Parque ready for Atlanta

Sunday, July 14, 1996

Bruin starter adjusts to relief role, higher level of
competition

By Brent Boyd

Summer Bruin Senior Staff

Throughout his childhood, Jim Parque always dreamed of pitching
on opening day in Dodger Stadium for his boyhood idols. So, when he
was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers after his senior year in
high school, it was a dream come true, right?

Not exactly. He turned the offer down.

Parque wanted college experience and improvement in his pitching
game. What he got was a round-trip ticket to Atlanta and a berth on
the 1996 U.S. Olympic baseball team.

"The Olympics didn’t really play a part in not turning pro," the
left-hander said. "I just didn’t think I had enough physical and
mental maturity."

Nevertheless, Parque’s Olympic dream burned brightly.

"I started thinking about the Olympics my sophomore year in high
school. It was a far off goal, but I realized that (1996) would be
an Olympic year," Parque said. "When I finally found out that I had
made the team, I felt like running laps around the parking
lot."

Among the last of the invitees to the Olympic trials, Parque did
not attend tryouts until fall 1995. In addition to Olympic tryouts,
Parque moonlighted as UCLA’s ace last season.

He had a good tryout period and was invited back after the
collegiate season was over. His sophomore season at UCLA did
nothing to disappoint the USA Baseball coaching staff.

He won eight consecutive games to begin the year. He then lost
three in a row, but those were quickly forgotten due to his
post-season performance.

Opening the tournament in Austin, Texas, Parque struck out 11
Longhorns and held the University of Texas to only two runs in his
complete-game victory. Three days later, he came on in relief to
hold eventual national runner-up Miami to only one run in three
innings of work.

"Being at UCLA, Jim didn’t get much visibility," UCLA assistant
coach Vince Beringhele said. "But, reaching the regional finals and
beating Texas gave him an advantage."

But, still he was not considered a lock to make the team. He
wasn’t even considered as a probable member.

"Going in, it was a pretty long shot." Beringhele said. "But he
has great command of three different pitches, and there weren’t too
many lefties."

By edging out pitchers Randy Wolf of Pepperdine and Mississippi
State’s Eric DuBose, Parque is the only left-handed pitcher on the
20-man squad.

In fact, with those two pitchers having had more previous
experience on the team than Parque, it was considered an upset by
some in the baseball community, but not the USA Baseball
coaches.

"He made the squad by virtue of his performance," USA pitching
coach Jerry Weinstein said. "He did have to compete with those that
had been training with us last summer, but he pitched better than
them. We came in with no pre-conceived ideas. It is a now sort of
thing, and Parque did the best of the others."

Parque agreed. "If I got cut, I would have been a little
surprised," he said. "I think I deserved to make it, and I expected
to make it," he said.

What Parque may not have been so confident about was his
changing of roles. He had always been a starter, but was suddenly
handed the responsibilities of a relief pitcher.

As a starting pitcher, he had a set routine of warming up and
preparing for the game. He knew exactly when he was going to pitch
and who his opponent was. But, as a reliever, he needs to be ready
at a moment’s notice.

"The changing of roles has affected me a lot," Parque said. "It
took me a while to get comfortable with the role, but I kind of
enjoy it now.

"All the glory is in starting, but, I am a real competitor and I
enjoy coming into the game and trying to save it. I like the
situation where I can come in and be the crap or be the best. I
don’t like to ride the fence."

So far, it is hard to claim that Parque has been anything but
capable of assuming the role. In 22 innings of relief work on the
USA Baseball summer tour, he has compiled a 2.82 ERA, third best on
the team. In addition, he has struck out 30 hitters while giving up
only nine walks.

"It’s been a rocky road for him," Weinstein said. "It is tough
learning how to become a reliever, but he has made a smooth
transition."

Another transition he has had to make is the quality of
competition he is facing.

"The level of competition is much higher than in college; you
can’t just get out there and throw," Parque said. "But, I don’t
change what I do. So far I have believed in myself and it has
worked out great."

Against the Cubans, the gold-medal favorite, Parque allowed only
one earned run in over five innings during the course of two
appearances.

Although the Americans took just two of five against the Cubans,
a club that many consider to possess major-league talent, Parque
likes the Americans’ chances.

"I think we have a very good chance at winning the gold," he
said. "We are considered the best USA team ever."

Whether or not it is the greatest of all time will have to wait
to be seen. Olympic competition starts July 20 against
Nicaragua.

Whether he gets the chance to pitch or not, he’ll have to wait
and see.

Daily Bruin File Photo

UCLA’s Jim Parque pitched his way to a spot on the 1996 U.S.
Olympic baseball team.