This may be considered the Bay Area
– home territory of the Giants and Athletics – but sports bars
in and around Gilroy and Hollister on late Friday afternoon were
reminiscent of South Florida for a couple of hours, as Hollister
product Daniel Barone made his major league debut for the Florida
Marlins.
By Andrew Matheson and Alice joy Staff Writer
This may be considered the Bay Area – home territory of the Giants and Athletics – but sports bars in and around Gilroy and Hollister on late Friday afternoon were reminiscent of South Florida for a couple of hours, as Hollister product Daniel Barone made his major league debut for the Florida Marlins.
A 2001 graduate of San Benito High School, the right-handed Barone was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, and took the mound for the Marlins on Friday at Shea Stadium against the New York Mets.
Oddly enough, hardcore Giants and A’s fans were suddenly rooting for the Marlins.
At Stubby’s Sports Bar and Grill in Gilroy and the Cheap Seats Pub and Grub in Hollister, friends, family and fans packed the premises in support of the hurler.
Patrons grinned every time his name was mentioned on the telecast, added a few claps for every strike thrown, and let out a boisterous roar for every strikeout.
It was to say, nonetheless, a surreal event for the friends and family of Daniel Barone.
Robby Johnson, 22, was at Cheap Seats specifically to watch Barone toss, and said he used to play baseball with Barone’s brother.
“He’s the first person from Hollister to be in the pros,” he said. “To see that – especially someone my age – it’s exciting. It’s exciting to see him play with the big boys.”
Seth Hudson, 20, played baseball with Barone and even plays catch with the Big Leaguer whenever he returns to the area.
“It’s amazing as I’m growing up looking up to him as a high school player, then college and now he’s in the major leagues. It’s a Cinderella story,” Hudson said. “Just last winter I was catching with him and now he’s in the major leagues.
“With such a small town like this, you’re teammates with everybody else, so it’s really exciting.”
Barone didn’t waste any time getting started on Friday, as he struck out leadoff hitter Jose Reyes to begin the game. Added Ryan Costa, Barone’s second cousin who was at Stubby’s, “He’s their best player, too.”
“How huge was that?” said James Marquez, Barone’s uncle. “To face Reyes as your first major league batter and to get him looking.”
Barone pitched 4 and 2-3 innings on Friday, scattered five hits, allowed three runs (two earned), four walks, and struck out four batters, including Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, two of the more powerful hitters in the Mets’ lineup.
All of the runs allowed by Barone came in the fifth inning. After a throwing error by Florida second baseman Dan Uggla, Luis Castillo reached on a bunt single, and Beltran hit a three-run homer to right field.
A two-run rally by the Marlins in the top of the ninth, however, got Barone off the hook and gave him a no decision in his first major league start.
Gian Rossini, a friend of the Barone family who was at Stubby’s, said Barone did a phenomenal job.
“He went through five (innings) without any trouble,” he said. “You’re facing the Mets. You’re not facing slouches, and I think he had a real good showing.
“His fastball had a lot of movement. I saw a lot of broke bats and he had good control. Twenty-four-years-old and to be in the big leagues, that’s one pressure situation.”
James Marquez said he saw Barone pitch a few times when he was at SBHS. He said it was a dream come true for everyone, and it couldn’t have happened to a better person.
“That’s a heckuva debut. That’s a tough lineup and there’s really no rest in that lineup,” said Marquez of the strong hitters the Mets have. “But he’s doing good. He’s doing really good … He’s a very down-to-earth person and I know he’s a hard worker.”
Kelly Marquez, Barone’s aunt, said she was shocked and excited when she heard the news on Wednesday night of Barone’s call-up.
“This is awesome,” she said. “But I guess you could tell.”
Buddy Pattillo works with Barone’s grandfather at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club and was at Cheap Seats. He’s an admitted Atlanta Braves fan, but will root for the Marlins when they’re not playing Atlanta.
“I’ve known Daniel since he was 15, so I’ve been following him since then,” Pattillo said. “I’ll always root for Daniel.”
James Marquez, though, may be hoping Barone plays for another team.
“He’d look a lot better in orange and black,” laughed James, commenting on the team colors of the San Francisco Giants.
Added Kelly Marquez, “(James) said he’s going to get a Marlins jersey now.”
