Chat Wrap: Barry Zito

Courtesy of ESPN.COM

Zito is an avid surfer and student of yoga and meditation.

Welcome to the ESPN.com moderated chat room. On Tuesday, October 22, Oakland A's starting pitcher Barry Zito hit chat to talk about his season, and winning the Major League Baseball Players Association's Players Choice Award for Outstanding AL Pitcher. Since 1994, the winner of this award has gone on to win the American League Cy Young Award.

Zito, who went 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 2002, led all AL pitchers in wins. He finished third in the league in ERA and recorded 182 strikeouts for Oakland's AL West championship club. In just his third season in the majors, Zito became the third different A's hurler to win 20 games in the past three years.

Zito was the ninth overall selection in the June, 1999 draft. He made the jump to the major league squad the following year and went 7-4 with a 2.72 ERA. But it was the 2001 season that solidified Zito as one of the top pitchers in the AL. After starting the season 6-7, he dominated the final two months of the season, going 11-1 with a 1.32 ERA in his final 13 starts.

A star off the field, Zito has appeared in an episode of HBO's Arli$$, was a guest on the Howard Stern Show and played guitar for a national audience on The Late Show with Craig Kilborn.

The following is a transcript of the October 22 chat:

Barry is heard regularly on ESPNRadio's AllNight with Todd Wright in The Zito Files.

For a list of upcoming ESPN.com chat guests, visit the Community section.

Barry Zito: Hello everone. Glad to be here. I'm ready for your questions!

Dave(Philadelphia): Barry you are the best pitcher in my mind. Will you be upset if you dont win the Cy Young?

Barry Zito: No, I won't be upset. The awards I have received, I am very thankful for. Other players gave me the award and that means a lot to me. I am so honored to accept those awards.

David Haller (Upland): What frustrates you the most about the major league lifestyle?

Barry Zito: The travel is tough .. you don't realize it during the season but it's like taking a break from life for 8 months. In the offseason I call people I haven't called all year and catch up on current events. You just don't have time during the season.

Auggie: Barry, huge fan of yours, keep up the good work. Are you disappointed you didn't get to pitch twice against the Twins? And what's it like to have 4 months off a year?

Barry Zito: Yeah, I'm kind of disappointed because I would have liked to try and make an impact. It's tough to make an impact on a series when you only pitch once. It's just how the rotation worked out.

Mark: Who do you think is the best all around athlete in baseball, defensively or offensively?

Barry Zito: That's tough .. I'm not sure. On our team, a guy like Eric Chavez or Mark Mulder, those guys could play any sport and be good.

Bryan, Fremont: Hey Barry - great year, congratulations! Are you pretty confident in the A's ability as an organization to keep you guys together for some time? Get Tejada locked up? And push a new stadium deal? Would that be incentive enough to keep you around when the time comes? Next time your in Fremont and want to jam, drop a line! Good luck in the Cy balloting! Cheers, Bryan

Barry Zito: Yeah, I think a lot of the talk about us falls under Tejada's ordeal. If we can get him signed and the team shows they want to honestly do something and win, that would help. Obviousley getting the new stadium would be a big step.

Mike (San Diego): Barry, you're certainly a player with a unique style so I was wondering what your Halloween costume is going to be this year. Any suggestions for me?

Will (Minneapolis): Barry thanks for the teriffic season. I am a little concerned with Tim Hudson and his eradic performances. What do you think might be causing him to lose his edge? His strikeout numbers are way down and he just has been as dominant as he once was. He is only 26... do you know if he is wearing down?

Barry Zito: I don't know yet .. I'm anxious to make sure I get a good one this year. I might be going to the Playboy Mansion.. if I do that, I have to have something good.

Sorry, forgot to answer that second question..

I think a lot of people base those thoughts on his win/loss record which isn't really fair. His ERA is still good and I think the hip may have been bothering him. But I wouldn't worry.

jeremy (boston): Barry, like so many, 'm obsessed with your curve ball. Could you give us weekend hacks a few grip and release pointers? I'm going to be the only guy who needs tommy john surgery just from playing catch.

Barry Zito: The key to a curve is to keep the back of your hand in line with your forearm. You don't want to flex your wrist .. that leads to injury. That can be avoided with proper mechanics.

Tim: Sacramento, CA: Give us the dirt Barry. You are rooting for the Angels, aren't you?

Barry Zito: Yes. I am. It's the truth man. I pull for AL teams. Every since I was raised in San Diego, I have been a Giant and Dodger hater.

Chris Johansen (Atlantic City): Barry, congrat's on another great season. Did you guy's look past the Twins this year. I think the Yankees did.

Barry Zito: We knew what to expect. We had played them all year. Radke was the key to their success. And A.J. had a great postseason. They just stepped up and we didn't. We learn every year that we need to step up that much more.

Andy (Orlando): How is Art Howe as a manager?

Barry Zito: Very mellow. He just lets us do what we do and is a big reason for our success. He just lets us play and disciplines when he has to. He is very laid back.

Marco (Hartford): What was it like appearing on the Howard Stern show ?? Were you nervous ?

Barry Zito: I was very cautious. I didn't want to say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing. I knew he would try to get me to say something controversial. I'm going to try and be on the TV show this offseason.

Mike (Scottsdale): Hey Barry, do you have a home recording studio at home so you can pen your original work?

Barry Zito: Yes. I'm just getting it next weekend. There is a guy coming in from the Midwest to show me how to use it all. I'm really concentrating on my music this offseason.

Branden (Virginia: Barry you are a awesome pitcher, when you become a free agent will you please come to the yankees?

Barry Zito: That's a long way off man .. if the A's do what we hope, I'm staying in Oakland to get this dynasty rolling.

Tony.E (Chino, Ca): the Rally Monkey, your opinion?

Barry Zito: I like the Rally Monkey. Love it. It's a cool bit. They play the music and they have the quote with the kid saying "I see Monkey". It's great.

Yumi: Hi Barry. I love your sytle... My question is, how would you pitch to Bonds, if you are allowed to pitch to him? Thanks.

Barry Zito: I'm not unless I absolutely have to. A lot of people say it is not the manly thing to do but do you want to save your pride or win a World Series?

Emmett (Va. Beach): Good Luck in the Cy Young race-you certainly deserve it. As a big fan of the A's for 30 years, what do you feel like you all are missing to get you to a championship?

Barry Zito: We aren't missing anything. It's no key ingrediant. We have just not played our best in the last series of the year. We have showed we are good enough, we just have to step it up for the next postseason.

Nick (Portland, OR): If Billy Beane ends up leaving Oakland, what would that mean to the A's?

Barry Zito: That would not be good at all. The players are doing it on the field but to put together what he has is unprecedented in baseball history. He has put together so many studs and they are all really special guys.

Eric Rohloff (Vernon NJ): Barry thanks for the teriffic season. I am a little concerned with Tim Hudson and his eradic performances. What do you think might be causing him to lose his edge? His strikeout numbers are way down and he just has been as dominant as he once was. He is only 26... do you know if he is wearing down?

Barry Zito: I think some people base that on his win loss record and that isn't really fair. His era was sub 3 so I don't think he is losing his stuff. His hip probably hindered him a little.

Jen, NYC: So Barry, I hear that you are also a big fan of the band Guster. What is your favorite song by them?

Barry Zito: The Green album is the only one I have and I love it. I think it's called Lost and Gone Forever.

Will (Boston): Barry, if you had to vote for either Derek Lowe or Pedro Martinez for the Cy Young, who would you vote for and why?

Barry Zito: I don't know. I don't really know the criteria. I have seen Pedro twice and Lowe once this year. I don't see it as much as everyone else so it's not really fair for me to say.

Joe (Orlando): Do you hang out with any of your teammates during the offseason?

Barry Zito: Yes, a little. I enjoy hanging out with the guys. Adam Piatt is coming to L.A. and a former teammate Mark Belhorn will be coming out. I'll probably see Mulder and Hudson a few times also.

Mike (New York, NY): Barry -- what are your favorite DMB tunes? What do you think of their new album "Busted Stuff"? Continued success and I hope you win the CY!

Barry Zito: It changes so often.. right now I think it's an unreleased song called Help Myself.. it's written in a very strange key. He pulls it off though.

Mike (Los Angeles): Have you ever jammed with Scott Spezio and Sandfrog?

Barry Zito: I have not. I don't know where he lives but I would love to get with him.. I think he only plays electric though.

Andy (Seattle): your show--the Zito files. Why does it rotate so much, and is there some sort of schedule I just haven't been able to decipher?

Barry Zito: It's basically whenever they have time. It's pretty ambiguous .. there is no set schedule.

Angela (Berkeley): Do you think the A's poor preformance in the playoffs will affect the atomosphere in the clubhouse nex year?

Barry Zito: No. I think now, there will be no letting down until that last out of the last game. We played hard and battled this year but in 2001 we let up a little. We will be that much more determined next year to win a World Series ...

Thanks for all the great questions.. I always enjoy talking to you guys and hearing what is on your mind. We'll try and do this again sometime. Take care!