Daniel Barone is embracing the challenges and differences from
college baseball to Minor League baseball, playing for the
Jamestown Jammers, the Single A team of the Florida Marlins.
Jamestown, N.Y. – Daniel Barone is embracing the challenges and differences from college baseball to Minor League baseball, playing for the Jamestown Jammers, the Single A team of the Florida Marlins.
“I didn’t know what to think coming out of spring training, but it has been a little rough,” said Barone, a 2001 San Benito High grad. “I know I will fail sometimes, but I have to stay positive, and remind myself that this is long journey. The end result is a chance to play in the majors.”
Barone, 21, who graduated from Sonoma State, was drafted in the 11th round of the 2004 draft by the Florida Marlins. The biggest surprises have been the weather change and the stronger hitters, he said.
While he can’t stop the rain, he said he is working on the home run problem. As for the slow start, Barone admitted it caught him off guard.
But pitching coach John Duffy, who pitched five years in the Detroit Tigers organization, said he is learning quickly.
“He’s getting acclimated; this is a long way from college,” Duffy said. “Barone started slow, but he is making strides. This is as far as he’s gone in the season, and team policy is that we cannot give his body instructions for the first month and a half until we see what he can do. We have yet to determine whether he will start or relieve, but once he gets the into the routine of everyday play and we see how he makes adjustments to the good and bad days, we’ll know more. I have 17 pitchers, and I have to get them all some work.”
Both Duffy and manager Benny Castillo said that their primary focus is on player development. Wins are nice, but they are secondary in helping prepare a player to get ready to play with the Big League team.
Barone, who led his college team with five complete games last year, is getting used to relief, but said he would rather start.
“You get more time to prepare for a start, but I am getting comfy in relief,” he said.
Coach Duffy agreed that Barone is getting comfortable but said he has a way to go yet.
“He got beat up recently; this is where we learn what a player is made of,” Duffy said. “How does he come back?”
Barone has steadily worked his ERA down. After three losses to start the year, Barone picked up his first win on Aug. 6. He gave up two runs during the fifth and sixth innings and left ahead 4-2. After that appearance, he had a pair of losses before picking up his second win Aug. 20. He went four scoreless innings during that game, and the Jammers won 4-2.
Barone said that he wanted to try to “pick it up a notch.” He bread and butter pitch has been his fast ball, he said.
“I want to work harder at getting the change-up over the plate and work on the slider,” Barone said.
On Aug. 10, Barone took the loss, but struck out three batters, giving up two hits in three innings. And on Aug. 15, he gave up three runs on three hits in three innings, but struck out four batters.
Back on July 1, one of his worst outings, his ERA was 8.38 after giving up five runs on seven hits in two innings. This is a far cry from an ERA of 5.79 on June 22.
Although he has done better recently, Barone said he still needs to lower his ERA and wants to keep the home runs in check as he has done recently.
“(I’m working on) better pitch location and working with the catchers and coach Duffy on which pitch to throw at certain pitch counts,” he said.
Barone’s record is now 2-5, with one start. He has given up 48 hits in 37.2 innings. His 5.97 ERA is still about a run per game higher than his college days.
One big adjustment from college is the long bus trips.
“The rides can wear on you,” Barone said. “We spend our time searching for that comfy sleeping position, listening to the Walkman and reading.”
The other challenge, he added, is the rain.
“Summers back home are real dry, here it just rains, and it does affect the pitching routine,” he said.
Barone credits his grandfather, Dick Barone, who played in the Pirates organization with teaching him the finer aspects of the game, as well as encouraging him in difficult times. He also credits his mother, Janet Marquez, for her support and the hard work ethic she instillied in him.
Barone knows as he gets better, the hitters are getting better. Afterall, he’s not in California anymore.
W-L ERA G GS CG GF SH SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP
Daniel Barone 2-5 5.97 15 1 0 4 0 0 37.2 48 27 25 7 9 36 3
By Bob Bourbon Special to the Free Lance
