Is Barry Zito hanging on by a thread?

When Barry Zito was benched in the post-season, it was the first public sign from the Giants that they could admit what everyone else knew - the guy simply isn't very good. He's on the team because of what seems now, after Vernon Wells became suddenly trade-able, the worst contract in all of baseball. (Don't worry, Jayson Werth, your time is coming soon.)

Dazed, confused and ... on his way out?

While I've been disgusted by Zito's performance as a San Francisco Giant - he's 40-57 with a 4.45 ERA, a horrendous 1.408 WHIP and a remarkable ability to let a game spiral out of control as fast as anybody in the league - I don't hold Zito's contract against him. It's a player and agent jobs to get the best deal they can. It's a General Manager's job to manage a budget and roster effectively.

This might sound like it's going to be an attack on Brian Sabean - but of course, it isn't. Will I take the above stats from Zito - and the knowledge that his contract prevented some free agent signings that would have helped - for a World Series that was won in spite of all that? Um, hell yes I would. And will. And do.

So, whatever. And I expect that he'll be the 5th starter on the team this year and ... well, not be good. Listen, I might not be happy about it but I can't complain. A ring is a ring.

But to hear Bruce Jenkins tell it, the Giants might not even keep him around:

A source close to the team indicated Tuesday that there is "exasperation" with Zito, that his status as the No. 5 starter is "definitely not safe," and that the team would even consider buying out his expensive contract before Opening Day if that's what it takes to say farewell.  ... Heading into spring training, it was widely believed that the Giants were more than willing to ride it out with Zito, given the overall excellence of their rotation. But there's a healthy sense of urgency in the world champions' camp. They didn't clinch a postseason berth until the final game of the 2010 season, and they realize that just a single loss - something that could be avoided - could cost them a chance to repeat this year.

There is concern that Zito hasn't been properly diligent in maintaining his physical conditioning, and that Monday's performance (five walks in 13 batters) was all too reminiscent of Oct. 2, when he walked home two runs in the first inning against San Diego and took the loss in a vital game at AT&T Park.

This isn't helping, Barry.

OK, let's take those in reverse order -- if Zito hasn't been keeping in shape, that's going to change my opinion of him. The Giants have paid him about $87,000,000 already and owe him another $39,000,000 -- all to be a professional athlete. There's simply no excuse for not being fanatical about staying in shape, especially with gym rats like Brian Wilson on the team.

But it's the supposed concern over just a single loss that strikes me. One, the Giants are pretty focused, and that's as it should be. But two, if this has a shred of truth to it, at least some folks in the organization think that Jeff Suppan, Brian Lawrence, Clayton Tanner (R) are potentially less risky to put out there in a given regular season game. You literally couldn't show less confidence in a guy while still keeping him on your roster.

OK .. that's worse. STOP.Which, apparently, they're considering not doing. I don't buy it - again, I wouldn't be against them waiving him if he's simply that unreliable - but you have to have better options. I don't know much about Tanner, but that would be a very, very young pitching staff. I sort of like the idea of the end of the rotation being a veteran. And sure, Suppan and Lawrence are veterans, but there's a reason they were available.Suppan's career ERA is 4.69 and WHIP is 1.460, worse than Zito's wrteched stint with the Giants, and WAY higher than that in the last few years. The Giants signed Brian Lawrence when Elmer Dessens decided to back out of a deal. Enough said.

If this is all just a way to kick Zito in the ass and get him focused, then ... I guess so, but .. really? Zito is many things, but he's not an idiot. He's a good teammate - he took his playoff demotion with incredible grace, charm and enthusiasm - but he has to know the organization has soured on him. But there's no real reason to rub salt in his wounds like this, is there?

This is probably nothing more than a sportswriter thinking on the page, and that's fine. But for what it's worth, unless there's another pitcher out there who the Giants have their eye on to replace Zito in the rotation, I'm not seeing it.