Will Barry Zito Make the Giants NLDS Roster?

The debate raging on in San Francisco since the Giants made the playoffs is whether or not Barry Zito will even be included on the postseason roster. I must admit that as soon as the Giants clinched I thought to myself that the Giants should go to a three-man rotation for the NLDS, keep Madison Bumgarner as a reliever, and leave Barry Zito off the playoff roster.

Yes Barry Zito makes a lot of money. Yes it would be awkward to leave him off the playoff roster when he has two more years left on his contract. He cannot be placed on the postseason roster, not even as a reliever.

Zito has no value as a reliever and San Jose Mercury News Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly drives home this point.

"If Bochy and the coaching staff choose Bumgarner, it's likely that Zito would be left off the Division Series roster entirely because he lacks value as a reliever and requires more time to warm up. Bumgarner, who has thrived in both roles, is expected to make the roster in either case."

And there in lies the problem. Zito brings no value to the Giants roster. He cant be a reliever because he's a slave to his routine as a starter and he usually struggles in the first inning. He cannot be a reliever when Madison Bumgarner has pitched as a reliever and starter and has excelled at both.

And then there is this. Zito burned his bridge and took a leak on the ashes this past weekend. Zito has exactly endured himself since signing that massive contract with the Giants back in 2007. Zito has struggled throughout his tenure with the Giants while flashing the occasional brilliance. Zito though has struggled all through this year and Giants fans have finally lost their patience with Zito. Especially after Zito's last start.

Zito had a golden opportunity to put everything in the past and endure himself to Giants fans on Saturday by beating the Padres and clinching the NL West title. So what happens? Zito walks the bases loaded in the first inning and then walked in two runs during that inning. Zito was out of the game by the fifth inning with a choirs of boo's reigning down at him. And with that single start, Zito burned his bridge with Giants fans and may burned his bridge with Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

Zito cannot be on the playoff roster simple because no one has faith in him no more. Hopefully he doesn't take the demotion too personally.