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Nationals spring training Date published: 2/18/2007 By TODD JACOBSON BY TODD JACOBSON VIERA, Fla.--Jason Simontacchi could have given it all up in 1997, when he was called off the Lansing Lugnuts' team bus and released in the middle of the season as much for his hard partying as his poor pitching performance. The right-hander could've quit again in 1999, after he was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates, sent packing with nothing but a slim chance with an independent league team in his future. He could've quit when he tore the labrum in his right shoulder in 2004, or when he fell down the stairs remodeling his house in 2005, setting a long rehabilitation back six months. But as Simontacchi traversed the baseball world, reaching its highest highs (he won 20 games with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002 and 2003) and its lowest lows (he's been under contract with three different independent league teams), one thing has kept him going. "I know I can pitch. I know I can compete and be successful," Simontacchi said. "I still believe that. I just need to be healthy. That's it. "I believe in my stuff and I know I can get people out. Now I've just got to show people." Simontacchi is 33, and his passport has been stamped in six countries thanks to baseball: Australia, Italy, Canada, Holland, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. He's worked odd jobs--from three years as a tow truck driver to one Australian summer installing sprinkler systems. He hasn't pitched in organized baseball since 2004, when he was with the Cardinals' Triple-A club in Memphis. But he arrived at Space Coast Stadium last week, one of at least a dozen candidates vying for four open spots in the Nationals' starting rotation. He's got as good a chance as anyone. "You're just pitching against the same guys. I've pitched against all the other National League teams," Simontacchi said. "You do it once, and you can do it again." Starting overSimontacchi gave up once. At least he almost did. It was early in 2000 and he had been released by the Pirates. He'd already spent a year in independent ball with the Springfield (Ill.) Capitals of the Frontier League. In two stints in organized baseball, he'd never cleared Single-A.
Date published: 2/18/2007
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