“He’s an animal” is how new San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb described playing against Los Angeles Angels generational talent Shohei Ohtani.

Alex Cobb is departing the LA Angels after signing a 2-year, $20 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Cobb, who spent last season pitching for the Angels in Anaheim, knows firsthand how good his former teammate Ohtani is.

Alex Cobb said he trained with Shohei Ohtani for a few weeks over the offseason. “When he trains, he wants to beat the world record. That’s not exaggerating. He’ll ask, `What’s the world record?'”

Alex Cobb said he trained with Shohei Ohtani for a few weeks over the offseason. “When he trains, he wants to beat the world record. That’s not exaggerating. He’ll ask, `What’s the world record?'” “Alex Cobb said he trained with Shohei Ohtani for a few weeks over the offseason. “When he trains, he wants to beat the world record. That’s not exaggerating. He’ll ask, `What’s the world record?'” – @Andrew Baggarly

“Watching him hit a first-pitch curveball out the other day in a Spring Training game gets you a little rattled. He’s an animal. Another reason I went to the NL. Of course, I pulled him up first,” said Cobb when referring to his decision to sign with the Giants. The Giants and Angels will not play each other this year as the former plays in the National League, while the latter plays in the American League.

Shohei Ohtani really is an animal

Alex Cobb had an impressive season in his own right in 2021. The right-handed pitcher had an ERA of 3.76, a WHIP of just above 1.2 and went with eight wins and three losses on the season.

Ohtani, who is a decade Cobb’s junior, outdid his departing teammate. The Japanese whiz finished the season with a record of 9-2. He also bested Alex Cobb’s ERA and WHIP for a team-best 3.18 and 1.0 respectively.

What makes Ohtani so notable is that he is just as much a menace to opposing pitchers as he is to opposing batters. While simultaneously logging the aforemnioned pitching stats, Shohei Ohtani hit 46 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also had an OPS of .965, making him the stuff of pitcher nightmares.

How’s this for an introduction: Alex Cobb squares off vs. Shohei Ohtani in SF Giants debut bayareane.ws/386c4MZ “How’s this for an introduction: Alex Cobb squares off vs. Shohei Ohtani in SF Giants debut” – @ Mercury News

Cobb faced the Angels in Spring Training on Sunday. He pitched 3.1 innings and didn’t allow a run. He faced Ohtani twice, walking him intentionally in both instances. It may be a while before the two players see each other again. Like many of us, Alex Cobb will only watch and see if Shohei Ohtani reaches the potential we all know he has to become one of the best players in baseball today.

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Edited by Jodi Whisenhunt

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Pitcher Barry Zito, a soulful presence on both sides of the bay for more than a decade, officially announced his expected resignation on Monday with a heartfelt ego article in the Players Tribune describing the many ups and downs of his career.

“I’m going back from baseball today, but I’ll never be too far removed from the game that made me who I am,” wrote Zito. “I’m immensely grateful to be at peace with leaving, especially thanks to my year of renewal in Nashville with the Sounds.

“My return to Oakland last month was a ‘cherry on top’ moment in my life that my family and I will never forget. I will undoubtedly stand in the stands on both sides of the bay in the years to come. “

Zito was referring to the 2015 season he spent with Oakland’s Triple-A team before the A’s called him to the majors in late September. He made three appearances, including two starts, one against his former Oakland “Big Three” colleague Tim Hudson and the Giants at the Coliseum.

Music has long been a part of Zito’s life. His late parents worked in the industry. His season in Music City allowed him to reconnect with those roots and propel him into a post-baseball career.

“Today I am very happy to be a ‘rookie’ again in a new field: songwriting,” wrote Zito. “I’m sure the lessons baseball taught me will help me develop the thick skin I need for this new endeavor. If you happen to hear a song of mine one day, I hope you are honest with what you think. I’ve built up adversity-handling skills over the years, so go ahead and fire!

Most of these adversities came in San Francisco after he signed a seven-year contract for $ 126 million prior to the 2007 season. When he was badly served, the fans let him know. He wrote that some of his own fans “yelled profanity in my face while I was in the dugout”. Zito sometimes called his mother to “seek five minutes of comfort with someone who understood me.”

Roberta Zito died that same year.

Long before those tough days in San Francisco, Zito established himself as one of the majors’ top pitchers during the happy A days of the early 2000s with a signature round house curveball. He made his debut in 2000 and two years later won the American League’s Cy Young Award with a 23-5 record and a 2.75 ERA.

Zito had exceptional numbers in his original seven seasons with the A’s, 102-63 with a 3.55 ERA. When he became a free agent, the Giants needed a makeover for the franchise in a Barry Bonds era they knew was about to end, and baffled baseball by giving Zito the $ 126 million deal by far the most that they had ever awarded a player.

The contract surprised many in the game who believed Zito’s days as a top-of-the-rotation starter were over.

In fact, Zito was struggling in San Francisco. He was banned from all postseason squads in 2010 when the Giants won the first of their three World Series championships over five seasons. Ultimately, he made himself popular with the fans by taking part without complaint and then making a huge contribution to the 2012 championship.

In Game 5 of the National League Championship Series in St. Louis, in which the Giants lost three to one, Zito scored a staggering 72/3 innings at Busch Stadium to secure a 5-0 win that took the series to San Francisco relocated where the Giants won Games 6 and 7 for the pennant. Then Zito opened a four-game sweep for the Tigers in the World Series by beating Justin Verlander with an 8-3 win at AT&T Park.

“Aside from all the accomplishments,” wrote Zito, “the only thing that fulfills me today is acceptance of myself as a worthy and valuable person, regardless of my stature or position in the world, on any particular day of my career. ”

Henry Schulman is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: hschulman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hankschulman

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SAN FRANCISCO – Dick Tidrow, a former Major League pitcher and longtime front office member of the San Francisco Giants, has died. He was 74.

The Giants announced his death on Wednesday on behalf of the Tidrow family. He died unexpectedly on Saturday in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

“Our entire organization is heartbroken at the news of Dick’s death,” said Larry Baer, ​​Giants president and CEO. “So much of our success over the past three decades is directly related to Dick’s contributions. We will all miss him very much and our thoughts are with Mari Jo and his entire family during this difficult time. “

Tidrow set up parts of 13 major league seasons for the Indians, Yankees, Cubs, White Sox and Mets. The 6-foot-4 right-handed man had a career record of 100-94 with a 3.68 ERA over 620 appearances with 138 starts.

Tidrow most recently served as senior advisor to the Giants to the president of the baseball business. He spent 28 seasons in half a dozen roles with the Giants after joining the franchise as a major league scout prior to the 1994 season.

The former pitcher’s leadership was vital during the Giants’ three World Series championship seasons in 2010, ’12 and ’14. The 2010 championship was the first for the franchise since moving west in 1958.

“Dick was a unique and special person whose influence and impact was legendary throughout the game, and whose fingerprints are all over our three World Series trophies,” said Brian Sabean, executive vice president and senior advisor for the Giants. “On a personal level, we have shared some incredible ups and downs and I am forever grateful for his 40 years of friendship and support.”

Before returning to his native San Francisco, Tidrow worked as a Special Assignment Scout for the Yankees from 1985 to 1993.

“Crushing! We lost another great baseball man!” Former Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen posted on Twitter. “The ‘ninja’ was so influential to all of us. His random moments when he showed up, maybe said a few words that might help you, a few words that you might not want to hear at the time. But he was ALWAYS HONEST! “

Tidrow was born in San Francisco on May 14, 1947. A retired Marine, he attended high school and college in Hayward, a suburb of East Bay, graduating from Mount Eden High in 1965 and Chabot Junior College two years later.

He leaves behind his wife Mari Jo, three children – Andy, Matt and Richelle – and a grandchild, Trista.

“Dick was truly one of a kind. He is loved and missed beyond measure and is irreplaceable in our hearts and lives,” said Mari Jo Tidrow.

Services were due.

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