doubt and will definitely get more than he deserves (just like every free agent this offseason) but the Mets rotation just seems to have more promise. Jcd377 said, "Just a question, if the Mets are so great why all the urgency to sign BZ? Hmmmm? I would think a team this wonderful wouldn't need him." I think it's a silly comment to make, because as everyone says you can always use more pitching. I don't think any team in the majors can say "we have too many pitchers." There's not an absolute urgency to sign Barry Zito, at least I don't feel there's an urgency being from the New York area, but I'm sure just about every team wouldn't mind having Zito in their rotation. He's a quality pitcher who will give you a good effort with good stats and log a lot of innings. I do think the Mets had a special season last year and I'm sure it will be harder because a lot of teams around them have gotten better but they'd essentially be replacing Steve Trachsel with Barry Zito and I don't think anyone can deny that Zito is an upgrade. If the Mets won 97 games last year with Steve Trachsel and an injured Pedro Martinez and made it to the NLCS, I'm sure they'll be back in the playoffs next season.