Tall Tales: The Andrew Zarzour Story

[AZTarHeel]

No one was really surprised when this story rolled across the wire in the afternoon of Sept. 11:



Major League Baseball cancels games

By Ronald Blum
Associated Press
Tuesday, September 11, 2001; 5:10 p.m.

NEW YORK - Major league baseball postponed its entire schedule of 15 games Tuesday night following terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, and other sports also called off their events.

Aside from work stoppages, it was the first time since D-Day in 1944 that baseball wiped out a whole day of regular-season play.

"In the interest of security and out of a sense of deep mourning for the national tragedy that has occurred today, all major league baseball games for today have been canceled," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said.

The NFL, criticized for playing after President Kennedy's assassination in 1963, said it wasn't sure what it would do with this weekend's schedule. College football commissioners were considering the postponement of the weekend's entire schedule of games, with a decision expected as early as Wednesday. Race tracks around the nation called off their cards.

Selig called off the baseball owners' quarterly meeting that was set to start Tuesday in Milwaukee but did not make any decisions about Wednesday's games.

"I will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and make ongoing decisions accordingly," he said. "My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the families and victims of this horrendous series of events."

It was only the third time the major leagues postponed an entire day's schedule, aside from labor strife or weather, according to Scot Mondore of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

The others were Aug. 2, 1923, when President Warren G. Harding died; June 6, 1944, when Allied forces invaded France in World War II. Exhibition games were called off on April 14, 1945, two days after the death of President Roosevelt.

In 1945, the All-Star game was canceled because of wartime travel restrictions. The 1918 season ended a month early on Sept. 2 by order of the U.S. War Department.

"I was stunned by the JFK assassination and it took me a long time to get over that. I didn't think that was possible," Selig said at a news conference. "The (San Francisco) earthquake in '89, the World Series, that was a tragedy. But this is incomprehensible. The greatest country in the history in the world being attacked. So all of this doesn't mean very much today."

Selig said he and his wife were in New York last week, and "we went to the World Trade Centers because I hadn't been there in a while. Now to believe that they don't exist anymore."

Yankee Stadium, perhaps the building that most symbolizes American sports, was evacuated within 90 minutes of the first attacks on the World Trade Center.

Security was tightened outside the 78-year-old ballpark, located in the South Bronx, more than 10 miles from the World Trade Center.

"The ballpark is ringed with police," Yankees spokesman Rick Cerrone said after leaving his office.

Teams didn't know when they would play again. "Whenever it's deemed safe to hold large public gatherings again, we'll resume, but I'm sure we won't do it until then," Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten said.

The NFL was unsure what it would do.

"Regarding Sunday's games, we will make no decision today," league spokesman Joe Browne said. "We'll gather information and speak to several parties within the next 24 to 48 hours."

The PGA Tour canceled Thursday's starts of the World Golf Championship and two other tournaments.

Commissioner Tim Finchem said the American Express Championship in St. Louis, featuring Tiger Woods and top players from tours around the world, would begin Friday with 36 holes.

"This is a sad, sad day in America," Woods said after playing a practice round, which he began about two hours before the initial attack.

The Tampa Bay Classic will open with 18 holes each on Friday and Saturday and a 36-hole conclusion. The same schedule has been applied to the Buy.com Tour event in Oregon.

The Senior Tour will remain on schedule, with a 54-hole event that starts Friday in North Carolina.

With air traffic stopped across the country, several golfers were unable to get to St. Louis. Among those stranded were PGA champion David Toms, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III.

The Thoroughbred Racing Association canceled all its cards Tuesday, shuttering tracks at Delaware Park in Stanton, Del; Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.J.; the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.; Philadelphia Park in Bensalem Pa.; and Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. Cards also were wiped out at Great Lake Downs in Muskegon, Mich.; Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.; and Moutaineer Park in Chester, W.Va.

Arlington Park is Arlington Heights, Ill., and Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., canceled Wednesday's cards.

The Swiss-based International Olympic Committee expressed a "profound sense of shock and disbelief" at the attacks.

IOC president Jacques Rogge expressed "deepest sympathy" to the families of the victims and sent letters of condolence to President Bush, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee.

The 2002 Winter Olympics are to be held in Salt Lake City in February.

The commissioners from all the Division I-A conferences, including the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and Southeastern, discussed their options for staging this weekend's football games in a conference call hours after the attacks.

"It puts a lot less importance on Saturday," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "You say to yourself, 'Who's going to be getting on airplanes to go play each other right now?"'

The NCAA said conferences and schools have the authority to determine whether to play college football games this weekend as well as hold other events.

"The games themselves are insignificant in the face of what has happened today," NCAA president Cedric Dempsey said. "Our focus is entirely on the safety of student-athletes, athletics personnel and fans."

NASCAR also was monitoring the situation before making any decision on Sunday's New Hampshire 300, spokesman John Griffin said. The Indy Racing League said it will decide Wednesday on the status of Sunday's Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Baseball's minor leagues - their regular seasons over - postponed postseason games in all nine leagues that were to play Tuesday.

"Out of respect to the families and friends of those people who lost their lives or were injured in today's tragic events, we have postponed all playoff games scheduled for tonight in the United States," said Mike Moore, president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the governing body for the minors.

The International, Pacific Coast, Eastern, Southern, Texas, California, Florida State, Midwest and South Atlantic leagues were affected.

The stadium of one of minor league baseball team, the independent Newark Bears, has a view of the lower Manhattan skyline, where smoke filled the air after the World Trade Center was destroyed.

Major League Soccer postponed all four of Wednesday night's games.

In Columbus, Ohio, the U.S. Women's Cup doubleheader at Crew Stadium involving the United States against Japan and Germany vs. China was canceled.

In hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs postponed their trip to Newfoundland after Canadian airports grounded all outgoing flights. The Leafs were to travel to Newfoundland for training camp but decided to work out Wednesday in Toronto.

The Buffalo Sabres, fearing delays at the Canadian border, changed plans to open training camp Wednesday in St. Catharines, Ontario, and instead will work out at their suburban Buffalo complex.

Eric Lindros and the New York Rangers were set to open training camp at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

"Eric called at 11 a.m. and he said everyone was fine," Lindros' father, Carl Lindros, told The Canadian Press. "He was supposed to be downtown (in New York) to do a TV show but that was canceled."

In Germany, players on the Nuremberg Ice Tigers hockey team, which has Americans Paul Stanton, Chris Luongo and David Emmaunder under contract, voted against playing a game against the Revier Loewens Oberhausen because of the attacks.

In Nyon, Switzerland, the Union of European Football Associations said this week's games will take place as scheduled. UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner said there would be a minute's silence at all games.

________
(This was an actual story that ran on Sept. 11. Long but interesting to remember just how what happened that day affected the sports world)...

[AZTarHeel]

Timmy Zarzour had repeated the routine a thousand times on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001:

Call Big Ed's cell phone. Call Marcie's cell phone. Call the couple's home phone. Repeat.

A massive terrorist attack had just been perpetrated in New York City, where two of Timmy's favorite people in the entire world lived, and the high school senior from far away Bunn, N.C., wanted to find out if they were OK.

But alas, his calls didn't go through. Every once in awhile he'd get voicemail, but no real person. So Timmy would wait a few minutes and try again. And again. And again. And he'd worry all the more, especially considering Big Ed Scalfani — who had mentored Zarzour the year before during his community service time — was now a firefighter with a Brooklyn firehouse. But were firefighters from Brooklyn in Manhattan when the towers fell? He wasn't sure.

Finally, as afternoon turned to evening, Zarzour had a breakthrough. He sat down on his couch — the TV still showing the chilling images from the day — and dialed the Scalfani's home phone one more time. It rang! And just before the answering machine clicked on, a frantic female voice answered.

"Ed, is that you? Ed? Hello? I love you! Where are you! I miss you!"

"Hi, Marcie, it's me Timmy. Timmy Zarzour from North Carolina."

"Oh... Timmy... hi." The voice sank.

"I've been trying to reach you guys all day," Timmy said, talking a million miles an hour. "I've tried to call Ed on his cell but I can't get through. I tried your cell, too. But again, all these error messages. What a crazy day. Gosh, Marcie, it's so good to hear your voice and know that you're ..."

"Timmy, I can't find Ed."

"What?"

"Timmy, Ed's missing. He was supposed to have the day off, and we were going to have a nice relaxing picnic in Central Park after I stopped by campus for a quick meeting. But then we all heard about the attacks. He got a call from his chief immediately, kissed me, told me he loved me, and off he went to join his buddies at the World Trade Center."

"Surely Ed's OK," Timmy said, panic rising in his voice. "He's just busy I'm sure. So many people to help, right? Ed's OK. He's OK. He's got to be OK."

"Timmy, I think Ed's gone. I think my husband is dead..."

[Sagitta]

I hope we aren't having one of those "We cancelled the show during the offseason, sorry about ending it on a cliffhanger!" moments here.

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by Sagitta

I hope we aren't having one of those "We cancelled the show during the offseason, sorry about ending it on a cliffhanger!" moments here.

Sorry folks for the lack of updates lately. It has been crazy busy at work since early September. And since I'm kind of in a pivotal place in the story, I don't want to just post for the sake of posting. I have no plans at this point to abandon the story or anything (and the last time I checked my file hasn't gotten corrupted). I hope to pick things back up again soon. Thanks for your patience.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming, already in progress...

**ON A SIDE NOTE: Would a college basketball dynasty be OK to post here this winter? I have an idea for one - a story to be played out in real time during the 2007-08 hoops season - and I really don't have anywhere else I'd like to post it. But, this is a baseball dynasty board, right? Maybe I could find a way to tie it in some way to baseball... OK, now back to your regular programming...

[ifspuds]

I don't think we've ever limited dynasties to just baseball. There have been football dynasties before, and I think even a couple basketball ones. Go for it.

[AZTarHeel]

Elizabeth Zarzour
440 N.C. Hwy 98-East
Bunn, NC 27508

Mr. Andrew Zarzour
414 Esplanade Street
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001

Dear Son,

I guess I could have called or e-mailed but for some reason, I guess I'm old fashioned, I wanted to pen you a real letter. Your dad and I are sitting at a rest stop in Pennsylvania, taking a break from our long drive to New York City for Big Ed's funeral. It's quite surreal. Eight days ago, I was talking with Ed on the phone about his first child on the way and the joy of parenthood, and tomorrow he's going to be buried...

Your dad and I have both been so quiet and introspective on most of the drive up. We just finished eating a sandwich. It's a beautiful day aside from the emotional cloud that hangs over everything. I'm amazed at all the American flags and patriotism we've seen on our drive thus far.

I just wanted to write you and tell you again how much we both love you. We also wanted to wish you the best as the baseball season resumes again. I know you've had some doubts as to whether any more games should be played for awhile but I think our country really needs baseball and football and other diversions like that right now. I really think it will help us heal and provide some sense of normalcy in these crazy times.

Timmy is really taking Ed's death hard. He missed most of last week at school, and when he was there, teachers say he was so distant and removed from everything. He's actually riding up to the funeral with some of his buddies from the Bunn rescue squad. I think that will be good for him and them to process this together. I know you've got a lot going on, but if you can keep calling him to check on him, that will encourage him a lot. You know how much he looks up to you.

Marcie is doing remarkably well, considering. We've talked on the phone quite a bit, and I think that will be my biggest duty while I'm up there- just ministering to her and helping her work through all of this. Her parents have been with her as well. No one is sure if she'll try to stay in New York to complete her schooling or move back to North Carolina.

The toughest part is the fact that she is pregnant. And their son or daughter will never know their dad. You know how much faith I have in God - He is my rock and salvation - but I admit I'm stumped on why He allows some things like this to happen. We just have to trust that His plan is better than ours. But still, I just keep thinking of young Marcie already being a widow and her child ... that blessed child ... how remarkably sad. I can't imagine being in those shoes, without your dad...

It's funny, I keep taking solace in two words from the Bible. "Jesus wept." Our savior cried when a friend died young. What a contrast to how some from other countries responded to this great tragedy.

Well, I guess we'd better be getting on the road again. You know how focused your dad can be when he's in "travel mode." Pray for us and we'll keep praying for you.

So you pitch again on the 22nd in Wrigley Field? You know we'll be tuning in. Hope to come back out to LA again sometime before the season ends (and hopefully for the playoffs!!) though I'll admit I'm sheepish about getting back on a plane...

With all my love
Mom

[AZTarHeel]

Sept. 22, 2001

Last season, there were rumors that Andrew Zarzour and Kerry Wood might be involved in a blockbuster trade that brought Wood to the Dodgers and guys like Zarzour and Mike Piazza to the Cubs. The deal never happened, and Zarzour and Wood were the starting pitchers opposite of each other in a key Sept. 22 clash that would help determine LA's playoff fate.

Zarzour was as focused as he'd ever been for a game. He wanted to win, not just for himself and his team, but as a tribute to a family friend who had been killed on Sept. 11 — "Big Ed" Scalfani, one of the many firefighters to lose his life while rushing back into the World Trade Center to save others.

Just before the game, Andrew wrote "Big Ed" with a Sharpie underneath the bill of his cap. He might have been too focused because in the first inning, he gave up a lead-off single to Terrell Lowery, threw a wild pitch and tossed another off-target pitch that catcher Mike Piazza couldn't handle. Fortunately, the Cubs didn't score during the frame, with Zarzour ending the inning with a flame-throwing 98 mph strikeout of Junior Spivey.

For the most part, Zarzour locked in after that. The Dodgers trailed 1-0 when he left after six innings. Zarzour's line — seven strikeouts, five hits allowed, two walks and no earned runs. Unfortunately, while LA tied the game in the top of the ninth after an Andy Tracy RBI single, closer Trevor Hoffman allowed the victory to slip away. The Cubs won 2-1.

Zarzour was sick. He brooded at his locker for awhile, shooing reporters away. "Sorry teammates, and sorry Big Ed," he said to himself. "I did my best..."

[AZTarHeel]

Oct. 11, 2001

Going into the final day of baseball's regular season, there is only one game that counts.

All of the division races have been decided.

Boston, a 100-game winner, has a safe lead over wildcard-bound Toronto in the AL East. Cleveland managed to fend off the White Sox in the AL Central and Anaheim long since buried Seattle, Oakland and Texas in the AL West.

Montreal will slip past Atlanta in the NL East regardless of what happens today. St. Louis can lose and still beat Cincinnati by two games in the NL Central, while the San Francisco Giants did enough to keep the LA Dodgers at arm's length in the NL West.

There is only one question remaining to be answered: Who will take the NL wildcard spot? If the Dodgers win, they're in. If they lose and the Reds win, LA and Cincy will stage a one-game playoff tomorrow in Cincinnati to determine the final post-season entry.

The NL wildcard race has been a treat to follow since baseball resumed from the 9/11 break. Both teams have been playing some of their best baseball, distancing themselves from the other contenders but unable to shake one another in the wildcard standings. Cincy has won eight of its last 10 and the Dodgers have captured seven of their last 10.

The odds would seem to favor a special playoff. Los Angeles must complete its season series against a solid Houston (83-78) team. Cincy will play against a woeful Pittsburgh squad (70-91).

Ted Lilly will take the mound for the Dodgers today, while Frank Garcia gets the nod for Cincy.

A one-game playoff would likely match the LA's Andrew Zarzour, who leads his team with 17 wins, against the Reds' Hipolito Pichardo, the probable NL Cy Young winner.

Zarzour (17-6) has been steady since the summer and hasn't been credited with a loss since August. Pichardo has won three of his last four.

While everyone else can yawn today, fans of the Dodgers and Reds will be on the edge of their seats...

[grizzly451]

Great story AZTarHeel!

Just wanted to tell you to keep up the good work, I just found this dynasty yesterday and read the whole thing!

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by grizzly451

Great story AZTarHeel!

Just wanted to tell you to keep up the good work, I just found this dynasty yesterday and read the whole thing!

Thanks Grizzly, it's been a lot of fun to write ... I'm glad I've got a little time again that I can play ...

[AZTarHeel]

Thanks to playing on the West Coast, the Dodgers -- hosting Houston -- had the benefit of knowing where they stood going into their regular season finale.

Cincinnati, their chief rival for the wildcard spot, was playing at Pittsburgh in a game that started three hours earlier.

Andrew Zarzour, who grew up a huge Phillies fan, had never rooted so hard for the Pirates in his life. And for awhile, it looked like Pittsburgh might just help out Zarzour's Dodgers, rallying with a run in the eighth to push the contest into extra innings.

As LA got underway against Houston, players couldn't help but keep their eyes on the scoreboard. Cincy-Pittsburgh was tied 4-4 after nine innings, still tied after the 10th, still tied after the 11th and still tied after the 12th.

The Dodgers were clinging to a 1-0 lead in the third when the Reds finally broke the stalemate, scoring two runs in the top of the 13th. That's how the game finished, with Cincy taking a 6-4 win and then hoping Houston would help them out. Zarzour sat in the dugout trying to get mentally prepared for a game he might be throwing against the Reds tomorrow night.

Fortunately for Dodgers' fans, no extra game would be needed. As midnight passed on the East coast, the Dodgers finished off a satisfying 3-0 win over the Astros to close the regular season and win the wildcard by one game.

Ted Lilly got the victory, pitching a masterful five-hit shutout through seven innings. Kazuhiro Sasaki was lights out in the eighth -- four pitches to get three outs. Then Trevor Hoffman closed the deal in the ninth -- no hits, a walk and two strikeouts.

For the second time since Zarzour joined the Big Club, the Dodgers were going to the playoffs!! They didn't celebrate with champaign but LA players did whoop it up a good bit in the clubhouse that night. Zarzour and his buddy Josh Hamilton were right there in the mix.

Here are the match-ups for the playoffs:

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Los Angeles (93-69) vs. St. Louis (94-68)
Montreal (84-78) vs. San Francisco (96-66)

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Cleveland (92-70) vs. Boston (100-62)
Anaheim (93-69) vs. Toronto (94-68)

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour's cell phone rang bright and early on the morning the Dodgers were preparing to travel to St. Louis. He didn't recognize the number but noticed that it was a New York City exchange.

"Hello?" Zarzour said a bit sheepishly.

An older man's voice, talking slowly but with a noble tone, responded: "Is this Mr. Andrew Zarzour of the Los Angeles Dodgers?"

"Yes sir it is. May I ask who is calling?"

"Good morning, this is William Reginald Scalfani calling from Brooklyn, New York. You were an acquaintance of my son, Edward Scalfani. And several months ago you invited my son, his wife and me to a Dodgers game at Shea Stadium."

Zarzour knew exactly who he was talking to now.

"Ah, you're Big Ed's father. It's so good to hear from you, sir. Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of your son. I still just can't believe all that's happened."

Andrew stammered for another minute trying to find just the right thing to say to a father still grieving for a lost son. No words seemed right. Finally he chose silence.

Mr. Scalfani, obviously touched by Zarzour's kind words about his son, choked up a bit. "Well," he said, regaining his composure. "I just wanted to thank you and your Dodger teammates for the kind gift given to my daughter in law and my soon-to-be grandson. And for the gifts your franchise has given all around to families of fallen Brooklyn firefighters. We are so touched. I'm touched. I just wanted to call and tell you personally how much that means to all of us."

Again, Zarzour didn't have many words. He, too, was amazed at how many people had stepped forward to contribute to a trust fund for Big Ed's widow and son, who was due in the spring. Zarzour had written "Big Ed" underneath the bill of his cap after the Sept. 11 tragedies as a way to remember his fallen friend. And once a reporter asked him about that and what it meant, the story got out and pretty soon the donations were rolling in by the thousands.

Marcie should have plenty of money to be comfortable financially for a long while, and the couple's son already had a big head start on a college fund.

"God bless you, Mr. Scalfani," Andrew said. "Your son will be missed. I am forever thankful for how well he took a liking to my little brother and helped steer him through some troubled times. We hope this gift can now help your family as well. We'll keep you in our prayers. And if you ever, ever, ever need tickets to a Dodgers' game anywhere, just give me a call, OK?"

"Thank you, Andrew. Good luck in the playoffs. This old codger has hated the Dodgers for a long, long time since they left Brooklyn. But how can my heart be hard towards the Dodgers any more?"

[AZTarHeel]

Here are the pitching match-ups announced for the first few games of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Cardinals. Los Angeles pitchers are listed first:

• Game one: Darren Dreifort (12-13, 4.73 ERA) vs. Matt Morris (14-8, 3.73 ERA)

• Game two: Andrew Zarzour (17-7, 4.10 ERA) vs. Brian Lawrence (18-5, 3.72 ERA)

• Game three: Ramon Martinez (15-12, 3.49 ERA) vs. Carlos Perez (16-11, 3.35 ERA)

Game two match-up looks to be a doozy between two good young guns. We've been told Dodgers are a bit timid about using Dreifort first. But Zarzour hasn't had enough rest to start game one, and Martinez still needs a few extra days to heal up from hamstring issues. We'll see what happens.

[AZTarHeel]

Two pitches doom Dodgers in playoff opener
St. Louis wins 4-2 on strength of Daryle Ward homer

Oct. 15, 2001

ST. LOUIS — Darren Dreifort wanted the sixth inning back in the worst sort of way.

The Dodgers pitcher had worked masterfully against the St. Louis Cardinals up to that point, striking out eight against only one walk. But two pitches in the ill-fated sixth frame doomed LA to a 4-2 defeat in its NLDS opener.

With the score tied 2-2, Dreifort had gotten two quick outs to begin the bottom of the sixth. He struck out Ray Lankford and lured Brian Jordan into a harmless groundout to shortstop Alex Rodriguez. With the Dodgers' bats heating up the inning before, it seemed the perfect time for a 1-2-3 inning and the chance for LA to grab the lead for the first time.

Dreifort had Ryan Klesko down 0-2 but left what he described as a "fat pitch" over the middle of the plate. Klesko bopped it down the right field line for two bases. Daryle Ward then followed that with a two-run homer into the right field seats. The Dodgers threatened a couple of times down the stretch but couldn't get anyone home. Game over, and LA is down 1-0 in the best-of-five series.

Paul Lo Duca and Mike Piazza got aboard in the eighth for LA, but Craig Wilson hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning. Jerry Spradlin retired Albert Pujols, Rodriguez and Damion Easley with three routine grounders to close out the game.

Game two comes tonight, with Andrew Zarzour (17-7, 4.10 ERA) taking the hill for the Dodgers and Brian Lawrence (18-5, 3.72 ERA) going for the Cards. The first pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. A special Air Force flyover and tribute to America will precede the game.

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour sat in the dugout with a towel over his head, exhausted. For eight innings, he had given everything he had -- maybe the hardest he had ever worked and the most intense he had ever been.

Zarzour's first ever playoff start, in Game Two of the 2001 National League Divisional Series at St. Louis, was a gem. The 20-year-old left-hander threw 94 pitches, 65 of which went for strikes. He fanned 10 and walked none. St. Louis managed just five hits, one of which was a two-run homer by Brian Jordan in the sixth inning. But those runs weren't charged to Zarzour because of a two-out error on shortstop Alex Rodriguez the play before. Big Z would have been out of the inning had A-Rod not booted a routine grounder hit to him by Joe McEwing.

Zarzour, from little ol' Bunn, N.C., was becoming a star on a national stage, drawing raves from Fox's broadcast team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver as possibly the next legend-to-be in the Dodgers' rich pitching history.

There was only one problem. St. Louis pitcher Brian Lawrence was throwing just as well this mid-October night. He, too, lasted eight innings, giving up only six hits, with five strikeouts.

"Get used to these names, folks," Buck said in his famous commanding voice. "Andrew Zarzour and Brian Lawrence could baffling hitters for a long time to come."

Going into the ninth, the Dodgers and Cardinals sat tied 2-2 — a great thing for Fox's MLB ratings. The game was now being turned over to the relievers. And little did Zarzour and Lawrence know at the time, the game was only about half over...

[AZTarHeel]

How the Dodgers let the Cardinals get away in 15 innings

Los Angeles, down 2-0 in the NLDS, now can't afford to lose

Let us count the ways the Dodgers blew their chance to beat St. Louis last night and climb back even in the NLDS.

There were many to be sure in LA's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals in a game that took 15 innings to complete. Total game time — five hours and 15 minutes. It was well past 1 a.m. when Fox finally signed off. Joe Buck sounded tired. So were we. And our guts were turned inside-out at all the ways this one got away:

1) Alex Rodriguez posted the Dodgers out to an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the second inning. But his two-out boot of a casual grounder in the sixth inning opened the door for Brian Jordan's two-run homer against an otherwise masterful Andrew Zarzour. LA had just taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth after a smashing double by Albert Pujols allowed Mike Piazza to lumber home from first. But then the error-homer combo, and our hearts began to sink.

2) A ticked off Zarzour doubled off St. Louis hurler Brian Lawrence with one out in the seventh (!!) and moved to third on a fielder's choice by Johnny Damon. Paul Lo Duca walked, putting runners on the corners, but the Dodgers couldn't capitalize. Piazza grounded out to short. That could have been a big inning, allowing Big Z to possibly finish things out for his first post-season W.

3) Todd Zeile walked in the top of the 10th, but a strike-em-out, throw-em-out play by the Cardinals wiped him and Craig Wilson off the board — and ended the frame.

4) Pujols singled to lead off the 11th, but A-Rod struck out and Josh Hamilton hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

5) Pinch-hitter Kurt Abbott and Zeile singled back-to-back in the 12th, igniting what could have been a nice two-out rally for LA. Abbott made a gutsy move to take third on Zeile's single, surprising everyone in Cardinal red. But Piazza struck out to end that threat.

6) The top of the 13th seemed like a breakthrough for LA. Craig Wilson led off with a towering home run, that sailed into the upper deck of right field. But the usually reliable Kaz Sasaki gave up a lead off triple to the Cardinals' Roberts in the bottom of the 13th, then a double to Ryan Klesko that allowed the game to be tied up again 3-3. Arrgg.

7) The Dodgers could do nothing with a rare Sasaki single in the 14th, leaving him stranded at second.

8) Unfazed, LA put together a two-run top of the 15th. With two outs, Pujols doubled, then came home on an A-Rod double off reliever Kelly Wunsch. Hamilton redeemed himself from the earlier double play, squeezing an RBI single down the first-base line.

Two runs should have been enough for LA, right? Well, closer Trevor Hoffman — he of 41 saves and only one blown save — had been burned in the 10th inning (why, can we ask?). That left closing duties in Scott Sauerbeck's hands. Not exactly ideal, but the Dodgers had the cushion of a two-run lead, right?

Double S gave up a double to lead off the bottom of the 15th to Royce Clayton. After intentionally walking Mark Little, Sauerbeck suddenly couldn't find the plate against Klesko, walking him. Now, the bases were loaded and trouble was brewing for the Dodgers.

But LA seemed to be ready to dodge a big bullet when Ray Lankford lined out to second, not allowing runners to advance. Then Wil Cordero stuck his bat out and directed a dribbler right to Sauerbeck, who made the throw home for the second out.

One more out! But LA never got it. Joe Oliver singled, bringing two runs home. That tied things up 5-5. We could only pray for a 16th inning, but Joe McEwing refused our request, mashing one into left-center. Ball game over, 6-5 St. Louis. Cordero stomped on home plate, and Busch Stadium went crazy. We collapsed on our keyboards.

Los Angeles will now head back home down 2-0 in the series. The Dodgers have to win three straight to move on. Otherwise, the team with the biggest payrole in the NL will be cleaning out the clubhouse in two days.

A lot of pressure falls on Ramon Martinez tomorrow night. We'll quickly find out, mentally and emotionally speaking, just how much this loss took out of the team — and revived the Cardinals. We know it sure took a lot out of us.

[AZTarHeel]

It doesn't rain a whole lot in Southern California, but it was pouring the morning of Oct. 18. That was the day Andrew Zarzour and most LA Dodgers players trudged to the home stadium one last time to clean out the clubhouse.

The Dodgers' 2001 season, alas, was over. St. Louis, by virtue of a 7-2 Game Three win in the NLDS, had swept Los Angeles into off-season mode. Zarzour, still physically sore from his eight innings on the hill in Game Two -- and especially tight and uncomfortable in his throwing shoulder -- just felt sick to his stomach about how things ended.

The 2001 Dodgers had so many names, so much young talent and so much potential to bust through the National League. But the bounces didn't go their way in Games One and Two, and nothing went their way in Game Three. Even star pitcher Ramon Martinez was off his game, giving up five earned runs. LA didn't scratch the scoreboard until the ninth inning. By then, it was too little, too late.

Now St. Louis will battle the Giants for a shot at the World Series, and LA will be thinking about 2002. The winner will play either Toronto (!!) or Cleveland for the world championship.

Zarzour and catcher Mike Piazza shared a long conversation as they packed up stuff. Both wondered if either would be back in LA next year. Plenty of rumors had the Dodgers shipping Piazza, the now 33-year-old catcher off to another team for prospects while he still held a lot of value. Some of those rumors had Zarzour going in a package with him. Piazza's departure would free up a lot of money, and the Dodgers wanted to at least unload some considering they lost a couple million dollars in 2001.

Zarzour made sure to thank Piazza for all of his help and guidance the past few years. "Since that time on the plane when you broke the news to me that I was getting my first start until now, you've been a major influence on me and steadying force. I might have crumbled without your veteran leadership around here," Zarzour admitted. "Much of those 17 wins I earned are on your shoulders as well."

"No problem, kid," Piazza said, deflecting credit. "You've got good stuff, and I hope a long career ahead of you. See you next year at the Ravine?"

"We'll see," Zarzour said as he headed back out into the rain and to his car. "Hopefully, you'll be calling pitches to me rather than hitting them out of the park on me."

[AZTarHeel]

Closing the books on the 2001 season. This one, instead of seeing the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees in a thrilling seven-game series (that captured a nation mourning over 9-11), featured the Barry Bonds-led Toronto Blue Jays topping the San Francisco Giants in six games.

How ironic. In Zarzour's world, Bonds left the Bay a few season ago to sign a big free agent deal with the Blue Jays. And unlike in the real world, he brought his team a title.

Bonds didn't have the greatest of post-seasons, batting just .241 with three homers. Sean Green (.339, five HR's), Carlos Delgado (.328 and four HR's) and Rich Aurilia (13 RBIs) were a bit more productive overall for the Jays.

Game six went to 10 innings. San Fran scored once in the top of the 10th but Toronta answered with a pair of scores. Catcher Darrin Fletcher, playing the role of Luis Gonzalez (a la 2001 Diamondbacks) had the winning RBI single. "Base hit! Base hit! The Toronto Blue Jays have won the World Series!"

Here are this year's award winners. Alas, nothing for LA, although Zarzour matched the NL Rookie of the Year pitch for pitch pretty much in the NLDS Game Two (Brian Lawrence).

American League Rookie of the Year:
Adam Dunn (TBA)!
He batted .296 in 568 AB, with 41 homers and 130 RBI.

National League Rookie of the Year:
Brian Lawrence (SLN)!
He had a record of 18-5 with an ERA of 3.72 and 1 shutouts.
In 35 games started, he pitched 220.1 innings, fanning 159 and walking 67 batters.

American League Cy Young Award:
Kris Benson (BAL)!
He had a record of 24-4 with an ERA of 2.79 and 3 shutouts.
In 36 games started, he pitched 261.2 innings, fanning 249 and walking 40 batters.

American League Most Valuable Player:
Jim Thome (CLE)!
He batted .338 in 586 AB, with 50 homers and 178 RBI.

National League Cy Young Award:
Hipolito Pichardo (CIN)!
He had a record of 23-10 with an ERA of 2.92 and 1 shutouts.
In 36 games started, he pitched 258.2 innings, fanning 119 and walking 37 batters.

National League Most Valuable Player:
Tony Clark (PHI)!
He batted .341 in 596 AB, with 35 homers and 129 RBI.

American League Gold Glove Award Winners:
Pitcher: Dave Burba (CLE)
Catcher: Brian Johnson (KCA)
First Base: Darin Erstad (ANA)
Second Base: Todd Walker (OAK)
Third Base: Gabe Alvarez (SEA)
Shortstop: David Eckstein (OAK)
Leftfield: Pat Burrell (SEA)
Centerfield: Midre Cummings (BOS)
Rightfield: Gary Sheffield (NYA)

National League Gold Glove Award Winners:
Pitcher: Joe Mays (HOU)
Catcher: Greg Myers (SDN)
First Base: Chris Richard (SFN)
Second Base: Andy Fox (ARI)
Third Base: Geoff Blum (SLN)
Shortstop: Mark Grudzielanek (ATL)
Leftfield: Ellis Burks (COL)
Centerfield: Ray Lankford (SLN)
Rightfield: Butch Huskey (NYN)

I'll have some final numbers on the Dodgers and Zarzour soon...

[AZTarHeel]

The Andrew Zarzour File

Here are some notes and numbers following the 2001 season, Zarzour's first full season in the Bigs.

Overall

Pitching Stats 2001

Overall	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K	CG	CG%	SHO	QS	QS%
 	32	32	17	7	0	4.10	206.1	188	103	94	51	197	2	6.3	0	19	59.4

Left-Right Splits

         AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	BB	K	SF	SH	HP	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
vs. LHB	231	51	6	1	18	33	36	16	63	0	0	1	.221	.273	.489	.762
vs. RHB	555	137	35	3	16	62	67	35	134	0	0	2	.247	.291	.407	.699

Home, Away, Post-Season

           G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K
Home	16	16	9	4	0	3.39	114.0	92	50	43	23	110
Road	16	16	8	3	0	4.97	92.1	96	53	51	28	87
Postseason	1	1	0	0	0	0.00	8.0	5	2	0	0	10

Month-by-Month

Month	          G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K
March/April	5	5	3	1	0	4.15	34.2	29	17	16	7	32
May	          6	6	1	4	0	7.94	34.0	38	30	30	14	36
June	          4	4	4	0	0	3.12	26.0	19	9	9	5	25
July	          5	5	2	1	0	1.91	33.0	23	7	7	9	34
August	          6	6	4	1	0	3.95	43.1	39	19	19	9	37
Sept./Oct.	6	6	3	0	0	3.31	35.1	40	21	13	7	33

Career Numbers
Not bad for a 20-year-old!

Career Pitching Stats

Year	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K	CG	SHO	Teams
1999	1	1	1	0	0	1.29	7.0	5	1	1	1	5	0	0	 LAN
2000	10	10	4	4	0	3.98	72.1	57	37	32	22	70	1	0	LAN
2001	32	32	17	7	0	4.10	206.1	188	103	94	51	197	2	0	LAN
Total	43	43	22	11	0	4.00	285.2	250	141	127	74	272	3	0

Career Post-Season Stats

Year	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	HA	R	ER	BB	K	CG	SHO
1999	1	0	0	0	0	18.00	1.0	2	2	2	1	1	0	0
2001	1	1	0	0	0	0.00	8.0	5	2	0	0	10	0	0
Total	2	1	0	0	0	2.00	9.0	7	4	2	1	11	0	0

Hitting Numbers
OK, so Big Z won't be Rick Ankiel anytime soon should his pitching go south...

Career Batting Stats

Year	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	Teams
1999	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000	 LAN
2000	10	26	6	0	0	0	2	2	0	9	0	0	.231	.231	.231	.462	LAN
2001	32	67	8	3	0	0	6	5	7	23	0	0	.119	.200	.164	.364	LAN
Total	43	94	14	3	0	0	8	7	7	32	0	0	.149	.208	.181	.389

Fielding Stats
What, no Gold Glove?

Fielding Stats 2001

Position	G	GS	PO	A	DP	TC	E	PCT	INN	RANGE	PB	RSTA	RTO	RTO%
Pitcher	   32	32	13	30	3	43	0	1.000	206.1	1.88

[AZTarHeel]

NL Leaderboards

A few leaderboards with Andrew's name on them:

Top 10 Wins
1 H. Pichardo (CIN) 23
2 T. Worrell (SFN) 21
3 D. Weathers (SDN) 20
4 B. Lawrence (SLN) 18
5 E. Milton (ATL) 17
5 G. Guzman (HOU) 17
5 A. Zarzour (LAN) 17
8 C. Perez (SLN) 16
8 P. Byrd (ATL) 16
10 K. Millwood (ATL) 15

Top 10 Home Runs Allowed
# TOP 10 HR Allowed HR
1 J. Pena (MON) 39
2 J. Smoltz (SFN) 35
3 A. Zarzour (LAN) 34 (yikes)
4 A. Hernandez (SDN) 32
4 D. Williams (COL) 32
4 R. Johnson (CHN) 32
7 B. Tomko (CIN) 30
8 C. Schilling (PHI) 29
8 R. Wolf (ATL) 29
8 S. Karsay (COL) 29

Top 10 Strikeouts
1 K. Wood (CHN) 267
2 C. Loewer (PHI) 256
3 S. Woodard (FLO) 228
4 C. Schilling (PHI) 212
5 R. Johnson (CHN) 209
6 A. Zarzour (LAN) 197 (so close to 200)
7 J. Pena (MON) 190
8 D. Dreifort (LAN) 185
9 J. Lima (HOU) 181
10 R. Wolf (ATL) 174

Top 10 Runners/9
1 S. Woodard (FLO) 9.66
2 J. Lima (HOU) 9.75
3 C. Perez (SLN) 9.81
4 C. Loewer (PHI) 9.84
5 J. Pena (MON) 9.89
6 J. Mays (HOU) 10.25
7 H. Pichardo (CIN) 10.44
8 K. Millwood (ATL) 10.48
9 S. Elarton (HOU) 10.51
10 A. Zarzour (LAN) 10.56

Top 10 Strikeouts/9 Innings
1 K. Wood (CHN) 13.71
2 C. Loewer (PHI) 10.08
3 C. Schilling (PHI) 8.78
4 R. Johnson (CHN) 8.68
5 A. Zarzour (LAN) 8.59 (some pretty nice company here)
6 J. Pena (MON) 8.58
7 J. Smoltz (SFN) 8.18
8 D. Dreifort (LAN) 8.11
9 J. Acevedo (MON) 7.86
10 R. Wolf (ATL) 7.80

All in all a pretty successful "debut" year for the Big Z ... let's just hope he can keep it up ... Hope that shoulder doesn't keep bothering him...

If there are other teams out there -- or players -- that folks want information on, just let me know ...