Andrew Zarzour figured Sports Illustrated would have pretty good coverage of the baseball playoffs, especially on the Phillies’ three-game sweep of the LA Dodgers in one of the National League Divisional Series.
Zarzour was right, but even he wasn’t prepared for what he saw when he picked up the early October issue of his favorite magazine -- his own picture on the cover! Actually it was a great candid shot of a smiling Zarzour standing between fellow starting pitchers Jason Jennings and Lee Plunkett a couple of hours before the start of Game One against the Dodgers.
The cover headline read:
Armed And Dangerous
Phillies’ Young Guns Sweep Defending World Series Champs Out Of The Playoffs
Wow! The article was all about how Philadelphia’s long-term plan to rebuild the franchise was already reaping big dividends. It of course featured plenty of material on Zarzour, Jennings (age 27) and Plunkett (age 21), who each earned impressive victories in the series against the Dodgers.
Zarzour got things started in Game One. He pitched 7.1 solid innings, giving up just four hits and two earned runs, beating former teammate Dodgers Clay Condrey. Philadelphia went on to win 5-3. In the game, Zarzour even got a double and scored a run after a getting aboard with a successful sac bunt. Adrian Gonzalez, another youngster at age 23, hit a two-run home run in his first post-season appearance.
Jennings was masterful in Game Two, pitching a four-hitter over 8.1 innings in a 4-1 Philadelphia win. He struck out seven, and his only real bad pitch came in the fourth inning -- a home-run ball from BJ Upton. Adrian Gonzalez hit another homer for the Phillies, as did Edgard Clemente.
Plunkett generated the most buzz. As the series moved back to Philadelphia from Chavez Ravine, the young right-hander tossed a complete-game three-hitter in his first playoff game. He fanned five without a walk, helping the Phils prevail 2-1.
A Carlos Beltran homer put Philly up 1-0 in the third inning. The score stayed that way, with Plunkett and Dodgers ace Demaso Marte (possibly Cy Young winner) mowing ‘em down. BJ Upton tied the game 1-1 in the seventh inning with a solo homer off Plunkett. In the eighth inning, David Eckstein singled off reliever Brendan Donnelly. Gabe Kapler then moved Eckstein to third with a one-out single. Jorge Cantu was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then Eckstein came home on a fielder’s choice hit by catcher Ryan Doumit.
Plunkett asked to stay out there for the ninth inning, and got the Dodgers’ three biggest hitters -- Damian Jackson, Paul Lo Duca (NL batting champ) and Alex Rodriguez -- to pop out to end the game. And the series.
Andrew’s father bought like 10 copies of that edition of Sports Illustrated. Andrew’s picture had been in plenty of publications, but this one he was certainly going to save to show the grandkids someday…
Next up for Philadelphia: the NL Championship Series against the Houston Astros, who beat the Atlanta Braves in three straight (wow!)… Over in the AL, Texas took out the Boston Red Sox in five, while Cleveland (which has been in the World Series the past two years) moved closer to another trip by beating the Baltimore Orioles in five.
Josh Hamilton had a rough time for Baltimore in the playoffs. He went just 1-for-16 in the first four games, and then tore a hip muscle, missing the all-important Game Five. With JD Drew also out due to injury, upstart Baltimore didn’t really have a chance against the Indians…
NOTE: If you don’t recognize the name Lee Plunkett, don’t fret. He is one of the fictional players I accidentally allowed to get drafted into my league a few seasons ago. Somehow I had unchecked “import real rookies” and the game created a whole draft class of fictional guys. Hey, I’m not complaining. Plunkett is pretty good!