From the archives

Tuesday,March 16, 1993
Edition: THIRD, Section: SPORTS, Page 58

Tuesday, March 16, 1993

MARZANO WONDERS WHETHER HIS CAREER IS GOING ANYWHERE

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Every day, it seems, John Marzano suggests a new team.

"Houston," he said yesterday. "I hear it's Houston."

There are days when it's St. Louis. Seattle. OK, maybe it's Oakland. Texas?

He played against the Rangers recently because they were interested in him. Even Sox co-owner Haywood Sullivan acknowledged, "We're showcasing him."

The meteoric rise and downfall of John Marzano is one interesting story. He was a No. 1 draft of the Red Sox in 1984, and that in and of itself usually means failure. Other No. 1 picks include Dan Gabriele and Greg McMurtry. Remember Reggie Harris? These names largely have been forgotten. We will likely forget John Marzano, too.

He was an Olympian in 1984. He played with guys like Mark McGwire, Will Clark, B.J. Surhoff, Scott Bankhead, Cory Snyder, Barry Larkin, Bobby Witt. Most are megamillionaires. Marzano is still struggling for an identity.

"It's been really frustrating," he said. "I always envisioned myself as a starting catcher and playing every day. I don't know how you can be judged unless you play every day. It's easy to say that somebody can't do something if you're sitting on the sidelines. I just want an opportunity to get 400-500 at-bats. If I go out and fail, then you can say I can't do it.

"I see the opportunities those guys were given. My opportunity was in 1987. And I thought I did well. I saw B.J. in Milwaukee and he had the opportunity to work out the kinks. I knew I wasn't polished and that I needed work."

The reality of his plight hit home on Feb. 14. That's when Marzano turned 30.

It has been a long time since the Olympics. A long time since Temple University and Central High in Philadelphia.

In a world of Carlton Fisks, Lance Parrishes and Bob Boones, 30 is not old for a catcher, but it is a warning sign to someone who has never had more than 114 at-bats in a major league season. It's time to do something.

"My inspiration are people like Tom Pagnozzi, Mike Lavalliere, Mickey Tettleton -- people who have been released," said Marzano. "They are guys teams have given up on. They're catchers, some have made the All-Star Game. I'm keeping that in the back of my mind.

"The thing with me is I haven't caught that much. I'm 30, but I don't have the legs of a 30-year-old. I can catch until I'm 40 because there's little wear and tear on me."

He missed most of last year after having rotator cuff surgery. He came back toward the end of the season and had an 18-game rehabilitation stint at Pawtucket, where he hit .290. But he was 4 for 50 in Boston. His batting

average will be forever recorded as .080 in the 1992 statistics.

It appears Marzano's downfall started in John McNamara's last full season as manager, 1987. Marzano played the second half of that season with the other ''kids," Mike Greenwell, Todd Benzinger, Sam Horn, etc. He held his own at the plate with a .244 average, 5 homers and 24 RBIs. But he was a defensive liability. McNamara called him "lackadaisical" one day and Marzano couldn't seem to shed the label until he completely changed his attitude and the way he

went about his work.

"I know Mac didn't like me," said Marzano. "He was more of a veterans' manager, and I had some defensive problems, which I knew about. But he didn't stick with me. He didn't let me develop."

Marzano takes his time when he can. Yesterday he played against the Detroit Tigers and went 1 for 3. Two runners stole against him.

Manager Butch Hobson said, "Marzy is not throwing the ball real well right now."

Marzano said he had no chance at either Travis Fryman or Kirk Gibson, hinting that the bases were stolen off the pitcher, John Dopson.

Marzano is popular on the team. Roger Clemens is one of his best friends. Hobson is a neighbor in Westborough. Hobson told him recently that he still had a chance to make the team and Marzano responded, "I believed him, because Butch is a man of his word."

Marzano may be released. He's out of options, so he can't go to Pawtucket, and can refuse assignment anyway because he's a three-year-plus player. Hurting trade possibilities is his $350,000 salary, which doesn't sound like much but actually is for a backup catcher nowadays.

"Mr. Lou Gorman told me to be patient," said Marzano. "He said I've been a good guy for the organization. He said he'd do what he could for me and I believe him.