[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour and his catcher stood on the mound of the Albuquerque Sports Stadium, waiting for manager Mike Scioscia to visit. This time Zarzour didn't dread the trip. It was the middle of the seventh inning, and the Albuquerque Dukes pitcher had his head held high.

"Nice job out there today, Z," Scioscia said. "I told you we'd get this thing turned around. We'll get this closed out for you and get you another 'W'."

This would be Zarzour's final start of the 1999 Triple A season. If the Dukes held on to beat the Calgary Cannons — which seemed likely because they were up 9-3 — Zarzour would get his third win in the past four starts, and his fourth in the past six.

Big Z had been on target in this game, especially, striking out 15 while scattering five hits. He had walked four, and that's what got him in a bit of trouble early on. But he was rock solid from the third through the seventh innings. Scioscia came to get him only when Zarzour finally reached his designated pitch count and the game situation required a right-hander to come in and face a tough right-handed batter.

Zarzour still wouldn't like his final Triple A numbers. His ERA ended up being 5.90. But that sure looked a lot better than the 11+ ERA he had after four starts. His final record of 4-8 wasn't that pretty either. But again, he had finished well, which was the most important thing. He had figured some things out mentally and mechanically, and in many ways hated to see things end because he felt on a roll. It was too bad the Dukes hadn't made the playoffs. They weren't close really, finishing 66-72.

Zarzour also was looking forward to the next few weeks. It was mid-September, and the Dodgers' Big Club was in the final stages of (hopefully) completing an NL West title run. They still had to shake the pesky Colorado Rockies, which had lingered anywhere from two to seven games back all summer.

Zarzour planned to stay in Albuquerque, along with several other guys on the 40-man roster, just in case the Big Club needed him. LA had already called up a handful of guys like veteran 1B Cecil Fielder and reliever Frank Lankford after the Sept. 1 date to expand rosters. They probably wouldn't come get Zarzour, but you never know. Starter Butch Henry had been pretty unproductive during his stay with the Big Club since moving, and Ismael Valdes still wasn't 100 percent back from his injury.

Zarzour planned to continue his workout routines and bullpen sessions, training as if he was going up to the Big Club at any time. Better to be ready than unprepared if something crazy like that did come about...