Tall Tales: The Andrew Zarzour Story

[ifspuds]

Whew. I figured it was, but I had to ask. That would've been absolutely crazy.

[AZTarHeel]

It's the Christmas holidays 2002, and Andrew Zarzour is back at home in little ol' Bunn, North Carolina.

The past few months had been a roller coaster time for the big fella. On the one hand, he has been treated like a hero in his home town and home state for being part of a World Series championship team. On the other hand, there have been backlashes over his not-so-stellar performance in his final start -- the five homer game against the Red Sox in Game Four.

A few newspaper columnists took shots at Zarzour, one calling him Mr. Whiplash because of the number of times he's had to jerk his head around to watch balls sail out of the park. Others have speculated that the Dodgers are done with the 7-foot-2 "freak show" and plan to trade the youngster now that a Series title is in hand. LA brass have said nothing of the sort to him, but even Zarzour knows that with all the pitching talent in the Dodgers' system right now, he'll have his work cut out for him to earn a starting spot again.

Zarzour may begin 2003 back in Triple A, trying to work on the issues that have resulted in so many long balls. For some reason, that thought is just crushing to the 22-year-old, even though it may be for his best long-term.

With his little brother's departure to the Marines imminent and his dad suffering through some more "heart issues" that have required some minor surgery, Zarzour allowed himself to entertain this thought -- maybe he should just walk away from baseball altogether right now. Maybe he needs to come home and be the man of the house instead of continuing to chase his baseball dreams.

As he went to bed the night of Christmas Eve, he had all but convinced himself. "I'm done playing baseball," he thought as he dozed off...

[cochrane]

I just finished reading this thought for the first time, and I have to say that I'm really impressed with how you've managed to write 'period piece' within the context of actual history. Some of the various directions the teams have gone in (Bonds to the Blue Jays, A-Rod to LA) are pretty fascinating, but then again, that's what OOTP is all about, right?

Well done. Looking forward to reading more.

-- ZC

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by cochrane

I just finished reading this thought for the first time, and I have to say that I'm really impressed with how you've managed to write 'period piece' within the context of actual history. Some of the various directions the teams have gone in (Bonds to the Blue Jays, A-Rod to LA) are pretty fascinating, but then again, that's what OOTP is all about, right?

Well done. Looking forward to reading more.

-- ZC

Thanks ZC -- it has been a lot of fun to write and create ... We'll see what happens next. I just upgraded to OOTP8 and have been getting used to that before I launch full-force into the next phase of Big Z's story. The Dodgers should be pretty good again in '03. What role Zarzour plays is another question altogether...

[cochrane]

Have you simmed ahead a few seasons already?

-- ZC

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by cochrane

Have you simmed ahead a few seasons already?

-- ZC

Actually, no. It's still Jan. 1, 2003 in Zarzour's world ... I have started 3-4 different leagues in OOTP8 though just to get a feel for how things work. Some may end up being their own dynasty story someday. One may actually intersect with Zarzour's story because it's at about the same time period - perhaps.

But I'm excited to see what the Big Z can do in this "second phase" of his career -- if in fact he decides he does want to keep playing baseball ... wonder what he'll decide? hmm...

[AZTarHeel]

It's Opening Day 2003 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The defending World Series champions are beginning their title defense at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, with a three-game series against the NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks.

The scene is about as pristine as you could imagine. The weather is perfect -- mid-70s with a slight breeze, wonderful enough baseball conditions for the D-Backs to open their retractable roof. The players' new uniforms literally sparkle in the late afternoon sun as the teams go through warm-ups on perfectly manicured grass.

Ah, baseball is back. A great crowd is expected to see if the hometown D-Backs can take down the champs.

But Andrew Zarzour is nowhere near Bank One Ballpark on this day. Instead, he's in front of a TV watching with a knot in his stomach as the announcers talk about the Opening Day lineups and rosters.

Just as the broadcast returns from commercial to show the first pitch to LA leadoff man Damian Jackson, Zarzour leaps up and tears out of the room.

"I just can't watch this right now," he says. "I just can't do it..."

[elmwood44]

Uh-oh!!!!!

[AZTarHeel]

Five minutes after tearing out of the room, Andrew Zarzour bolted back in.

"What'd I miss? What'd I miss?" he said frantically.

"Well, we scored a run already," fellow pitcher Randy Keisler shot back. "It's the bottom of the first now, and Arizona's up."

"You're a mess, Z," Ben Molina added with a laugh. "You know that? You're a real mess."

"I know," Zarzour said, feigning a sulking look on his face. "It's just killing me that I can't be there. Especially on Opening Day."

Zarzour plopped down again in front of the TV, appearing to calm down. Ramon Martinez was pitching for the Dodgers and had already given up a base hit to the youthful D-Backs.

"Hey, it's killing all of us that we can't be there with the Big Club right now," Keisler said.

"Exactly," Molina said. "But we can all do something about it, starting tomorrow."

And the three new roomies, who had been thrown together by the circumstances of the new season, settled in to watch the rest of the game, determined to be back in Dodgers uniforms as soon as possible.

[AZTarHeel]

Las Vegas 51s Baseball Report

Zarzour ready to begin "second phase" of pitching career

April 1, 2003

By Brian Latta
LVRJ Sports

The tallest player in professional baseball will throw out the first pitch tonight as the Las Vegas 51s begin a new Triple A season against the Salt Lake Stingers.

Andrew Zarzour, a 7-foot-2 left-hander, will take the hill in a 7:05 p.m. game at Cashman Field. Tickets are still available.

This will be Zarzour's first Minor League game since the 2000 season, when he pitched for the now defunct Albuquerque Dukes, the Dodgers' former Triple A affiliate. He got called up by the Dodgers that summer and spent the entire 2001 and 2002 seasons with the Big Club, picking up a World Series ring in October when LA swept the Boston Red Sox in four straight.

It was Zarzour's start in Game Four of the World Series that compelled the Dodgers to send their promising young star back the Minors to "work out some issues" to start this season. Though LA rallied to win the contest, Zarzour put his team in an early hole by giving up a World Series record five home runs.

"It was tough to completely enjoy winning the Series because of how poorly I pitched," Zarzour said during a recent interview. "That night sent me into a tailspin for awhile. I just had a lot of doubts about my abilities."

Until that point, Zarzour was a mostly feel-good story. The likable gentle giant made a meteoric rise to the Majors -- maybe too fast? -- after getting drafted out of Bunn High School in the summer of 1999. In just a few months he sailed through Single A, Double A and Triple A and found himself with the Big Club, getting a win in his September debut against the Cubs. That would be his only appearance that year aside from some mop-up duties in a playoff win over Atlanta. But what a way to start a professional career.

"I still remember striking out Sammy Sosa in the sixth inning," Zarzour says with a laugh. "I felt like a king that day. Of course, Sammy got a nice hit on me earlier in the game. I didn't care. I struck out one of the best hitters in the game."

Zarzour started 2000 with the Dukes, playing their last season as a franchise, but won his way back with the Dodgers in a few months. He was 17-7 as a full-time starter in 2001, leading the team in wins from the No. 4 spot in the rotation. Last season, despite injury issues in the late spring, he posted a 12-4 record.

While his numbers have been eye-popping for such a young pitcher, there has always been one glitch. Zarzour tends to give up the long ball -- sometimes in droves. He surrendered a three-run shot in the NLCS against Atlanta last season and then of course the five HRs against the Red Sox in the World Series. Both times, LA's offense saved the day, basically outscoring the opposition to save their pitcher from losses.

"I'd hate to think what my record would be without my teammates providing so many runs," Zarzour said.

It's been a roller coaster time for 'Big Z' since the Series. In addition to his own mounting doubts about his pitching, he had to deal with an array of personal issues. His brother, Timmy, will join the Marines this summer, heading off to boot camp in July. He may end up in either Afghanistan or Iraq. His father spent a few nights in the hospital in December when it was discovered he had a defective heart valve. That will require a more serious surgery in the near future.

In January, rumors began floating that LA wanted to unload the pitcher and were shopping him around. One report had Zarzour being traded to Anaheim. While LA officials flatly denied that a deal was in the works, an Anaheim official, who requested anonymity, told the Los Angeles Times that a trade was close to being finalized. "There were some hang-ups on the financial side that kept it from going through," he said at the time. "We really thought he was coming to the American League."

But the Zarzour trade never materialized and he arrived at Spring Training, despite all the adversity, in what he described as the best mental and physical shape of his life.

Yet a few weeks in, Dodgers manager Jim Tracy delivered him another setback. It was decided that Zarzour was going to start the season in Triple A, with the Las Vegas 51s. Clay Condrey, a star for the 51s last season, was being moved up to take his spot in the rotation. Ramon Martinez, B.K. Kim, Dan Smith and Darren Driefort would be the other starters, with Ted Lilly, another 51s regular a year ago, moving up as the mop guy and spot starter.

"It took me a few days to just absorb that news," Zarzour said. "I thought I had been pitching well this spring and doing what it took to earn a spot. But they obviously thought differently. I was down about it for a little while but I just decided that if they want me to prove myself again to them, then that's what I'll do.

"I look at this as the beginning of the second phase of my pitching career. The Dodgers gave me a job to do and that's pitch the best I can for the Las Vegas 51s. That's what I intend to do, one day and one game at a time."

Zarzour isn't alone in his quest to win back the hearts of Dodgers' brass. His catcher tonight, Ben Molina, also was part of the Big Club for much of last season as Paul Lo Duca's backup. But then LA grabbed Scott Servais off waivers late in the season and Molina was abruptly moved down to Triple A. Servais is still Lo Duca's back-up to start this season.

Fellow 51s left-hander Randy Keisler also spent some time with the Dodgers last year, going 1-2 in three starts with a 5.58 ERA. Even though Zarzour and Keisler are in a big sense competitors for a place on the Dodgers' roster, Zarzour says the two have become fast friends.

"He is just a great guy all-around," Zarzour said. "I'm his biggest fan. If he gets called up and I don't, I still be his biggest fan.

"Hopefully, we'll both get our opportunities this season. Hopefully our stays in Las Vegas, though we really love this team, will be short and sweet."

[JGil050]

So it took me a few days, but I am totally submersed in the world of Big Z!! I have been away from these boards for quite a while, but this is definitely a reason I am here every day now. So Big Z is back in the minors huh? Hopefully he can get some of the kinks worked out and back in the show before too long. If you find some time, might you let me know whats going on with the Orioles in your world....

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by JGil050

So it took me a few days, but I am totally submersed in the world of Big Z!! I have been away from these boards for quite a while, but this is definitely a reason I am here every day now. So Big Z is back in the minors huh? Hopefully he can get some of the kinks worked out and back in the show before too long. If you find some time, might you let me know whats going on with the Orioles in your world....

Hey JGil, thanks for reading ... yeah, the Big Z is back in the Minors. Part of that has to do with my switch to OOTP8 from a much older version. Some of his ratings didn't translate too well but it still shows he has a lot of potential. Will be interesting to see how he progresses...

As for the Orioles, they were 10 under .500 last season, and finished fifth in the division. But the two years before that, they were pretty good. The O's were 91-71 in 2001 but still finished third in the division because the Red Sox and Blue Jays were so good. In 2000, they were 89-73 but again finished third because of the Red Sox and Yanks...

Looking at their 2003 lineup, here are some key players:
C Jason Varitek - just obtained in a trade with the Red Sox
3B Jim Thome
CF Jim Edmonds
LF Bobby Higginson

Kris Benson is the No. 1 starter. Arthur Rhodes is No. 2. Tom Glavine is the No. 3 man ... John Rocker is a set-up man for the O's (keeping his offensive comments to himself). I'll keep an eye on them for you this season...

AZ

[AZTarHeel]

Las Vegas 51s Baseball Report

Big Z smokes Stingers in opener

April 2, 2003

By Brian Latta
LVRJ Sports

Andrew Zarzour ruffled a few feathers a couple weeks back when he said Las Vegas was far from his favorite city.

But the 7-foot-2 Las Vegas 51s pitcher likely won back some admirers with his performance last night at Cashman Field. Zarzour pitched a complete game two-hitter, helping the 51s beat the Salt Lake Stingers 6-0.

Big Z struck out an amazing 16 batters against only two walks. Best of all, nothing left the yard. In fact, few things even left the infield -- a positive sign for a pitcher who had considered giving up his baseball career after surrendering five home runs in a World Series game last October.

"He had us guessing all night. We never figured him out," said Salt Lake left fielder Chad Allen, who K'd three times. "It was like we were just a bunch of Joe Nobodys out there. I don't see him staying in Triple A very long.'

Which is exactly what Zarzour hopes.

Ben Molina helped his pitcher's cause with two hits and two RBIs.

Las Vegas hosts Salt Lake again tonight at 7:05. Another left-hander Randy Keisler will get the ball for the 51s.

[AZTarHeel]

Dodgers are hot again; everyone can relax

LA enters May with best record in baseball

May 1, 2003

Shame on all of you gloom-and-doomers who bailed on the Dodgers when they started 1-4. What do you have to say for yourselves now?

LA enters the month of May with a 20-9 record, the best in the Majors. Only Atlanta (19-9) still has single digit losses. Yeah, it took a week or so for the Dodgers to find their rhythm, but aside from maybe Damian Jackson’s bat this team is playing at the high level everyone expected of the defending World Champions.

Josh Hamilton? He’s got 45 hits already and a .359 average. A-Rod? Smooth as silk on defense and a nice offensive line to boot -- .299 average, 7 HR’s, 19 RBIs, 6 stolen bases. Paul Lo Duca (.355 average), Johnny Damon (.344) and Albert Pujols (.305)? Yeah, go ahead and pitch around Hamilton and A-Rod and see where that gets you.

The pitching is among the best in the Majors thus far. Dan Smith, he of the plain name, carries a 2.43 ERA with four wins. BK Kim, he of the strange sidearm form, also has won four times, with an even better ERA (2.13), averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Trevor Hoffman, who recently re-signed with the club for the next three years, has eight saves.

Ramon Martinez, last year’s Cy Young winner, is only 2-3 but his last outing was a one-hit shutout against Philadelphia two days ago. He struck out 12. Smith held the Phils to just three hits the day before that, with 11 K’s. (Then again, maybe it’s the Phillies).

Right now, the team is doing a lot of things right. They are 6-2 in one-run games and 3-0 in extra-innings affairs. They defend their home turf (10-3 at Chavez Ravine) and lead the Majors in hits.

Now all this doesn’t guarantee a World Series championship come October. But good grief. Can the folks who were ready to fire Jim Tracy after the first week of the season please calm down now?

[AZTarHeel]

Zarzour named PCL‘s best pitcher for April

Las Vegas lefty went 4-1 in six starts

May 1, 2003

OFFICIAL RELEASE

Andrew Zarzour of the Las Vegas 51s is the first pitcher of the month in the Pacific Coast League.

The 7-foot-2 left-hander went 4-1 in the month of April with a 2.03 ERA in six starts. He had 64 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. He had 16 K’s in the season opener, a two-hit, complete-game win over Salt Lake.

In his only loss, he threw 10 innings against Colorado Springs, surrendering only six hits and fanning 11. Las Vegas lost 3-2 that night.

_____________________

Author’s note: Wa-hoo!! And he’s only given up two home runs, so that’s a plus. I wonder, though, what this means because most of the players he’s going against are ghost players (hence the Joe Nobody quote a few posts ago).

My scout says Zarzour and Randy Keisler are both ready for the Major Leagues now, the problem is -- nowhere to put them. LA’s got five pretty good starters and a pretty solid bullpen. Yet, I don’t want Z to waste away in Triple A…

Big Z's stat line thus far... crazy that the AI is leaving him out there so long ... I guess because I only have a few "real" relief pitchers on the roster...

Date	    Opponent	Result	          Start	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Dec
04-26-2003	@ EDM	Win, 7-3	X	9.0	8	3	3	1	10	Win		 	 	 	 	 	 
04-21-2003	ABQ	Win, 3-2	X	9.0	10	2	2	1	8			 	 	 	 	 	 
04-16-2003	@ OMA	Win, 7-2	X	7.1	4	2	2	6	11	Win		 	 	 	 	 	 
04-11-2003	COL	Loss, 2-3	X	10.0	6	3	3	4	11	Loss		 	 	 	 	 	 
04-06-2003	@ TAC	Win, 7-2	X	9.0	8	2	2	3	8	Win		 	 	 	 	 	 
04-01-2003	SLT	Win, 6-0	X	9.0	2	0	0	2	16	Win

[AZTarHeel]

From: "Andrew Zarzour" AZarzour72@earthlink.net
Sent: May 15, 2003 * 11:30 AM
To: "Brandon Weaver" BManWeaver@yahoo.com
Subject: Congratulations, Tar Heel Graduate!

Hey Brandon, Andrew here. Sorry about the informal email but you know how I am with writing letters. Just wanted to say congrats on your graduation from Carolina. And you did it in four years, too! With honors. You are the man, my friend. I’ll be thinking about you tomorrow morning at 1 p.m. when you parade across Kenan Stadium with your light blue cap and gown on.

As much fun as this baseball ride has been, I sometimes find myself dreaming about being a college student and what it would have been like to go to Chapel Hill with you and some of our Bunn High classmates.

So what are you plans after graduation? Is your Europe trip still on? If that falls through, there is always Las Vegas. Haha. Plenty to do here. I’m not a big night life man as you know but have found a few golf courses around that I like. I shot an 84 last week!

Just remember, what happens here, will stay here as they say. I just hope I’m not here too much longer. I’m hoping for a call up to get back “home” to Los Angeles. Unless someone gets hurt or traded, though, I don’t know if I’ll get a call.

Everyone seems to be pitching so well for the Big Club. BK Kim has been filthy -- better than I thought -- and Clay Condrey, I have to admit, has been stellar in his move to being a starter. Ramon Martinez isn’t having the greatest year , but I don’t see them moving the reigning Cy Young award winner out of the rotation unless catastrophe hits. We’ll see.

I’m actually having a lot more fun than I thought I would here in Triple A. I don’t even mind the creepy alien on my baseball cap anymore (yes, I can send you a cap -- just tell me what size you need).

I can see myself being a Minor League manager type guy or pitching coach when I retire from playing baseball. I’ve gotten to be pretty good friends with Randy Keisler and Ben Molina here in Las Vegas. We’ve already talked about how we would run a Minor League franchise if we ever became owners or GMs. Anything to pass the time on road trips.

Again, congrats on your big day. I still can’t believe it’s been four years since we all went fishing that morning I got drafted. We’re growing up, eh?

Take care, man. And no I don't have a girlfriend yet.

Your friend,
Andrew

PS: What is this I hear about North Carolina making a bid for the Expos if they decide to move? That would be cool. Major League Baseball in our backyard. Maybe I could pitch for them some day -- haha … Wonder what kind of nickname a team from NC would have? I like Mudcats but they'd have to buy it from the Double A team near Bunn...

[AZTarHeel]

From: "Brandon Weaver" BManWeaver@yahoo.com
Sent: May 18, 2003 * 1:48 A.M.
To: "Andrew Zarzour" AZarzour72@earthlink.net
Subject: RE: Congratulations, Tar Heel Graduate!

Hey Andrew, great to hear from you! Yeah, it's crazy, I'm a college graduate. For like 16 years of my life I've been operating on a school schedule (fall classes, Christmas break, spring classes, summer break) and now, well, that's over. It's off to the real world, working every day and getting like one week off per year. I'm going to miss all the breaks, that's for sure!

Graduation day was kind of surreal. I really said my goodbyes to lots of friends and UNC campus life days before that (my roomies and I had to fight back tears when we closed the door of our dorm room for the last time -- we had all spent three years of our lives there, lots of great memories).

The Journalism School had its own commencement in the morning and then we joined the throng at Kenan Stadium for the final commencement where everyone walks. Then my mom and dad, my sister and my girlfriend went to eat Chinese food. That was it. Then it was home to a new life.

My dad did tell me he was proud of me several times. I'm not sure he's said that to me very much in my life, so that meant a lot.

Moving on ... The Europe trip IS still on -- we leave in 10 days! Robbie is coming, too. Too bad we can't swing through Vegas first. It sounds like you're still on a tear. I'm biased but I don't see why they don't call you back up. Good grief, you've got nothing left to prove in Triple A, right? What is your record now -- 6-1 or 7-1? You're averaging like 10 strikeouts per game now, right? Bring my man Z back to the Dodgers!!

It's funny you should ask about the bid by North Carolina to get the Expos moved here. That may be one of the big stories I could be working on when I get back from Europe -- as I start my one-year internship with Baseball America!! Wahoo!

It's a long story how I landed that gig, but I really lucked out. Another guy had it, then decided it wasn't for him. I just so happened to call the head editor later that day to follow up on the position (I had interviewed a month earlier), we talked at length again, and whamo -- I'm a Baseball America guy! I'm hoping it will lead to a full-time gig there or open doors somewhere in the baseball media world (covering an MLB team, working for an MLB team, being the personal PR guy for one Andrew Zarzour)... Haha...

As for a professional team relocating in our home state, well it's a long-shot. Right now Washington DC and Northern Virginia are the leading candidates, but the group organizing North Carolina's bid is planning to make a pretty serious run at it... We'll see ... Read all about it in the next few issues of Baseball America!!

Take care my friend. Keep pitching strong and you'll get your chance in the Big Show again, I'm sure of it. Until then, just concentrate on enjoying the moment...

Brandon

[AZTarHeel]

Baseball Fans: The Carolina .... What?

Help us name the potential MLB franchise for the Tar Heel state

The Carolina Professional Baseball Club Inc., based right here in the Triangle, is making a strong push to have the Montreal Expos relocated to the Tar Heel state, possibly as early as the 2005 season. The club would join the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes in a growing professional sports market.

The Carolina boys, though, know they are in for an uphill climb, especially with most sentiment around MLB calling for the 'Spos to relocate to Washington D.C. (if the death of baseball in Montreal becomes official like most believe it will).

It's going to take a strong, strong sales push to get owners to consider North Carolina over DC or Northern Virginia. That begins with a solid marketing campaign. So, in that vain, we here at The News & Observer are sponsoring a special contest for our readers to help the Carolina effort succeed.

Here is what we're looking for:

• What would you name North Carolina's franchise if we got one? (Remember that Tar Heels, Wolfpack, Blue Devils and Hurricanes are nicknames already taken around here)

• What should the team colors be? (is there such a thing as barbecue orange?)

Submit your ideas right here at the N&O's Web site and we'll publish the best answers (obviously forwarding them to the fine folks at the Carolina Professional Baseball Club for their perusal).

(Hint, hint -- dynasty readers, feel free to chime in if you've got good suggestions -- who knows, your ideas may change history in Big Z's world!!)

[elmwood44]

I've got the CHARLOTTE BULLFROGS in my fictional league.
colors=green,black

[JGil050]

Baeball in the Carolina's huh? Well wouldnt that just be great for the game!! Is the bid for Charlotte? If so I like the name Charlotte Flight, not sure it really fits the mold of a MLB franchise but it brings a historical background with it. Not sure what to do color wise with them, although I do like the blue and orange in the Charlotte Bobcats color scheme. Just an idea!