Tall Tales: The Andrew Zarzour Story

[AZTarHeel]

From: AZarzour72@earthlink.net
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 1999 8:45 AM
To: BManWeaver@yahoo.com
Subject: Crazy All-Star Game

Hey Brandon, Drew here. Are you excited about college yet? Less than a month away, eh?

Dude, did you watch the All-Star Game last week. That was absolutely nuts. 15 innings! Six hours and nine minutes to finish the game! The commissioner was going nuts. I thought for awhile he was just going to call it over and declare it a tie. Wouldn't that have been something? Then the NL All-Stars score eight runs in the top of the 15th to win 15-7. What a classic. I couldn't help it. I stayed up to watch the whole darn thing.

I feel most sorry for the pitchers, especially Dodgers reliever Mark Guthrie. They had to leave him out there for more than five innings. At least he got a win for his efforts. I've met Mark a few times, and he's a nice guy and helpful. Unlike some of the guys who like the "haze the rooks" he's one who'll pass along advice that'll make you better.

Anyways, I guess you've seen my latest pitching line. I'm 4-1 since moving up to San Antonio. My ERA is 2.36 right now, better than it was at Great Falls! Get this, I'm averaging more than 14 strikeouts a game. That's turned a lot of heads, and they've actually talked about moving me up to Triple A sometime this season. That club is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Can you believe that? I keep getting further West.

I've even talked some with manager Davey Johnson on the phone. Wow, everything is happening so fast...

Thanks for the advice on how to handle the Josh Hamilton situation. I was really rattled after reading his comments in the paper that day, but I did what you said and just told all the reporters that he was right and that he should be getting more attention, etc. I just kept praising him and playing him up as a great teammate. That seemed to diffuse stuff. Josh and I don't talk a lot still, and he's been hanging out with some different folks of late. Even though the clubs will deny it officially, off the record they turn a blind eye to a lot of alcohol and drugs and stuff that players have access to, even us underaged folks. I see Josh hanging out in the team hotel room where the alcohol is usually stashed quite a bit. I just hope this doesn't wreck his career. He's off to such a good start.

Don't worry about me. I remember the time we stole beer and those cigars back when we were 14 and how sick we got that night trying to be cool by drinking and smoking (and how much trouble we got into with our folks). I believe it when my mom says she prayed every day that the taste of alcohol and cigarettes would so disgust me that I'd get sick just being around it. She's right. I really can't drink the stuff. My temptation these days is just spending this newfound money that I have -- and eating poorly and treating my body poorly, etc.

Anyways, enough about me. I want to hear how life is in Bunn this summer? How are you and Shannon doing? Think you'll stay together since she's going to App State and you'll be at Carolina? Long-distance relationships are tough, eh?

Take care, my friend. Don't forget about me.

"Z Man"

[AZTarHeel]

Ring, ring, ring:

Hey hey, you've reached Andrew Zarzour's cell phone. Sorry I can't take your call right now. I'm either at the ball park, out fishing, or trying to learn my way around my new home here in San Antonio. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Go Dodgers!


Hi son, this is Dad again. Boy, you're a hard man to get ahold of. Anyways, just wanted to update you on our time share situation. I've spent the past three days on the phone wrangling with those people and they finally agreed to let us switch our time share from Montana to Texas. Of course, we'll have to pay a nice "switch over" penalty fee and all that mess. Robbery, I tell you. And we'll have to take one of those tours when we get to our new place.

Anyways, so in four days, we'll be headed your way. We're staying at someplace called the Riverside Suites. It's supposed to be in the heart of the Riverwalk. If my calculations are correct we should be there in time to see your next start with the Missions. I can't remember who you play that night. Anyways, keep up the good work. As always, Mom and I are proud of you. See you soon!!

[AZTarHeel]

Ring, ring, ring

You have reached the Zarzour residence and Zarzour Farms. Sorry we can't take your call right now but please leave us a message and we'll try our best to get back to you as quickly as we can. Have a blessed day. Beep

Dad? Mom? Are you there? Come on, guys, where are you? Pick up!

Oh well, it's Andrew here. Well, once again I've got some good news and some bad news. You might want to get back on the phone again with those time share people and see if you can switch from San Antonio to Albuquerque. It appears as though the Dodgers are moving me again. Yep, as of tomorrow, I'll be New Mexico bound to play for the Albuquerque Dukes of the Triple A Pacific Coast League.

It's a long story, but you know all about our injury issues. When Ismael Valdes went down with the Big Club, that left a spot open on our starting rotation. So, they moved up Butch Henry to fill his spot until he returns. Could be a month or more. And they are moving me to fill Henry's spot, though I imagine I'll be at the back of the rotation in Triple A. Anyways, I hate to get promoted just on account of someone else's downfall but I look forward to trying to prove myself in Albuquerque.

At least that's only one state away from Texas, right? Sorry to mess up your travel plans once again. Maybe we'll catch up in Los Angeles. Ha. Take care. Call me when you get the chance. Love you.

[AZTarHeel]

Dodgers Notebook

LA locks up Piazza, Martinez
During the dog days of summer, Los Angeles owners made sure the franchise's top hitter and top pitcher will be back in uniform the next few seasons. Catcher Mike Piazza was signed to a five-year deal valued at $11.1 million a season. He had been asking for more than $12.5 and wanted seven years, but seemed content at the latest offer the Dodgers put on the table. Ramon Martinez, who is having a banner year from the mound like his brother Pedro in Boston, was inked at $12 million a year for three years...

3B Todd Zeile and OF Raul Mondesi also signed extensions with Los Angeles, who have not yet inked any future deals with possible free agents like closer Scott Radinsky or LF Trenidad Hubbard...


Pitcher Pinch
The Dodgers' biggest hindrance to hanging onto the NL West crown against the hard-charging Colorado Rockies? Arms. Los Angeles lost starter Ismael Valdez for up to a month with a strained tricep. His replacement, Butch Henry, 30, called up from AAA Albuquerque was pretty dreadful in his first two starts with the big club, giving up 12 earned runs.


***Some other notes of interest: Barry Bonds and Roberto Alomar both got their 2,000th hit within two days of each other in late July ... The trading deadline passed with the Dodgers sitting at 60-44, nine games up on Colorado. But the Rockies made a big move by winning nine of 10 and pulled as close as four games back. It should be a tight finish in the NL West...

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour stood on the mound at the Albuquerque Sports Stadium, his head down and his left foot scratching in the dirt. His manager, Mike Scioscia, was coming out to talk to him, and Zarzour knew this wouldn’t be a long chat.

For the second game in a row, Big Z had been reduced to small potatoes by Triple A hitters. It was only the fourth inning against the Calgary Cannons and already Scioscia was having to come and get him. Just like five days ago against the Oklahoma RedHawks. A full house, which had been expecting a big show from the team's biggest prospect, was nearly silent.

“Hey, it’s OK big fella. We’ll get this turned around,” Scioscia said, taking the ball from the 7-foot-2 left-hander and pointing for reliever Sean Maloney in the Dukes' bullpen. “This just wasn’t your night.”

Zarzour felt awful. His parents, who had broken another time share arrangement -- and paid yet another big fee over it -- had come out to see him pitch this game after missing his first start in Albuquerque. And he had blown up right before their eyes. They, of course, were nothing but supportive of their son, reminding him over and over that he’s just 18 and already a world-beater by just getting to this level so quickly But Zarzour, ever the quiet competitor, hated that he couldn’t replicate in Triple A what he had been able to do pretty well in the lower divisions.

Up here, a fastball that might have blown past someone gets jacked out of the park. And the hitters, some of them veterans twice Zarzour’s age trying to earn one more shot at the Bigs, don’t bite nearly as much on his junk.

Zarzour was sickened when he saw his line from his first two starts as a member of the Albuquerque Dukes: 0-1 record (mercifully, in the first game the other starter was just as bad), 6.75 ERA, 21 hits allowed, 11 earned runs. He did have 22 strikeouts but it often took him seven or eight batters in an inning to get those K’s.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a 6.75 ERA,” Zarzour told his dad.

“Yeah, but I don’t think any 35-year-old former All-Stars were taking hacks at your pitches either, son,” his father retorted. “Hang in there, kid. Remember what it says in the book of Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear. Take heart. God is with you and still loves you. We love you, too, and are unbelievably proud of you..."

[AZTarHeel]

Just when Andrew Zarzour felt like things couldn't get any worse, they did. In his fourth Triple A start, the 7-foot-2 teen-ager got lit up again. This time, he made it just 2.1 innings, surrendering eight runs - all earned.

Manager Mike Scioscia made his familiar mound visit and didn't say much this time, other than to pat his giant pitcher on the back before handing the ball over to long reliever Masao Kida. Zarzour didn't even want to look at the papers the next day. Of course, one of the sidebars was whether the Dodgers had moved too soon in bringing Zarzour up to Triple A.

"He still belongs in Double A," the columnist for the Albuquerque paper had said. "His confidence looks shot in just a few short weeks. He's no longer the beaming young kid he was when he stepped onto the field the first time here. He looks forlorn, almost like he's beaten before he even begins an inning."

And that was one of the big things Scioscia and other coaches talked with him about the day after this latest poor start, his mental demeanor.

"Hitters feed off any chink in a pitcher's armor, especially a timid or scared facial expression. It becomes like a shark with blood in the water for them when they know you're on the ropes mentally," Scioscia told him. "So you need to look and feel confident every pitch you throw. If you don't have it, don't let them know you don't have it."

Scioscia ended the private converation by telling Zarzour that he believed the young prospect belonged in Triple A. "I wanted you here, and I still want you here," the manager said.

[AZTarHeel]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[AZTarHeel]

It was a beautiful September morning in Albuquerque. It was still a bit cool, and a layer of dew rested on the finely cut bermuda grass at the Dukes' workout facility. Pitcher Andrew Zarzour had just completed his daily conditioning routine along with a handful of other teammates. He would take a break, maybe read the Monday morning paper for awhile, eat something with his newfound friends and then come back to the Dukes' Triple A sports complex to watch film later in the afternoon. Somewhere in there he would grab a nap. Life was good. The pace was relaxed.

As he jogged back toward the locker room, he noticed Dukes manager Mike Scioscia coming his way. He had a packet in his hand and a big, goofy grin on his face.

"You watch the game last night?" Scioscia asked Andrew.

"You mean, Dodgers-Braves? I caught the first inning and then I went on to bed. I was pretty wiped out. Yeah, I know I have no life. Who won?"

"So then you don't know about Nomo?" Scioscia continued.

"Um, no. What happened?" Zarzour asked curiously.

"Man, it was ugly. Bottom of the third inning, Tony Graffanino hits a line shot back up the middle. It deflects of Nomo's face. Bam, he goes down. They're saying he broke his jaw. Dude, it was gruesome. You could see a splatter of blood coming out of his mouth when they slowed it down. Anyways, he'll be out for the rest of the regular season, maybe the post-season as well. Mentally he may be shot for a long time."

Zarzour just stood there imagining what that must have been like. Being so tall, he's been in the line of fire with line drives like that before but he's never been seriously injured. Just some bruises and scared wits, taking hard shots off a thigh or shoulder.

"Anyways," Scioscia said, pressing the packet up against Andrew's chest. "The Dodgers need more arms in their bullpen for the final drive. They're calling you up for the rest of the season. This folder has all the information you need. A car will be along in about 30 minutes to pick you up. You've got another hour or so to get your stuff ready at your apartment, then you're off to the airport. Your plane ticket is enclosed.

"The team is returning from Atlanta and will open a series against the Giants tonight. A car will be waiting at LAX to bring you to the stadium. They know you are coming and someone will be there to help you around. I have no idea how much you'll play over the next few weeks, if any. If nothing else, you'll learn a lot being up there. Best of luck to you..."

Zarzour couldn't believe his ears. He would be sitting in a Major League bullpen tonight. Wearing a real Dodgers uniform with his name on the back. At Chavez Ravine. Against the Giants. Maybe, just maybe over the next few weeks, he'd see his first Major League action. Whoa, this was heavy.

"Well, what are waiting for day-dreamer," Scioscia snapped. "Hit the showers and go get ready to be a Major Leaguer."

[hayesb26]

wow, getting the call up already!! hope big Z does well enough to impress the big league club

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by hayesb26

wow, getting the call up already!! hope big Z does well enough to impress the big league club

Yeah, it's probably too soon, and I probably could get by with just a four-man rotation over the last month of the regular season (though I don't think Nomo will be back even if the Dodgers make the playoffs). But Zarzour had some good starts toward the end of his Triple A stint, and might be able to help out the Big Club if they get in a pinch. The Rockies are still hanging close enough to keep things interesting in the West. If LA doesn't win the division, they won't be a wild card team, so it's imperative to try and win it.

I guess I could have given the nod to Butch Henry for the No. 5 starter's spot. But he hasn't been very reliable. He'll win one game, then give up 6-8 runs the next. Plus this isn't the Butch Henry dynasty story!

Zarzour might still in Double A had I imported, say, in 1996. That would have given teams a chance to build up their Minors programs. Right now, the Dodgers only have a handful of starting pitchers in the entire farm system since I started in 1998.

We'll see what happens... keep your fingers crossed...

[Big Six]

Too bad for Valdez and Nomo, but it will be fun to see how Z does if he gets into a few big league games.

I'm really enjoying reading your dynasty; it's become one of my "must read" threads, and I'm always pumped when I see you've updated. I like the different formats you use to tell Andrew's story.

Good luck, and keep up the good work!

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by Big Six

Too bad for Valdez and Nomo, but it will be fun to see how Z does if he gets into a few big league games.

I'm really enjoying reading your dynasty; it's become one of my "must read" threads, and I'm always pumped when I see you've updated. I like the different formats you use to tell Andrew's story.

Good luck, and keep up the good work!

Thanks, Big Six, I just worry about ratings freefall or something for my main character as this goes along. I started something similar a few years ago, creating a pitcher, and he tanked big time (thus the dynasty story died a quick death)... Maybe that's another reason why I'm giving Zarzour every chance he can get to make the Bigs. My other guy never made it up...

As for Valdes, he just came back to the lineup after being on the DL for five weeks, leaving my starting rotation as 1) Darren Dreifort 2) Ramon Martinez 3) Chan Ho Park 4) Ismael Valdes and 5) Big Z ...

[AZTarHeel]

Sept. 9, 1999.

It's a unique date to begin with — 9-9-99. For Andrew Zarzour it will be forever linked with the day he was first called up to the Major Leagues (how cool - just realized it as I began writing this segment).

What a whirlwind day it turned out to be. He woke up thinking that naps, the morning's issue of USA Today and some vigorous conditioning with a few Triple A teammates would be his biggest agenda items (with maybe a trip to one of Albuquerque's notable Mexican restaurants in the mix as well). Suddenly, he was furiously packing a few bags and heading off to the airport to catch a flight to Los Angeles to join the Dodgers. The LA freakin Dodgers!

He arrived in the mid-afternoon and was amazed at just how fast life seemed to be in this huge city. During his 40-minute drive from the airport to the ballpark, Zarzour just stared out the window like a foreigner just arriving in a new country. Cars seemed to be zooming down the 110 and 105 freeways at a hundred miles per hour. His driver was hustling as well.

As Zarzour's car made the right turn onto Elysian Park Avenue, the young ballplayer lost his breath. There it was, Dodger Stadium, the 56,000 seat baseball castle that first opened its doors in 1962. Home of Dodger Dogs and Vin Scully's famous radio voice. The place where Kirk Gibson hobbled around the bases, pumping his fist, after the home run that beat the Oakland A's in the 1988 World Series. Zarzour was only seven years old when that game happened, and he vaguely remembers watching it with his dad on their small television in the kitchen. They both cheered after Gibson's hit even though at the time they had no attachment to the team.

A young 20-something man dressed in a Dodgers polo shirt greeted Zarzour as he got out of the car. He then gave him a quick tour of the clubhouse. Zarzour felt like he was on holy ground. He was scared to talk, breath, touch anything.

Finally, he arrived in the locker room. There, he was pointed toward his own personal space. And there Zarzour saw for the first time his name on the back of a Los Angeles Dodgers' jersey.

Zarzour thought he heard Handel's Messiah playing in the background ("Hallelujah! Hallelujah!") as her surveyed the uniform for the first time. Growing up, he had never really thought much of the Dodgers' simple scheme. He preferred the jazzier uniforms, like the purple and gold being worn by the Diamondbacks or the teal and black of the Florida Marlins. And of course, he loved Phillies red being a Philly fan.

But this uniform glowed. It was pure white, with "Dodgers" written in script on the front. Zarzour's No. 72 was tucked away underneath the team name on the front in bright red. The blue hat hanging from the pin inside the locker was almost a royal color, with an interlocking "LA" design on the front. His belt was blue. His shoes black.

Zarzour ran his fingers along the letters on the back — "Z A R Z O U R" — trying to tell if it was all real. A few months ago he remembers crying as he took off his Bunn High School jersey for the last time and saying goodbye to that special part of his life. That seemed like a world ago now.

"Hey there. You must be the Zarzour kid. Man you are tall," a voice interrupted from behind.

Zarzour turned and saw a squatty but powerful looking figure standing there dressed in Dodgers shorts and a gray T-shirt. He knew at once who it was, Paul Lo Duca, the Dodgers' back-up catcher. He was 5-foot-8 at best, but Zarzour was instantly amazed at how much punch Lo Duca seemed to pack in his compact frame.

"Welcome to LA, Big Z. Let me introduce you to some of the guys..."

[ifspuds]

This just keeps on impressing. I honestly got goosebumps reading this last one. Of course, I've dreamt of doing just what Big Z is doing for oh... about 30 years.

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

This just keeps on impressing. I honestly got goosebumps reading this last one. Of course, I've dreamt of doing just what Big Z is doing for oh... about 30 years.

I think all of us have dreamed of being in Zarzour's shoes, or else this game probably wouldn't exist... Thanks goodness for dynasty forums!

[AZTarHeel]

If there is anything better than seeing your last name on a professional baseball jersey, it's actually putting that jersey on. Zarzour got chills when he first slipped on his white No. 72 outfit for the first time. It fit to a T. He felt ready to take on the world. "Put me in, coach," he started humming to himself. "I'm ready to play. Today ... Look at me..."

When Zarzour walked out of the locker room for pregame warm-ups it was late afternoon. The sun had coated Dodger Stadium and the surrounding landscape in sweet, rich, deep colors. The San Gabriel Mountains in the distance looked almost purple. Zarzour had to keep from gawking as he stretched out and played catch with teammates.

Another full house was expected tonight since LA was leading the division and hosting their biggest rivals, the San Francisco Giants. A good crowd was already here for batting practice and he could see lots of fathers and sons (and daughters!) in the outfield seats, gloves at the ready, as Mike Piazza, Devon White and recent 3B call-up Cole Liniak (hitting .280 for the injured Todd Zeile) smashed balls all over the place.

Coming into the game, Los Angeles owned a 76-61 record. A recent five-game winning streak, combined with a Colorado four-game losing skid, put a little distance between the Dodgers and Rockies. Zarzour's team was now back up by five in the standings after nearly surrendering the lead.

Chan Ho Park would get the ball for LA tonight, while 37-year-old Mark Gardner would start for the Giants. Coaches told Zarzour that he wouldn't play unless the game went 25 innings or something. But, as always, they told him to be at the ready just in case. Zarzour had no problems in that department.

Zarzour had managed to squeeze in a little time to call his parents and tell them the good news before he reached the ballpark. They were thrilled, naturally, and had tons of questions. He promised to call them back after the game that night when he had more time.

His mom hinted that they might be on a plane to LA in the morning or sometime soon. "I am not missing my son's very first Major League appearance, if there is one," she said adamantly. "If I have to follow the team all over the country like a groupie, I'll do it. Have you gotten any rest? I sure hope you have clean socks to wear..."

Ah, moms...

[AZTarHeel]

The Dodgers-Giants game of Sept. 9, 1999 didn't go 25 innings but it was close enough. Zarzour was asked to get loosened up when things reached the 14th inning.

Amazingly, it was 5-5 after five innings, then neither team could scratch a run across in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th or 13th frames. Los Angeles had burned six pitchers (Chan Ho Park, Brad Clontz, Dennys Reyes, Frank Lankford, closer Scott Radkinsky and Mark Guthrie) and was getting ready to trot out the seventh, Scott Sauerbeck in the top of the 14th.

The long game gave Zarzour a chance to get acquainted with his new bullpen mates. It was an intriguing scenario for sure. On the one hand, everyone was curious about this 7-foot-2 newcomer, who had chosen baseball over hoops. But some of the guys also viewed this hard-throwing teen-ager as a threat. They had families to take care and mouths to feed at home. They didn't need some kid half their age to steal their jobs.

Zarzour had a good long conversation with Darren Dreifort, the Dodgers' No. 1 starter. He was the perfect mentor, trying to show the young Zarzour everything he could as the game went along. There was lots of small, but important, stuff the young pitcher had to learn for sure. Zarzour wished he could have brought a notepad into the dugout with him. There was lots of stuff he wanted to remember about all the batters he was watching, and the nuiances of the ballpark itself.

Zarzour also didn't know how much to cheer. In high school ball, chatter was encouraged, and he loved to stand at the steps and buzz during a game. Do pro players do that kind of stuff? He just followed others' lead in this department and tried to be encouraging to everyone he encountered wearing Dodger blue.

Finally, a team blinked in the 14th. Sauerbeck retired the Giants quickly, giving up a two-out single to Eric Chavez but nothing else. Then with two outs in the bottom of the 14th, the Dodgers finally put things away. Steve Finley poked a single to centerfield. Then Todd Zeile, being used only as a pinch hitter while he recovers from a nagging hand injury, swiped a base-hit down the first-base line. Finley raced to third.

Eric Young was walked, then Edgar Renteria, who was finding his stride as a Dodger after getting traded a few months ago from Florida, won the game with a base hit to right. Finley came home, and the fans roared their approval. Everyone sprinted out of the dugout to greet Finley at home. Zarzour joined them, wanting to jump right on top of the pile but staying behind the throng of teammates.

Game time: 5 hours and 19 minutes, on Baseball Cap Day at Dodger Stadium. Already, Zarzour had a Major League memory to last a lifetime...

[AZTarHeel]

To: "Andrew Zarzour" (AZarzour72@earthlink.net)
From: "Brandon Weaver" (BWeaver@unc.edu)
Sent: Tues 9/10/1999 11:04 AM
Subject: Are you kidding me?

So I'm sitting down this morning at the Student Union after my 8 o'clock class to read the sports page and eat a blueberry muffin. I flip open to the baseball box scores to check out how the Red Sox and Yanks did last night, as well as my newfound favorite team, the Dodgers. I just happened to peak at the Transactions section and low and behold there you are in small agate type: "LA Dodgers - promoted LHP Andrew Zarzour from AAA Albuquerque." Unbelievable! I about spit out my muffin when I read it.

Congrats man. You said in your last email to me you thought that might happen with all the injuries to Dodgers pitchers. Are you just freaking out? Are you going to get a start? Details! Details!

Hey, thanks for taking the time to keep up with me and ask about college. Life is awesome at UNC! Classes are OK. I really like living in Graham Dorm, which is located on North Campus, pretty much near everything like the library, food, most classroom buildings, etc. Of course, I also like that there is a girls dorm right next to Graham, plus another one right across the quad. Dude, there are some fine ladies here, let me tell you. I guess you were right about me and Shannon growing apart once we were at different schools. I don't see us making it, especially with all these cool girls right here in the neighborhood.

Anyways, I've been going to a Thursday night group called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. There are some neat guys (and gals!) in that, and they invited me to a Bible study every Tuesday night. It's pretty laid back and they don't mind my questions and skepticism. Every Thursday before their "large group" meeting everyone goes and eats at a restaurant on Franklin Street called "The Rat" - short for The Rathskeller. Great prices for all you can spaghetti and bottomless sweet tea. Even though I'm not like a lot of these guys in religious things, it's neat they accept me and invite me to eat with them and stuff...

Oh yeah, I may be getting a job at the student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, soon. It won't be in sports - as you can imagine, that's a popular job in Tar Heel country -- but a guy in my dorm named Eric said they've got spots open on the State and National desk. He said if I started there I could work my way over to sports in time if I got to know the guys on that desk. I may give that a shot. Imagine that, me covering state and national government and stuff!

Sorry if I'm boring you with my crazy college stories. I realize your life is infinitely more exciting, especially now that you're in the Big Leagues and playing in LA. Again, many congrats on your promotion. Please, please write when you get a chance with updates. I'll be watching the box scores a lot more closely every day. And please let me know if you know you're going to pitch so I can find a TV or Internet radio or something!!

You're the man, Z, go get 'em!

Your friend,
Brandon

[AZTarHeel]

Whoever made up the 1999 schedule certainly didn't do the LA Dodgers any favors for the month of September.

After taking two of three from the Giants at home, and then losing two of three to the visiting Florida Marlins, Los Angeles players and coaches packed up for a four-city tour that would take them to Colorado (big series vs. other NL West contender), St. Louis, San Diego and then Houston. Each set was just two games (my bad for not downloading a better schedule generator), with only one off day, so the team was basically hopping from place to place.

Of course, 18-year-old Andrew Zarzour was having the time of his life. He was getting to see ballparks up close and personal, like Coors Field and Busch Stadium, that he had only watched on TV or seen pictures of in magazines.

As promised Zarzour's mom also became a team groupie, following the Dodgers from town to town, just in case one of those stops happened to be when Andrew got his first Big League experience. "I'm just not going to miss that," she kept telling folks.

She was the keeper of the books in the family and for the farm, and was a whiz at budgeting and saving. She had stashed away a tidy amount — actually quite a big amount — that she planned to use for her kids' college. But Mary Katherine had gotten a full ride to Peace College from basketball and now Andrew was off pursuing his MLB dreams (and, if he was smart with his newfound $$$ would be able to fund his own college). So she figured she had enough to "blow" some by following her son' baseball team around the country.

Actually, she didn't spend much time in hotels. She had to in San Diego, but used connections through her little Baptist Church in Bunn to find places to stay in all the other cities. Her pastor had friends from his seminary days that lived in Los Angeles. They were more than happy to open their home to Mrs. Zarzour. A friend's sister's aunt's daughter, or something like that, had a place she could stay in Denver. And on and on. Baptists certainly know how to network.

Alas, Mrs. Zarzour never saw her son take the mound, though she was like a kid entering brave new worlds as she traveled the country, really for the first time in her life.

When the No. 5 spot in the rotation rolled around at Colorado, Dodgers manager Davey Johnson gave the ball to Butch Henry, the 30-year-old right-hander, because of his experience. Henry, who stayed up with the Big Club as well because teams could have expanded rosters in September, was serviceable, giving up five runs, and the Dodgers got out of Coors with a 9-6 win (taking the important series 2-0).

Five days later, Johnson put the ball back in Henry's hands against San Diego. And this time Henry was as sharp as he'd been all season. He gave up just two runs, and the Dodgers won another important game 3-2.

Zarzour wasn't too upset. He was a team player and was glad to see Henry have a breakout night. The veteran pitcher had seemed so stressed the past few weeks and finally had a big smile on his face. He looked like a giant weight lifted from his shoulders.

All told, the Dodgers went 4-4 on their road swing. They moved their record to 83-68, now a comfortable six games up on the Rockies. Zarzour, though just a spectator through it all, stayed at the ready. After workouts or conditioning, and nearly every chance he got, he made sure to tell his coaches he would do whatever it took to help the team, even if that just meant fetching water or carrying bags.

But he also made sure to tell them that he really wanted the ball in a game, any time they wanted to give it to him...

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour boarded the chartered flight from Houston back to Los Angeles with his teammates. He went toward the back of the plane, found a window seat on an empty row, slipped on his headphones and prepared to go into lala land for a bit before taking yet another look at his study material on the Dodgers' upcoming opponent, the Chicago Cubs.

But before he got too comfortable, catcher Mike Piazza bounced back to his row and plopped down next to him with a goofy grin on his face.

"How you doin' there Big Z? Having fun yet?" Piazza asked.

"Absolutely," Andrew said. "Every day, I'm learning tons."

Piazza's grin continued and Zarzour wondered if some form of rookie hazing was getting ready to occur. He braced himself.

"So what can you tell me about the Cubs?" Piazza asked.

Zarzour started rattling things off from memory, as he had looked at the material and video on the team thoroughly the past few days. "Let's see, if you're a left-handed pitcher like me you're probable going to see four righties to start with: Alex Gonzales, Wilton Veras, Sammy Sosa and Preston Wilson. Mark Grace follows, then Manwaring, Henry Rodriguez and Mickey Morandini. Righties would see Preston Wilson first, then Morandini, Grace and, if you're lucky, Sosa wouldn't come up until the second inning.

"Sammy of course is hitting the cover off the ball. He's got an OPS of something like 1.020. Not sure what he did tonight, but the last I saw he was at 59 home runs, needing two to catch Marris and four to catch the new home run champ, Juan Gonzales, who bashed 63 last season."

Zarzour continued on with stats about batters' splits and what he had remembered reading about the pitches that each of them liked to hit versus what gave them the most trouble, etc.

"Pretty good, rook," Piazza said. "Tell you what, if you don't mind I'm going to sit here the rest of the flight. We need to talk about how we're going to pitch to these guys tomorrow night."

Zarzour took the headphones off his ears. "We?"

Piazza was laughing out loud at this point. "Yes sir, Big Z, skip is giving you the ball tomorrow night. Our welcome home party in LA will begin with you on the mound. Congratulations."

It took several minutes for Andrew to truly accept that this wasn't a joke. Finally manager Davey Johnson had to come back to his seat and affirm that yes this was his plan. "Check the Internet when you get home for tomorrow's probable starters," Johnson said. "You're on there -- Zarour (0-0) vs. Steve Trachsel (12-12). Listen to your catcher now. He's really going to help you. And you're going to do a super job..."

So Zarzour was going to be more than just a spectator this season after all. Unless he broke his ankle or something getting off the plane tonight, his first Major League start was coming in less than 24 hours!