Tall Tales: The Andrew Zarzour Story

[AZTarHeel]

William Reginald Scalfani
1206 Clarendon Road
Brooklyn, NY 11203


Dear Mr. Scalfani,

Hello sir, this is Andrew Zarzour, the pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thank you for taking the time to continue corresponding with me and telling me the story of your family and your special son, Big Ed. He is greatly missed by my family, believe me.

My offer still stands for you to be my guest at any World Series game that we play, either in Los Angeles or Boston. Just let me know, and I’ll arrange for transportation for you, your daughter-in-law Marcie and even your new grandson if he’s up for his first baseball game. I still can’t thank you enough for the influence that your son had on my little brother Timmy.

As you know, Timmy plans to enlist in the Marines later this fall or possibly early next year. Continue praying for him as he prepares to serve his country. We are all behind his decision but of course are very nervous, especially as talk of a possible military invasion of Iraq looms in addition to the current fighting in Afghanistan.

Regards.

Andrew Zarzour

[AZTarHeel]

World Series 2002

Tale of the Tape: Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers



Just thought I’d break the two teams down for everyone heading into the 2002 World Series

Regular Season Records
Boston (108-54)
Los Angeles (108-54)

Divisional Playoff Results
Los Angeles def. Florida 3-0
Boston def. Seattle 3-2

League Championship Results
Los Angeles def. Atlanta 4-0
Boston def. Chicago White Sox 4-3

Probable Pitching Match-ups
Game 1: Ramon Martinez (LA, 21-5, 3.34) vs. Derek Lowe (BOS, 11-10, 4.60)
Game 2: Hipolito Pichardo (LA, 17-6, 2.96) vs. Pedro Martinez (BOS, 25-4, 3.35)
Game 3: Dan Smith (LA, 15-10, 2.72 ERA) vs. Tony McKnight (BOS, 11-9, 5.90 ERA)
Game 4: Andrew Zarzour (LA, 12-4, 5.50), Darren Dreifort (LA, 15-10, 4.44 ERA) or Ramon Martinez vs. ?????

Key relievers for LA: Brendan Donnelly (7-1, 2.42 ERA) ... Kazuhiro Sasaki (5-0, 3 SV, 1.89 ERA) ... Trevor Hoffman (5-4, 47 SV, 1.44 ERA) ... Byung-hyun Kim (7-1, 2 SV, 2.78 ERA)

Key relievers for Boston: Mike Stanton (6-6, 40 SV, 2.72 ERA) ... Kevin McGlinchy (9-1, 4 SV, 2.78 ERA).

Notebook: Pedro Martinez isn’t 100 percent heading into this series. He’s listed at about 90 percent because of some shoulder soreness. He doesn’t have enough rest to go in Game One against his brother but I imagine the computer will try and use him in Game Two.


Probable Starters
LOS ANGELES
C Paul Lo Duca (.348, 7 HR, 76 RBI)
1B Albert Pujols (.265, 23 HR, 102 RBI)
2B Damian Jackson (.275, 8 HR, 73 RBI, 50 SB)
3B Jeff Cirillo (.270, 10 HR, 63 RBI)
SS Alex Rodriguez (.301, 46 HR, 124 RBI)
LF Josh Hamilton (.334, 11 HR, 82 RBI)
CF Johnny Damon (.294, 18 HR, 75 RBI)
RF Craig Wilson (.300, 39 HR, 116 RBI)
DH Craig Wilson or Damian Jackson will DH in games at Boston, with OF Rod Lindsey (.294, 6 HR, 47 RBI) or 2B David Bell (.235, 10 HR, 22 RBI) getting into the lineup depending on the opposing pitcher.


BOSTON
C Scott Hatteberg (.286, 15 HR, 72 RBI)
1B Frank Catalanotto (.283, 11 HR, 70 RBI)
2B Donnie Sadler (.231, 5 HR, 37 RBI)
3B John Valentin (.248, 7 HR, 63 RBI)
SS Nomar Garciaparra (.335, 32 HR, 144 RBI)
LF Brian Giles (.296, 24 HR, 100 RBI)
CF Midre Cummings (.326, 22 HR, 107 RBI)
RF Larry Walker (.341, 32 HR, 120 RBI)
DH Paul Konerko (.291, 35 HR, 130 RBI)
(when playing in LA, Konerko will play 1B and Catalanotto will play 2B, with Sadler out)


Overall: Fittingly, the two best teams in baseball this season will go at it for the World Series championship, though Boston had a tougher time getting through the American League playoffs. It’s hard to imagine Los Angeles scoring another 4-0 sweep but they appear to be the fresher team overall and have been pretty red-hot in a lot of areas lately. I'd give LA the edge in pitching, especially the bullpen.

Boston won the 2000 World Series (in my world) over Houston, and Toronto won it all in 2001 over San Francisco. The Dodgers flamed out in the divisional playoffs last season against the Cardinals.

For history buffs, here is a record of the Dodgers’ World Series triumphs and other World Series appearances:

I thought it intriguing that the Red Sox and Dodgers have only met once before in the World Series, with Boston winning it all in 1916 against the then-Brooklyn Dodgers. Look at how many times the Yankees and Dodgers met in the Series.

Dodgers’ Six World Series Championships (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988)
Year 	Series 	Dodger Manager
1988 	LA Dodgers 4 vs. Oakland A's 1 	Tommy Lasorda
1981 	LA  Dodgers 4 vs. NY Yankees 2 	Tommy Lasorda
1978 	NY Yankees 4 vs. LA  Dodgers 2 	Tommy Lasorda
1977 	NY Yankees 4 vs. LA  Dodgers 2 	Tommy Lasorda
1974 	Oakland A's 4 vs. LA  Dodgers 1 	Walter Alston
1966 	Baltimore 4 vs. LA  Dodgers 0 	Walter Alston
1965 	LA  Dodgers 4 vs. Minnesota 3 	Walter Alston
1963 	LA  Dodgers 4 vs. NY Yankees 0 	Walter Alston
1959 	LA  Dodgers 4 vs. Chicago White Sox 2 	Walter Alston
1956 	NY Yankees 4 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 3 	Walter Alston
1955 	Brooklyn Dodgers 4 vs. NY Yankees 3 	Walter Alston
1953 	NY Yankees 4 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 2 	Charlie Dressen
1952 	NY Yankees 4 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 3 	Charlie Dressen
1949 	NY Yankees 4 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 1 	Burt Shotton
1947 	NY Yankees 4 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 3 	Burt Shotton
1941 	NY Yankees 4 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 1 	Leo Durocher
1920 	Cleveland 5 vs. Brooklyn 2 	Wilbert Robinson
1916 	Boston Red Sox 4 vs. Brooklyn 1 	Wilbert Robinson

[AZTarHeel]

MARTINEZ IS MASTERFUL

Dodgers win Game One over Red Sox in convincing fashion

October 27, 2002

Take that, little brother.

LA Dodgers pitcher Ramon Martinez may have been overshadowed by little brother Pedro in recent seasons.

But Ramon pitched a game for the ages last night, lifting the Dodgers past the Pedro's Red Sox 6-1 in the opening game of the 2002 World Series.

Martinez gave up just three hits and one earned run, striking out five. Meanwhile Sox starter Derek Lowe never made it out of the fourth inning, surrendering five runs to the potent Dodgers.

Boston started with a flurry, getting a leadoff double from Frank Catalanotto. The Red Sox then sacrificed him around the bases for an early 1-0 lead.

With temperatures a cool 56 degrees at Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers began heating up in the third inning, scoring three times to seize control. They chased Lowe with two more runs in the fourth. Josh Hamilton was a home run away from the cycle for LA, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Alex Rodriguez also was 3-for-4, while Jeff Cirillo went 2-for-4.

The Dodgers have not lost in the post-season. Ramon Martinez, a strong Cy Young candidate in the National League, is now 3-0 in playoff contests this year, with an ERA of 2.31. He helped himself with a bunt single in the third inning, setting up Hamilton's two-run triple.

Though struggling with shoulder issues the past few weeks, little brother Pedro (25-4 in the regular season) will get the chance to match his brother's feat in Game Two tonight. Pedro Martinez will face last year's NL Cy Young winner Hipolito Pichardo.

Game Three will take the Series to historic Fenway Park in Boston.

[AZTarHeel]

LA DODGES PEDRO'S BULLETS

Boys from Chavez Ravine take 2-0 lead in Series

October 28, 2002

Pedro Martinez just wasn't himself last night. And as a result, the Boston Red Sox have fallen into a 2-0 hole in the 2002 World Series.

One night after watching big brother Ramon Martinez pitch a gem for the rival Dodgers, Pedro Martinez got knocked around a bit in a 5-1 Los Angeles victory. Pedro gave up four runs, including a two-run bomb by Albert Pujols in the fourth inning.

For the second night in a row Boston couldn't keep an early 1-0 lead. LA scored twice in the second and twice more in the fourth on Pujols' long ball. Pujols finished with three hits on the night and four RBIs. LA added an insurance run in the eighth inning to match the final score from Game One.

Hipolito Pichardo earned the win for the Dodgers, pitching seven strong innings. He gave up a solo home run to Paul Konerko in the second, then went on to allow only five more hits the rest of the night. He struck out two with no walks. Trevor Hoffman earned his fifth save of the post-season, though he walked three Sox.

"Truth be told, Pedro wasn't 100 percent going into the game," Sox manager Grady Little said. "He was more like 85 to 90 percent because of that shoulder soreness that has dogged him all post-season. Against the Dodgers these days you've got to be 110 percent. Pedro gave his all but it just wasn't meant to be tonight.

"We're just glad to be getting back to Fenway for Game Three. We need some home cookin'."

Los Angeles still hasn't lost in the post-season and is currently riding a 10-game winning streak dating to the end of the regular season.

The Dodgers plan to throw Dan Smith in Game Three on Oct. 29. He'll face Red Sox pitcher Tony McKnight. If LA wins Game Three, manager Jim Tracy has indicated he'll use 7-foot-2 left-hander Andrew Zarzour as the starter in Game Four, returning with Ramon Martinez in Game Five, if necessary, and Hipolito Pichardo in Game Six.

[AZTarHeel]

Ring, ring, ring...

"Hello? Andrew here."

"Drew, buddy, it's coach Innis from Bunn High School? How are you, my friend? I'll bet you're sky high right now."

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

"We're loving it here in North Carolina watching the Dodgers cruise in the World Series. So tell me, Big Z, how does it feel to be getting the ball in a game that could clinch the World Series championship for the Los Angeles Dodgers?"

"Pretty nerve-wracking, actually, coach. I'm all butterflies. I don't remember being this nervous for any thing in my life. Not even on draft day. Not even when I asked Gretchen to the prom..."

Yep, our boy Andrew Zarzour will get the ball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Four of the World Series. The 21-year-old, 7-foot-2 southpaw will get the chance to give LA a 4-0 sweep of the mighty Red Sox thanks to LA's 7-3 win over Boston in Game Three. The Dodgers took command of that one early, scoring five runs in the first three innings and then holding off a late Sox charge.

Dan Smith got the win for LA, striking out six in 6.2 innings. He did allow nine hits and three runs, but all the runs came after the Dodgers had built a nice 6-0 cushion. Damian Jackson and Josh Hamilton were the offensive heroes for Los Angeles. The No. 1 and No. 2 hitters had six hits between them (two doubles and a single each). Hamilton had three RBIs. Jackson scored four times.

While this dynasty story is mostly about Zarzour, his good friend Josh Hamilton might be the Dodgers' post-season MVP. He's batting .488 since the playoffs started with 10 RBIs. A-Rod has one more RBI but no one else is even close in pure batting average.

Big Z will go up against Derek Lowe in Game Four. Word has it that a member of the O'Farrell family will throw out the first pitch in Fenway tomorrow night, hoping to provide a little Boston magic. We'll see what happens...

(Frankly, I'm surprised LA has done this well against a Boston team I thought was pretty darn good - Hope Z can close it out. The LA pitching has been first-rate so far...)

[ifspuds]

Way to go Big Z! I sense a no-hitter.

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Way to go Big Z! I sense a no-hitter.

Well, Big Z did break a World Series single-game record in Game Four. Before I post, a little trivia for everyone: What WS record do you think Z broke, that was formerly held by three other pitchers, Dick Hughes (1967), Charlie Root (1932) and Junior Thompson (1939)?

[ifspuds]

I was pretty sure I had a guess, and then I looked it up and was right. I don't know that I like the sounds of this.

[kreitena]

I am going to guess Most Homers Allowed.

Ouch!

[AZTarHeel]

Robbie Maine and Brandon Weaver, two of Andrew Zarzour's best friends in the whole world since childhood, were not about to miss their buddy's World Series start.

So what if they had to miss a few days of college classes? They scored tickets to Fenway Park for Game Four, as did the boys' coach at Bunn High School, Jeff Innis.

Robbie and Brandon were like kids on Christmas as they scoped out the World Series surroundings -- Fenway Park, the Green Monster, the Air Force flyover that rattled the stadium, the tribute to the O'Farrell family given by the Red Sox before the game (with several family members throwing out first pitches), the immaculately cut grass, the massive World Series logo on the field. Everything about the scene was larger than life, even the drinks and hot dogs.

Innis, though, had a look of concern on his face as the game neared its twilight start.

"Guys, I've been watching Andrew warming up in the bullpen. I'll be honest, he doesn't look that sharp..."

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour had never really heard of former Major League pitchers Dick Hughes, Charlie Root and Junior Thompson before Game Four of the 2002 World Series.

But Big Z would soon learn plenty about them as he wiped the three out of the World Series record books. Hughes, Root and Thompson each gave up four home runs in a single World Series game, back in 1967, 1932 and 1939, respectively. No one had else had surrendered more until Zarzour did them one better on Oct. 29, 2002 — surrendering a whopping FIVE long balls before being relieved in the fourth inning.

It turns out Coach Innis was right about Zarzour. He certainly wasn't sharp. He was healthy, just grooving things right in there for Red Sox hitters to knock them all over Fenway.

Brian Giles led off the bottom of the first inning for Boston by knocking a Zarzour offering 368 feet into the right field seats. Big Z gave up singles to Midre Cummings and Paul Konerko as well in the inning, but Nomar Garciparra grounded into a double play. Then Zarzour fanned Larry Walker (whew) to end the inning. Maybe Z would settle down from there, as has been his custom?

Nope. Scott Hatteberg led off the bottom of the second with another HR off Zarzour. Frank Catalanotto popped one right back to Zarzour, but the Dodgers' big left-hander allowed John Valentin to go yard next.

LA manager Jim Tracy probably should have pulled Big Z at this point. But he rolled the dice and left him in. And there were more Boston fireworks.

Zarzour hit Donnie Sadler with a pitch (ticked off at his bad start, perhaps?), then Brian Giles made him pay for that free base-runner, hitting his second home run of the game. Boston led 5-0, and it was only by grace that the lead wasn't more substantial. Zarzour gave up two more singles before finally getting out of the frame. Larry Walker got the last out (at least Z had his number on this night).

Here is where things got really interesting. LA managed to get four of its runs back in the top of the third. So Tracy stuck with Zarzour, who repeatedly told his manager to allow him the chance to redeem himself. Big Z did OK in the third frame, with relievers getting warm in the pen, allowing a single to Catalanotto and that's it.

LA then jumped ahead 7-5 against Boston's equally-as-embattled starter Derek Lowe. Could Zarzour actually get a win despite tying the record for most home runs surrendered in a World Series game?

Alas, no.

Zarzour got the first two batters of the fourth inning out. But then Nomar went yard on him, stroking one 424 feet (ouch!) to deep center field. Konerko singled, and that was it for our boy Zarzour. Byung-Hyun Kim came in to relieve his drooping 7-foot-2 teammate, and despite giving up an RBI double to Larry Walker, got out of the inning without allowing the Sox to retake the lead.

As LA went to bat in the top of the fifth inning, the game was tied 7-7. And Zarzour had himself a World Series record, albeit one he'd just as soon have not ever heard of...

[AZTarHeel]

Andrew Zarzour had mixed emotions as he watched the rest of Game Four unfold. On the one hand, he had just pitched one of his worst games — if not THE worst — as a professional ball-player. On national TV. In the World Series. Giving up a new Series record of FIVE home runs.

Yet on the other hand, his counterpart Derek Lowe also struggled big-time and was chased away early. And even if LA lost 30-7 now, Zarzour wouldn't be saddled with the loss. When he left the game, the score was tied 7-7. Big Z mostly stayed to himself in the dugout, putting a cool towel over his head, trying to sort through and process all that had happened.

Out on the field, though, the two teams played out one of the wildest World Series games in recent memory, producing a frenzy of excitement for fans and the huge TV audience.

Boston took an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, then LA tied it up 8-8 with a run in the top of the eighth. Boston fans thought their beloved Sox had clinched Game Four when the home team piled up three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take an 11-8 lead courtesy of a Larry Walker HR smash down the right field line, which barely snaked inside the foul pole.

Zarzour couldn't help but grin a little, thankful that he hadn't given up that long ball, Boston's sixth of the night. Instead it was reliever B.K. Kim, who walked the first two batters of the inning to set up Walker's bash. Zarzour knew the feeling as he watched Kim's "oh crap" expression while the ball was traveling out of the park.

But that home run only seemed to charge up the Dodgers even more. Here was a team that hadn't really been challenged all during the post-season. Now they had their chance to show their true mettle, by trying to rally from three runs down in the ninth inning against the storied Boston Red Sox, in Fenway Park -- to clinch the World Championship.

Going into the top of the ninth, the LA dugout was a buzz of activity, kind of like a pregame huddle before a football or basketball game. Young Josh Hamilton, who like Zarzour was playing in his first World Series at age 21, was the most vocal one of them all. You almost expected him to yell "FREEDOM!!!!" a la Mel Gibson in Braveheart as the team prepared to go to the plate.

"Boys, the champaign is waiting for us," Hamilton crowed as he moved into the on-deck circle. "Let's go get some!!!"

[AZTarHeel]

As the ninth inning began, Hamilton took a swipe at the first offering from new pitcher Mike Stanton, driving the ball into left field for a single. While Craig Wilson struck out behind him, Alex Rodriguez kept the inning going with another single. Hamilton scooted on to second, clapping hard into his batting gloves as he arrived safely. He wanted to try for third, but his coach held him up.

LA was down to its last out when Albert Pujols hit into a fielder's choice, which wiped A-Rod off the base paths. But Paul Lo Duca refused to let this game end. The new man behind the plate after Mike Piazza's departure to the Reds singled into the gap in right-center. Hamilton was a freight train as he rounded the bases, pounding on home plate with all his might as he scored to pull the Dodgers within two at 11-9.

Hamilton wasn't watching as the Red Sox threw the ball away behind him, allowing Pujols to move to third and Lo Duca to second (where have you been Bill Buckner?). "We're going to win this freakin' game right here," Hamilton thought to himself. "We're going to be champions tonight."

Grady Little thought about pulling Stanton but left him out there. LA right fielder Rod Lindsey made him pay for that indecision, pounding a single to left. Pujols scored and Lo Duca motored home as well, tying things up 11-11.

Stanton exited, giving way to Roberto Hernandez. But the Dodgers were still red-hot at the plate. Johnny Damon singled again, moving Lindsey to third base. Little went to the pen again, bringing in Ron Mahay to face Dodgers' third baseman Jeff Cirillo. Little could feel the fans' displeasure at his recent bullpen decisions as he moped back to the dugout.

On a 2-2 count, Cirillo connected and his blooper dropped into short center. Lindsey scooted home for a 12-11 Dodgers' lead! The LA dugout went nuts over this hit, even Andrew Zarzour, who was now completely caught up in the excitement of winning a World Series ring, his five surrendered home runs a very distant memory, even to him.

The Red Sox finally got out of the inning when Damian Jackson flied out to right-center. That ball nearly dropped but was caught by a hair by Midre Cummings. Four runs, six hits, one error. An 12-11 LA lead.

A half-inning to go, and the Dodgers would be World Series champions!

A very focused Trevor Hoffman trotted out to the mound, eager to close out his sixth save of the post-season. If successful, Vic Darensbourg would get the historic win. And Big Z and his buddy Josh Hamilton would be receiving champaign baths shortly after that...

[ifspuds]

You're a cruel man, dragging it out like this!

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

You're a cruel man, dragging it out like this!

I'm writing as fast as I can... ;-0

another update coming right up for ya...

[AZTarHeel]

The bottom of the ninth was pretty anticlimactic. With Fenway mostly silent, thanks to the Dodgers' offensive explosion the half inning before, Trevor Hoffman took the mound and did his thing.

Hoffman struck out John Valentin, then got Donnie Sadler to hit into a harmless ground out to A-Rod at short. Two down and one to go.

While Brian Giles walked (probably the best move considering his two home runs on the night), centerfielder Donzell McDonald flied out to right-center to end the game, a high fly ball that seemed to hang in the air half the night. Johnny Damon easily settled under it, and as he squeezed the final out of the 2002 World Series firmly into his glove, the Dodgers dugout streamed out onto the field, with hugs and pile-ons aplenty.

Los Angeles 12, Boston 11. Dodgers four wins in the World Series, Red Sox zero.

Zarzour had no shame in joining the shameless celebration at the pitcher's mound. To heck with all those home runs given up a few hours earlier. Forget his ignominious place in history. He was a World Series champion! Zarzour found Josh Hamilton, who had a phenomenal post-season (batting .457, with six doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs and nine runs scored) and the two jumped up and down like little kids as they did their crazy little high five dance that they started back in Single A.

"We did it, buddy! We did it!" Josh kept saying. "Forget those homers, my man. You're a champ. We're freakin' World Champions!!!"

Indeed, they were. All they lacked was the champaign bath, and that would come soon enough...

[AZTarHeel]

Closing up the 2002 Season:

Some final news and notes on the LA Dodgers' World Series championship run:

• As it turns out, left-fielder Josh Hamilton was named Series MVP. The 21-year-old, who played against Andrew Zarzour in high school, led LA in hits against Boston with eight (two three-hit games). He had three doubles, one triple and seven RBIs. He was named Player of the Game in Game Three after his 3-for-5 night, with a trio of RBIs.

Hamilton had a hit in every post-season game, and of those 11 contests he enjoyed four multi-hit contests. Hamilton's final line from his first-ever post-season appearance: 21 of 46 (.457 average), six doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs, 9 runs, 6 K's, 1 walk, 1 stolen base. He had an OBP of .468 and a SLG of .630. Maybe the MVP of the whole post-season?

• LA fans probably would give playoff MVP honors to the three main starting pitchers, Ramon Martinez, Hipolito Pichardo and Dan Smith. All three were 3-0. Hipo's ERA was a scant 2.08 after 21.2 innings of work. Dodgers fans are bemoaning the fact that LA brass decided not to sign him to an extension, apparently ready to let him be a one-year mercenary before heading back into free agency.

• As for Andrew Zarzour, he finished his post-season with a not-so-good-looking line: Yes he was 1-0 (beating the Braves in Game Four of the NLCS). But blowing up in Game Four of the World Series pushed his post-season ERA to 9.64. In 9.1 innings pitched, Zarzour allowed 17 hits, 11 runs, 10 earned runs (nearly all by the long ball). He did strike out 10 against two walks. Still, as Hamilton kept reminding him, he was a World Series champion.

As the celebrations died down (following parades and such in LA, etc.), the fact that Zarzour had performed so poorly in his final appearance of 2002 really started eating at him. He wondered what the 2003 would bring for him. Would he be able to win a spot in the Dodgers' rotation again or would some young upstart like BK Kim or 26-year-old Clay Condrey (currently in Triple A but with aims to be a big league starter) beat him out and push him back to the minors.

And then there was the whole subject of his little brother, Timmy, enlisting in the Marines. He would go off to boot camp at the turn of the year. And then who knows what would happen...

A few other tidbits from the season:

-- CF Coco Crisp was considered the No. 7 prospect in the Majors. He spent most of the year at Triple A but was called up in September, seeing little action other than pinch running.

-- LA overall had the 19th best Minors system. Part of that is because several young guys (Hamilton, Zarzour among them) are on the Big Club roster

-- Paul Lo Duca had the second-best batting average in the National League, .348

-- LA's No. 1 starter Ramon Martinez led the NL with 21 wins. The next highest was 18. Could a Cy Young be in the works?

-- Closer Trevor Hoffman led the NL in saves with 47

-- Believe it or not, Zarzour did not finish in the top 10 in the NL for home runs allowed. That honor went to San Fran's John Smoltz, who gave up 48. Zarzour surrendered 33 (thanks to injury -- it could have been a lot more)


The Cy Young Award announcements, plus other awards, are coming up next ...

•••• Also, I'll post some season-ending and career stat type stuff on Zarzour and his teammates. If there is anything that folks want to know about in this little world, feel free to ask.

One note: This dynasty will upgrade to OOTP8 (from the dark ages of OOTP5 and 6 ) going into the 2003 campaign. It will be interesting to see where that leaves Big Z. And he'll finally get a face! Any tips on how to handle the upgrade from an OOTP6 file are much appreciated... I may play around with things for a bit before officially continuing the story...

[AZTarHeel]

Cy Young Brothers

Ramon, Pedro Martinez both win top pitching awards

November 15, 2002

Only one of them could win a World Series ring this season, but both Ramon Martinez and Pedro Martinez earned the Major League's highest pitching honor.

The brothers were named the National League and American League Cy Young Award winners this week.

Ramon, of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, posted a 21-5 record and 3.34 ERA in 32 starts during the regular season. He struck out 161 and walked 60, with six complete games and two shutouts. Opposing hitters batted just .237 against him. Ramon was 3-0 in three post-season starts, including Game One of the World Series.

Pedro, with the runner-up Boston Red Sox, had a better overall record than his older brother, 25-4 with an ERA of 3.35 in 37 regular-season starts. He fanned an amazing 295 batters with only 52 walks. Pedro, winner of the 1998 Cy Young as well (my first year with this dynasty story) went the distance 10 times times, earning four shutouts.

Pedro pitched just twice in the post-season due to nagging shoulder issues. He went 1-1 with the loss coming in Game Two of the World Series, a defeat that put the Red Sox down 2-0.

"I would have preferred to win the World Series," Pedro said. "But it's nice as brothers that we can share this honor."

Other 2002 award winners included:
• Most Valuable Player — Nomar Garciaparra (BOS) and J.D. Drew (ATL). Nomar batted .335 with 32 homers. Drew batted .308 with 129 RBIs. He led the NL with 49 home runs.

• Rookie of the Year — Eric Hinske (SEA) and Ty Wigginton (COL)

[ifspuds]

Am I reading that right? Ramon struck out 161 and walked *SIX* batters? Or is that a typo?

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Am I reading that right? Ramon struck out 161 and walked *SIX* batters? Or is that a typo?

That would be a typo... sorry about that -- 60 walks for Ramon on the season ...