[AZTarHeel]

Welcome back to 610WIP Sports Radio. It's the Morning Show and I'm your host Angelo Cataldi, alongside your faithful morning team of Al Morganti and Rhea Hughes. Well, the World Series starts today and our hometown team isn’t in it -- again. The Phillies came close again only to be turned away by the Houston Astros, who will be facing the Detroit Tigers for this year’s crown. Deep sigh.

As we close the books on the 2007 baseball season here in Philadelphia, we’re joined live by pitcher Andrew Zarzour, who has agreed to spend a few minutes with us this morning. Andrew, good morning, my friend. As always, it's great to speak with you.

AZ: Good morning, glad to be with you guys. Wish it were under different circumstances, though.

WIP: So, you’re back in North Carolina, your hometown?

AZ: Yes sir. My mom hasn’t been feeling well, and I just wanted to come spend some time with her and my dad, and just basically decompress a little bit. It’s been a long season.

WIP: As you reflect on 2007, what thoughts go through your mind?

AZ: The regular season itself was pretty much a blast. I think we played loose. We were a team. We brought out the best in each other. It was a fun ride. This was one of the most determined, scrappy teams I’ve ever been a part of. I think we as a pitching staff feel like we let the team down once we got into the post-season. It’s hard to explain. We just didn’t have our best stuff. I know I didn’t have my best stuff against Houston, that’s for sure. We’re still pretty sick about that part. In time, we‘ll feel pretty good about the whole of 2007. But for now, it just hurts with how it ended.

WIP: Were you tired in those last games? You and Josh looked pretty tanked, if I can be honest.

AZ: No, I don’t think so. Maybe we thought too much out there instead of just pitching. Houston had played as many games as we did, so if we were tired then they had to be tired, too, right?

WIP: You think this team will stay together in 2008? If so, it would be hard to pick against Philadelphia in the NL East?

AZ: Yeah, we’re slated to bring about everyone back. We could be pretty good. But no one hands you anything. You’ve got to work for it. I’ve got to work for it. I think we learned that in 2006, that getting on the cover of preseason magazines doesn’t win you any thing. After a little rest here in the next few days, I plan on getting back to work myself.

WIP: So, what about your future here in Philly? You contract runs out after next season. You’re surely due for a big raise after that. What’s on your radar? Do you think you want to test the free agent market or be a Philly for several more years to come.

AZ: As soon as I finish my R&R time here in North Carolina, I’m sure I’ll sit down with the Phillies management and talk about my future with the club. I could see myself staying here for a long, long time. As long as this club is committed to winning over the long haul, count me in.

WIP: How’s your little brother? I understand he’s still serving in Afghanistan?

AZ: Yeah, frankly I’m not sure how he’s doing. We haven’t heard from him in awhile. There was a time when we thought he was going to come home this summer, but then we learned those plans were on delay. He usually finds a way to communicate with me in some way but I haven’t heard from him in about a month. We just keep praying for him and all the men and women serving overseas everyday. I think that may be why my mom has been sick the past few weeks. She just wants her boy home. I definitely want my brother home.

WIP: Andrew, we’ll definitely keep praying for that to happen as well. Thank you for your time this morning. We hope next year at this time, we’re talking to you on the eve of you pitching in Game One of the World Series, with your brother in the stands watching you. Best wishes to you.

AZ: Thanks for having me on. And thanks to all the fans in Philadelphia for supporting us this season. We appreciate all of you a lot. We'll keep working hard.

WIP: OK, that was pitcher Andrew Zarzour joining us this morning from his parents home in North Carolina. When we come back from the break, we’ll talk Eagles. Can Donovan McNabb get Philly’s football team over the hump? Can any of our teams win a championship?