When you place a call to Barry Zito, one quickly discovers he’s a Tom Jones fan. His outgoing message starts with Zito using his voice to do the opening instrumental on Jones’s “It’s Not Unusual,” then Zito bursting into song: “It’s not unusual not to be near my phone…it’s not unusual, leave a message at the tone.”

Just don’t say, “Hey, Barry, you suck!” He says he gets that enough.

TGR: What’s the biggest wave you’ve ridden?

BZ: The biggest waves I’ve ridden probably had 10-foot faces. But I’ve been out when there was 18-20-foot faces and it was really scary. I didn’t even catch one. I was with this friend who was really good and I did the macho thing, thinking I could hang.

TGR: Do you have a surfing clause in your contract?

BZ: Oh yeah, because if I get hurt doing it I still want to be paid.

TGR: Any other major leaguers that you surf with?

BZ: Ryan Klesko, Brett Mayne and I went to Tavarua, Fiji a few years ago, and we’ve been to Costa Rica.

TGR: Do you do any other action sports?

BZ: I don’t. I’m gonna have to wait’ll I retire to get on a snowboard. When you’re a part of a business model that depends on you to get your shit done…I can’t sacrifice that for little things.

TGR: Any desire to pursue a music career one day?

BZ: Definitely. Down the line. But right now I’m still developing my style. It’s certainly not just a baseball jock novelty thing.

TGR: How would you describe your style?

BZ: Easy listening. A lot of jazzy progressions in a pop fashion. It puts you in a good mood.

TGR: Where do you get your faith from?

BZ: My grandma actually founded a religious school. It was based on some teachings from Christ; really about finding your spirituality and self-empowerment. When you put your mind to something and dedicate yourself to a cause, you can do anything you want. In some people’s eyes you can’t, but that’s the kind of negativity that’s like a cancer, and I make sure to avoid people like that…including the media. No offense to you.

TGR: None taken. Before this season, what was the hardest moment for you on a professional level, and how were you able to make sense of that utilizing your faith?

BZ: It was in 2001. I was having a terrible season. I was like 6-7 with an almost 5.0 era. I was afraid to even take the mound. But that’s how you feel when you’re down in the dumps. Then my dad came to stay with me for four days and talked to me about changing my mind, and the perceptions I had of myself, and how to
focus on that without letting the outside things bother me. It was basically a study session that had a huge impact on me.

TGR: And the result?

BZ: I think the next 13 starts I was like: 11-1 with a 1.03 era.

TGR: What did you learn from the experience?

BZ: It taught me the power of my mind, and how powerful words and thoughts can be. Every where we go, people tell us how hard life is and how we have to struggle. It’s up to you whether you want to focus on that.

TGR: The greatest challenge keeping Barry Zito focused is…

BZ: The everyday challenges in believing who you are and not listening to all the craziness. A lot of people like to create negativity because, unfortunately, negativity sells.

TGR: You told us that people are afraid of change. Why?

BZ: Mainly because people are comfortable, and they fear the unknown. That’s why I love L.A. so much [editor's note: Zito lives in Hollywood in the off season]. Every day you see someone with a back pack and bus ticket from the middle of Ohio. And they come out here to be a singer, or to act, to follow their dreams, and they might not even make it. But it takes crazy balls to do that.

TGR: L.A. is quite the trip.

BZ: It’s like Disneyland out here, man. You got Hef and the Mansion…I was out last night and there were two chicks making out right in front of me.

TGR: So, sucks to be you. But what do you say to people who can’t get out of their funk, can’t find it within themselves to step up to a new challenge?

BZ: There’s no room for regret. You don’t want to say I spent 50 years at a shitty job, and then say you would’ve rather taken a chance on your dream. It’s existing versus living. Some people are afraid to dream. They don’t want to get themselves pumped up because they don’t want chance the failure. We gotta dig down to the depths of our souls and put it to use in our lives.