Tall Tales: The Andrew Zarzour Story

[AZTarHeel]

Dodgers wrack up on post-season awards

Oct. 20, 2003

While a World Series title eluded Los Angeles, the team dominated the post-season awards balloting:

Albert Pujols earned the National League Most Valuable Player award. Dan Smith won the NL Cy Young. Pitcher Clay Condrey was the NL Rookie of the Year. Paul Lo Duca won the NL batting title and earned a Gold Glove at catcher.

Pujols, a first baseman. compiled a .313 batting average and a .393 on-base percentage this year. In 159 games he piled up 189 hits, 42 doubles, 4 triples, 22 home runs, 110 RBIs and 106 runs scored.

Smith dominated the mound with a 24-5 mark and 3.26 ERA in 33 starts, piling up 235 innings and 207 strikeouts and holding opposing hitters to a .261 average. He led the league in wins.

In 34 starts Condrey rang up a 19-5 won-lost mark and 2.69 ERA. In 227.2 innings the Dodgers rookie fanned 227 and walked 34. He was a reliever in Las Vegas in 2002 before making the switch to being a starter.

Paul Lo Duca hit a solid .360 for the year. The gifted 31-year-old Dodgers catcher chalked up 184 hits during the season with 10 home runs, 85 RBIs and 62 runs scored.

Nomar Garciaparra of Boston was the AL MVP. Kris Benson of Baltimore won the AL Cy Young. Adam LaRoche of Kansas City was the AL Rookie of the Year.


-- A few updates on some other key players in Zarzour's world:

Mike Piazza: Zarzour’s former catcher in Los Angeles, dealt to Cincinnati before the 2002 season, hit .299 for the Reds in ‘02 but his average dipped way down in ‘03 (.249 -- the lowest of his career). He appeared in only 117 games, missing more than a month with fractured ribs. He hit 10 homers in 2003 and had 51 RBIs (a career low for an MLB season).

Hipolito Pichardo: He won the 2001 Cy Young with the Reds, then got traded to Los Angeles for Piazza. After helping LA win the 2002 World Series, Pichardo went on the free agent market and landed with the New York Yankees. He had a great season, posting a 23-6 record, and earned an All-Star appearance. His veteran leadership would have been nice to have in LA during this post-season.

Barry Bonds: He signed as a free agent with Toronto in 2000 and won a World Series title with the Blue Jays. He hit his 600th home run in June of 2003 and sits on 616 total going into the 2004 campaign. Don't think he'll pass Aaron in this universe but you never know...

If folks want to know about any other player or team, let me know...

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour turned 23 years old on Dec. 29, 2003. As has been his custom since becoming a pro ball player, the big fella spent that holiday week at his home in Bunn, NC, catching with friends and family, and just generally relaxing.

With unseasonably warm temperatures settling into the Carolinas the day after his birthday, Andrew decided there was nothing better he'd like to do than to play golf. So he treated his two best friends — Robbie Maine and Brandon Weaver — and his dad to a round at the Wake Forest Country Club.

It's a beautiful course, best known for its mammoth first hole, a par five that measures more than 700 yards. The back end of the hole is sharply uphill, so the average golfer could hit driver, three wood, three wood and still be short of the green (author's note: yours truly has suffered that fate).

Zarzour and his friends were especially enamored with the new golf carts the club had started using. Each one had a GPS device and miniature computer monitor installed on it, giving golfers the exact distance from the cart to the hole, as well as advisories on where every hazard was located. The coolest feature on the cart prompted golfers, as they pulled up to the ninth and 18th tees, to order food and drinks — which would be ready by the time they got to the clubhouse. Of course, the guys loaded up on sandwiches, fries and cold beverages as they prepared to make the turn.

Zarzour had become a decent golfer over the past few years, and his goal on this day was to break 80. Even though he carded a seven on that beastly opening hole, he was within reach of the magical mark as he drove up to the 18th tee. He just needed a birdie and a beautiful 79 would be his.

After beaming another food and drink order to the clubhouse, Zarzour got out of the cart to size up possible tee shots. His concentration, though, was interrupted by a buzzing cell phone in his pocket.

"It's probably mom," Andrew said to his dad with a laugh. "She's probably wondering why we're taking so long."

But when Andrew flipped open his phone, he didn't recognize the number on the caller ID. Or the area code.

Reluctantly, he answered.

"Hello?"

“Hello there. Is this Andrew Zarzour speaking?" said a very confident but unfamiliar voice on the other end.

“Um, yes it is. Can I help you with something?”

"Hi, my name is Todd Zolecki, and I am with the Philadelphia Daily News. I just wanted to get your reaction to today's trade, the one bringing you to the Phillies and sending Andruw Jones to LA ... Is it true that the Phillies were your favorite childhood team?" ...

[onnel]

Great cliffhanger!

As side note, will Andrew be continuing his search for success in OOTP9?

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by onnel

As side note, will Andrew be continuing his search for success in OOTP9?

That's the plan keep your fingers crossed...

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew’s friends tried to convince him that the phone call was a hoax. But Andrew knew that it wasn‘t.

He had recognized the reporter’s name from his trips to Philadelphia while with the Dodgers. And the reporter had way too much insider information for this to be a prank -- plus he had seemed genuinely surprised when Andrew said he hadn’t heard about the trade.

Sure enough, as the four men trodded back to the clubhouse following their round of golf -- Andrew double-bogeyed his final hole -- they got confirmation that this trade in fact was real. Andrew asked one of the staff to turn a TV channel to ESPN News. About five minutes later, the “breaking news” scrolled across the bottom -- LA Dodgers trade LHP Andrew Zarzour and 3B Edward Jackson to the Philadelphia Phillies for CF Andruw Jones.

Shortly after that, Zarzour’s cell phone rang again. This time he recognized the number and the Los Angeles area code. He let the call go to voice mail…

[ifspuds]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

AZ needs to stay with the Dodgers!

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

AZ needs to stay with the Dodgers!

(looking sheepish) ... hey ifspuds, it was definitely a tough call for me. I really thought about it and wrestled with it for a couple of weeks (yes, I have no life. I lay awake at night thinking about my fictional baseball team)...

I looked ahead to 2004, and the Big Z would again probably be 6th or 7th in line among Dodgers starting pitchers. Arbitration was good to him, and I figured the Dodgers wouldn't want an expensive pitcher sitting around in Triple A or only serving as a spot starter/mop up guy. They needed a new centerfielder to replace Johnny Damon, so once Philly went for a Zarzour-for-Andrew Jones trade (with another prospect thrown in for Philly), I decided to pull the trigger.

It's even better that long ago, I had picked out the Phillies as Andrew's favorite team and that Philly was the absolute worst team in the majors in 2003 (winning like 57 games). So, this will be a new challenge for me as well. The Dodgers had been built into mega-power status. But Philly is in pretty bad shape across the board. I had pretty good success turning franchises into winners in OOTP5. Now the challenge will be to see how well I do with a truly down-trodden team in OOTP9.

So far, Andrew's ratings have come across pretty well into OOTP9. Better than I expected, however, but we'll see...

Hopefully we won't lose you as a reader with the Big Z in Philly ...

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour didn’t have quite the same feeling putting on his first Philadelphia Phillies jersey as he did several years earlier upon seeing his name across the back of a Dodgers uniform. But it was still quite the magical experience seeing in bold letters “Z A R Z O U R” across the back of a jersey for his new team. And of course getting a new red cap with the familiar swirly “P” logo emblazoned on it gave Andrew goosebumps.

The past few months had been another whirlwind for the now 23-year-old. On the one hand, it was tough absorbing the cold reality that he had been dealt from the team with the best record in baseball in 2003 for the team with the worst record. And there was the feeling of loss of not being teammates anymore with buddies like Randy Keisler, Paul Lo Duca, Ben Molina and Josh Hamilton. While LA would be focused on another World Series run in 2004, the Phils would just be glad to climb a step or two out of the cellar.

Andrew’s dad, though, was ecstatic. You don’t grow up worshipping a baseball franchise (along with your older brother), pass that love along to your baseball-loving son and then not get absolutely giddy when your son becomes part of that team. Mr. Zarzour, usually busy with chores and issues on the family farm, suddenly found himself planning ways to get to Philadelphia for every one of Andrew’s projected starts. He even talked of buying a condo or a small "getaway house" in the city -- something that amazed even his wife, who knew her husband to be the stay-at-home kind of guy much of the time.

So this would be a new adventure for Andrew Zarzour -- playing for his childhood favorite team, but one that’s frankly not very good and needs a lot of help just to be competitive in the NL East with teams like the Braves and Marlins.

How would the fans in Philly respond to him? He had been pretty well received in Los Angeles and even Las Vegas during his 2003 Minor League stint there. Zarzour was surprised at some of the backlash from Dodgers fans over him being traded away.

But there is no looking back now. The future for the Big Z awaits in the City of Brotherly Love. He'll get his first start against the Pittsburgh Pirates...

[AZTarHeel]

April 9, 2004

Hey Drew, Josh Hamilton here. Just wanted to say I miss ya' buddy. It's not the same around here in LA without your towering presence, your encouraging words to us and of course your dry wit. Who else can we tease about getting knocked senseless in a game and thinking you were seeing moose in the infield? Ha!

Just wanted to say congrats on getting your first win with the Phillies. I saw a few highlights on ESPN, and you looked solid. Eight strikeouts, one walk! Go get 'em, moose man ...

Hey, we're all circling our calendars for May 18-20. That's when our fair club will pay yours a visit. I hope you get to pitch against us one of those nights. Between you and me, except for when I'm at the plate, I secretly hope you strike everyone out. You deserve it my friend.

Best wishes, Z. Keep in touch and have a great season. Thanks for being a friend. Maybe we'll be reunited on the same team again some day. How about this year's All-Star game!

Your buddy,
Josh


____________________


NOTE: The Phillies beat the Pirates 7-4 in Zarzour's first start. The Big Z pitched seven solid innings, giving up six hits (alas, one solo homer), with eight strikeouts and only one walk. He surrendered two earned runs. The Fightin' Phils are 2-1! Wahoo!

[ifspuds]

It's still bittersweet to see Big Z pitching in a different uniform (says the Dodgers fan).

Still a terrific read though!

[AZTarHeel]

From: "Andrew Zarzour" AZarzour72@earthlink.net
Sent: May 21, 2004 • 1:45 a.m.
To: "Josh Hamilton" Batting400ForLA@yahoo.com
Subject: Go ahead, rub it in...

Hey Josh, what's up my friend. Hope you guys made it to Atlanta OK ... So what did you think of your first visit to Citizens Bank Park? Sure beats The Vet, right? I'm sure you and the LA crowd were pretty excited after your sweep of us in Philly. Well, we gave you guys a pretty good game Tuesday and Wednesday, but of course I struggled in Thursday's game.

It was strange to pitch against all my old teammates in a game setting, that's for sure. It might have been even more strange had it been at The Ravine since I still kind of consider that my "home" park. Tell Damian Jackson his triple against me was lucky. Had the ball not hopped off the third base like that, Rolen would have gunned him down easily for an out. Haha.

Glad to say that I held the NL's top batter (you!) to a 1-for-3 night at least, even though one of your outs was a sac fly that resulted in a run. And no I didn't hit you on purpose in the seventh inning! It's just part of our strategy. Yeah, that's it. I've got to hold the hottest hitter in the league down any way I can. Haha. Hope your back isn't too sore.

Seriously, hats off to you for the fabulous season you're having. I'm rooting for you to win the NL batting crown this year. My goal, though, is to strike you out the next time we face off. Hopefully more than once. Keep in touch.

Your friend (except when the Phillies play the Dodgers),

Andrew

______________

The Dodgers swept the Phillies 3-2, 3-2 and 6-1 during the midweek series in mid-May. Zarzour was tagged for the loss in the 6-1 game. He held off the team with the best record in baseball till the sixth inning, then he gave up a solo HR to Alex Rodriguez, walked Pujols, hit Hamilton (I find that really funny) and gave up a few more hits as the game got away.

Zarzour' final line for the game: 6.2 IP, 12 hits surrendered (ouch), six runs allowed (all earned), 2 Ks, 2 walks and one solo homer given up. The loss dropped Zarzour to 2-3 overall. His ERA is now 3.76 (which isn't that bad, really).

Hamilton grounded out against his former teammate the first time he faced Zarzour and hit a sac fly the second time. After hitting a leadoff single against Zarzour, the Big Z responded with by hitting his friend in the seventh inning. Hamilton is tearing it up for the Dodgers, batting an NL best .350. LA still looks like the team to beat, posting a record of 13-4 so far in the month of May (after a 15-7 mark in April).

Philly started off the season hot, winning seven of the first 10 games. But then lost seven in a row at one point. After the LA series, the Phils are 16-22...

[AZTarHeel]

Forgot to post this earlier -- the vitals on our young Mr. Zarzour, in his new Phillies digs ... i don't know if Philly players wear blue underneath the jersey but I liked the look...




I must admit, the AI was pretty good to Big Z as he made the transition from OOTP5 ratings, then to OOTP8 and now to OOTP9 ... the future looks bright (of course, if my scout is correct)

[AZTarHeel]

Mets beat Phillies 1-0 in 14-inning marathon

Two pitchers tossed, another pitcher scores winning run

June 1, 2004

It was one of the best pitchers duels that Major League Baseball has seen in some time. And one of the strangest.

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets needed 14 innings before either could scratch out a run last night in their NL East showdown at Citizens Bank Park. The Mets finally prevailed 1-0.

Two pitchers for Philadelphia, starter Andrew Zarzour and closer Jon Ratliff, got thrown out of the game. For arguing balls and strikes. While batting.

Ratliff, tagged with the hard-luck loss, likely faces a suspension for his “disrobing” act in the bottom of the 14th inning following his ejection.

Mets relief pitcher Gregg Olson, age 37, got his first hit of the season to start the New York rally in the top of the 14th, then scored the winning run after getting bunted into scoring position and moving to third on a Phillies error. Olson has only had seven hits in his entire 16-year career. For good measure, he ended up getting the win as well.

Strange indeed.

“I haven’t seen anything like it,” Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. “It just hurts to lose when you’ve played for 14 innings and been on the field for like five hours.”

Actually the game moved pretty quick, taking just 3:34 to complete.

Zarzour seemed to be humming along for Philadelphia, retiring all but one batter in the first three innings of work. But then the newcomer to the Phillies, traded from LA in the off-season, did something so uncharacteristic that it even surprised him.

Zarzour led off the bottom of the third inning at the plate. When he got rung up on strikes — the last two called strikes appeared way out of the zone — the mostly gentle 7-footer turned around and glared at the home plate umpire. The man in blue said something to the effect of “what are you looking at?” and Zarzour proceeded to answer the question in a not-so-kind manner. And got tossed out of the game — for the first time in his life.

“It’s just embarrassing,” Zarzour told reporters after the game. “I’ve never even received a warning or anything before. I just lost my cool. I guess I felt like I was getting squeezed some and their pitcher wasn’t. I reacted when I should have kept calm and it hurt our team.”

Zarzour’s rare ejection might have made a bigger headline had Ratliff not trumped him in the 14th inning. The Phillies had used all of their pinch hitters by that point, leaving Ratliff to bat. While he’s only had four hits his entire five-year career, the closer decided he’d had enough when he got called out looking on a full count to lead off the frame.

He argued a lot more vehemently than Zarzour, eventually stripping off all his batting gear and leaving it all in front of the plate before storming off. The spectacle likely will mean at least a three-game suspension for Ratliff, who until this point was having an All-Star caliber season.

The Phillies couldn’t push the tying run across in the bottom of the 14th inning, even with two on and their best player (Scott Rolen) at the plate. Rolen struck out, ending a very strange and memorable pitcher’s duel.

[AZTarHeel]

It was a beautiful mid-June night in Philadelphia, and Andrew Zarzour was just two outs away from his best performance as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Though runners stood on the corners, Zarzour still had a shutout of the Detroit Tigers within his grasp. He had scattered eight hits, but had struck out 10 with no walks. Even if a run or two scored, there was no doubt, the Big Z had been commanding. Sports writers in the press box were already planning their "Zarzour could be the next big thing in Philly" stories and columns.

Sure enough, the 7-foot-2 left-hander delivered the perfect ending. On a 1-1 count, Zarzour lured Hector Luna into a beautiful 6-4-3 double play ground ball. Final score: Phillies 6, Detroit 0. Zarzour's rising stock in Philadelphia: Priceless.

Zarzour had felt numbness and tingling in his left leg the last couple of innings, but he shook it off at the time. The adrenalin of getting a complete game shutout win drove him to stay out there. He had even convinced his manager, Larry Bowa, to keep him on the mound after giving up two singles to start the ninth inning. Bowa complied, though begrudgingly.

As Zarzour walked off the mound to celebrate the win with his catcher, the tingling and numbness in his leg grew more and more pronounced. Now, it was being accompanied by shooting pain. By the time he made it to the steps of the dugout, he was having a hard time even walking correctly. He'd certainly have to see the doctor about this. Of course, not until he had met the media folks who were prepared to make him the night's hero...

[AZTarHeel]

June 18, 2004

Andrew Zarzour couldn't believe his ears and made the team doctor repeat his diagnosis.

"Drew, the numbness and pain you're feeling in your leg is from a herniated disc in your lower back. I hate to say it but your season is over."

Season over.

Those words just hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity. Twelve hours ago, Andrew Zarzour had been the toast of Philadelphia, throwing a complete game shutout in an interleague win over Detroit. He had felt as good on the mound as he had in quite some time. Now he was being told that he won't be able to take the mound again in a game setting until 2005.

Surely his injury couldn't be this bad, right?

"I don't think you'll need surgery," the doctor continued. "This time of thing just needs time to heal. I''m going to recommend bed rest at first and then we'll gradually increase your activity and see how you do. I hate it for you, kid. But you've still got a big career ahead of you as long as we treat this right. And that means time, lots of time."

Season over.

Andrew Zarzour still couldn't believe it.


____________

Zarzour concludes his injury shortened season with a 4-5 record and a 3.11 ERA. In 12 starts, he had pitched 72.1 innings with 80 hits allowed, 29 runs, 25 earned runs, eight home runs surrendered (not so good), 11 walks and 71 strikeouts. He had struck out 21 in last two games with no walks.

Zarzour's career numbers at this point: 39-21 at major league level, 4.32 career ERA, 503 Ks, 129 BBs ... rats...

[AZTarHeel]

Almost one month later — Aug. 8, 2004

Josh Hamilton couldn't believe his earns and made the team doctor repeat his diagnosis.

"Josh, you broke that ankle pretty bad sliding into second base last night against the Phillies. I hate to say it but your season is over."

Season over.

The words just hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity. Just 12 hours ago, Josh Hamilton had just raised his batting average to .389 in a home game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, getting two hits in four at-bats. He had truly started to believe that he could cross that magical .400 mark and help lead the Dodgers back to another World Series championship. Now, he was being told that he won't be able to play in a game again until 2005. And even then, the ankle may never be the same.

Andrew Zarzour, his good buddy and former teammate, knew exactly how Hamilton felt. Zarzour, recovering from his own season-ending injury, had flown to Los Angeles (against doctors orders mind you) to see his new team play his old one -- and to watch Hamilton strut his stuff in front of the media glow. Zarzour knew as soon as he saw the play at second base that Hamilton's ankle was shattered. Now he was determined to stay by Hamilton's side as long as his friend needed him.

Seasons over.

Neither Andrew Zarzour and Josh Hamilton could believe it.

[Dave1408]

I've been reading this thread every since you started it and felt it was time to chime in!

This story is an absolutely incredible read and i look forward to each and every update.

Your writing style is very easy to follow and the whole thread is definitely an exciting read!

[Mattymo]

Great read!! I read for awhile, forgot about it, then just read the last 3 pages.

I have only one complaint...I don't think Josh Hamilton would write so eloquently in letters to his friend. haha

Seriously though, very intrigued. Can't wait to see what happens next. I tried a player dynasty before but got bored...I think after a few seasons I'll start over after reading this.

[timlowery]

I just spent the whole afternoon reading this dynasty. Incredible.... Just incredible...

[dkmsoxfan88]

Originally Posted by timlowery

I just spent the whole afternoon reading this dynasty. Incredible.... Just incredible...

Haha, I've been reading this for over an hour... I have to get up for work in less than five hours but it was worth it!