After demoting the $126 million man to the bullpen a whole week ago, Barry Zito found himself back on the rubber in the bottom of the first in Pittsburgh last night: a putative starter for a putrid team yet again.

He managed mediocrity, taking nearly 100 pitches to eke out five innings of two-run ball against the Pirates. Unfortunately, that pathetic Giants offense only scored once. Giants lose.

(Bruce Bochy Business Success Tool (assumed))

The SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE notes mechanical changes and mental focus and miscellaneous other unlikely and/or unprovable nonsense. Barry Zito is who he is. Now the question is: who the hell does Bruce Bochy think he is?

“”Barry’s going to start. He’s a starter,” Bochy said. “We felt we had to break it up and give him a break. We were hoping we cold get him out there (in relief) a couple of times. Now, that didn’t happen, so he’s going back into the rotation.”"

There’s a term for this in b-school that THE 700 LEVEL could probably help you with, Bruce: flailing. Maybe he’s a starter. Maybe he’s a reliever. Maybe you’re one of those inventive fellows that makes him a starter and has him relieve on his normal throwing off-days. Fine, brilliant. But choose, for crying out loud. He may not be much of a pitcher, but very few people succeed on shifting sands.