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A’s Time Machine: Zito Should Have Pitched In ’15

By Joey Lopez

September 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Barry Zito (75) pitches the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
September 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Barry Zito (75) pitches the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Jarrett Parker (47) rounds the bases after his solo home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Barry Zito (75) (not pictured) in the second inning of their MLB baseball game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Jarrett Parker (47) rounds the bases after his solo home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Barry Zito (75) (not pictured) in the second inning of their MLB baseball game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports /

Join us on White Cleat Beat every Tuesday for our weekly “Time Machine Tuesday” segment. We’ll revisit the past behind the A’s organization. Today we’ll look at Barry Zito and give you THREE reasons why Oakland should have let him pitch throughout the ’15 season.

Growing up in Anaheim, California, I wasn’t groomed to be an A’s fan.

Throughout my childhood, images of the Dodgers and Angels frequently flashed before my eyes.

Each time those blue or red colored jerseys and hats entered my orbit, I politely turned them away.   I usually would see plenty of disappointment on the faces of family and friends when I would show up to social gatherings dressed in green and gold.

My Uncle, at one point, questioned my loyalty to a team that was deemed “too far” to follow. He even demanded that I name one player on the A’s roster.

At the time, I replied “Barry Zito.”

Zito was the man back in the early 2000’s and there was no denying that his presence in Oakland yielded a crazy following.

So when he returned to Oakland in 2015 after years of heartbreak in San Francisco, there were many fans excited to see him return to the Coliseum.

He showed some promise, but the A’s never gave Zito a serious look until it was too late. Zito’s farewell season did not pan out as expected, but things could have been different had the A’s given him a serious shot.

Here are three reasons why the A’s should have allowed Zito a spot in the 2015 rotation.