Inside Baseball with Jesse Barfield

What about the Jays' offence Tuesday night? Now, this is more like it, don't you think? The Jays got 14 runs on 22 hits and seven of them were for extra bases.

Now, I know some of you skeptics out there are already thinking "this is just luck and they can't keep this up.” Well, if the Jays would have continued with that same old tired approach at the plate - that "stinkin' thinkin'" - you would be right, but they finally saw the light and cleaned up that mess. Things should continue to turn around.

The Jays won't have an offensive outburst like this every game because they will be facing some real tough pitching, but a game like this builds much needed confidence.

One thing we can truthfully say about the 2008 Jays season is it's never boring.

This last week has been just crazy. From the J.P. Ricciardi/Adam Dunn incident to the firing of John Gibbons. Now, I am not going to get into the middle of the war of words with J.P. and Adam, but can't we just all get along! In our house we have a saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all."

It's kept me out of a lot of trouble.

Offensive explosion

What about the Jays' offence Tuesday night? Now, this is more like it, don't you think? The Jays got 14 runs on 22 hits and seven of them were for extra bases.

Now, I know some of you skeptics out there are already thinking "this is just luck and they can't keep this up.” Well, if the Jays would have continued with that same old tired approach at the plate - that "stinkin' thinkin'" - you would be right, but they finally saw the light and cleaned up that mess. Things should continue to turn around. Of course the Jays won't have an offensive outburst like this every game because they will be facing some real tough pitching, but a game like this builds much needed confidence.

Like Cito Gaston said A.J. Burnett pitched a great ball game and the team came out swinging the bats.

I have said all along on the broadcast, a swinging bat is a dangerous bat and this is how you get out of a funk. It's like in the movie Rush Hour after the police captain said, “it's OK now and then to blow stuff up", and Chris Tucker's reply was "That's what I've been trying to tell everybody cap'n!" That's what the Jays bats needed - to just blow up!

During batting practice, Gene Tenece and Cito were sharing with me how they are going through the process of reprogramming the hitters, change their approach mentally, and help fix the mechanical flaws. Every new batting coach has to go through this process, so it's nothing new.

Issue with maple bats

Did you see what happened to major league umpire Brian O'Nora Tuesday night? Miguel Olivo hit a ball off the end of the bat and the bat exploded and came back and hit the homeplate ump on the side of his scalp. I'm surprised he wasn't knocked out, but he stumbled to the side to get medical attention, blood streaming down the side of his face. I hope he is OK. These bats are very dangerous and something has to be done before someone gets killed.

Many players like the maple bats because they don't split and can be used longer, but when they explode, it is ridiculous.

What can Major League Baseball do to protect the players, umpires, and fans? It's a serious situation that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Can they change the process they use to make the bats?

We used to tape the head of our bats during batting practice to protect them from splitting … maybe that could work. What about just using maple in batting practice and ash in the game? I know I am getting in some dangerous territory here, even with my son Josh who loves maple, but it's just a thought. With all the technology out there today, you can't tell me someone doesn't have an answer.

Curious cross-up

Did you hear about the high school pitcher and catcher who got "crossed up" and the umpire got beaned in the face mask with a fastball? It happened in Georgia during a championship game and because the last nine batters had struck out, the beaning occurred. The team didn't like his calls, but did they do it on purpose?

Well, the state athletic officials believed so and fined the school. But my point here is good sportsmanship is being lost because of the pressure of winning at any cost starts when these kids are so young.

Kids should be learning the game, developing, and having fun. Am I surprised this happened, no. They think since they see a Major League player get brushed back or beaned, it's OK to do at any level. It's not. The guys on TV are professionals; they even know how to get hit! Hey, I love winning, don't get me wrong, but winning at any cost is not really winning.

Be a good sport.

Posted by Signa Butler at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

A day in the life of a ballplayer … yeah, I bet you think of all the glamour, the highlights on the news, web gems, game-winning homers. But let me give you a little insight from my life as a Dad and former player.

It’s day TWO of the draft and my youngest son Jeremy is still waiting to be selected by one of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams.

Day one was silent at my house. No calls and a very tense time for the family. By the way, I am in Toronto, leaving my wife to handle the draft issues alone. Never fear though, I am always a phone call away, if I have service or am not on the air, or in a meeting.

We just don't know what to think. Josh, my oldest son, is calling constantly from Buffalo to see what's happening, our Canadian-born daughter Jessica is calling from work and Jeremy, well, he is asleep.

A day in the life of a ballplayer … yeah, I bet you think of all the glamour, the highlights on the news, web gems, game-winning homers. But let me give you a little insight from my life as a Dad and former player.

It’s day TWO of the draft and my youngest son Jeremy is still waiting to be selected by one of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams.

Day one was silent at my house. No calls and a very tense time for the family. By the way, I am in Toronto, leaving my wife to handle the draft issues alone. Never fear though, I am always a phone call away, if I have service or am not on the air, or in a meeting.

We just don't know what to think. Josh, my oldest son, is calling constantly from Buffalo to see what's happening, our Canadian-born daughter Jessica is calling from work and Jeremy, well, he is asleep. Yes, asleep. The draft was going on and he is sleeping like a log. He didn't go to bed until 9 a.m. that morning after eating breakfast because he was so nervous and worn out mentally.

There I was in Toronto with my game notes, trying to write my blog and thinking about my son’s future, as well as wondering if Josh was ever going to get a call back up to the big leagues. Hectic, huh? Or should I say, eh?

Back home in Texas, my wife Marla sits by herself in front of the computer when suddenly in the eighth round, she sees the Oakland A's select Jeremy Barfield! Wow! She had to rush upstairs to WAKE up the newly-drafted Athletic before the team called! He didn't quite get it at first when she said to him "Jeremy, you're an A.” But then after he heard Oakland Athletics he understood!

Now, can you imagine how hard it is not to be there to share that moment? But I was so excited for him when he called to give me the good news. Man, I have two boys now following in my footsteps. It's a great feeling knowing that they are doing what they love and we share a passion for the game. It's something that we always talk about and can help each other in every area because we've been through each level of the game.

Josh called Jeremy to give him one of those pep talks, what to expect, what to pack, etc. when he had to put Jeremy on hold for an incoming call, then he got back on the phone and chuckled, "I just got called up.” What a moment for them to share together! Isn't life funny that way?

Well, it gets funnier, I guess. Only two games back with the Indians and Josh gets injured on a check swing! I could not believe it. What a freaky injury that required surgery on my daughter Jessica's birthday. Which, by the way, was the first day for Jeremy to start his pro career in Vancouver with the Canadians, but wait, there's more! Because of a paperwork glitch in his contract, Jeremy couldn't play! It's a minor thing that is corrected, but technical and crazy. How was I supposed to feel on this day?

So, being a Dad of these guys is harder than playing any day. It's because you take it more to heart when it's your own kids and you want the best for them. When you are playing, it's a job and you go out there and fight daily to get better and produce. I know it's all going to be fine, but phew. That is just a few days in the Barfield household.

Being a Dad doesn't mean always having to be at home, but always being there for support when they need you. I talk to my kids every day. Really. It's important to me, always has been, always will be.

So for all of you Fathers out there, look at those little faces. They grow up quick and I think it’s fun seeing them become adults. I get to hang out with my boys, have father-daughter lunches, go to movies, go to basketball games, talk baseball.

I am not just their parent, I am their friend.

Posted by Signa Butler at 06:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th career home run Monday night in South Florida becoming the sixth Major League player ever to reach that milestone.

Just think how many great power hitters there have been since baseball began and now there are six players to reach that mark. So, I guess for all of you who think hitting a home run is easy, you can see by that stat alone how hard it really is.

But think of where Junior (OK, that is what I call him, but don't even ask what he calls me!) would have been had he just stayed healthy. He was asked after the game, how long would he play and with a big smile on his face, he said "As long as I am having fun.”

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th career home run Monday night in South Florida becoming the sixth Major League player ever to reach that milestone.

Just think how many great power hitters there have been since baseball began and now there are six players to reach that mark. So, I guess for all of you who think hitting a home run is easy, you can see by that stat alone how hard it really is.

But think of where Junior (OK, that is what I call him, but don't even ask what he calls me!) would have been had he just stayed healthy. He was asked after the game, how long would he play and with a big smile on his face, he said "As long as I am having fun.”

Aggressive bat, contagious grin

I had the pleasure of coaching Ken for two seasons in Seattle and he never ceased to amaze me with his explosive bat, his superb defence, and let's not forget the big grin he has, which is contagious.

I can remember on several occasions, Ken would walk up to me in the dugout as he was headed out to the on deck circle and say in a low voice, "I'm gonna get this guy, watch." Well, he did! Once when we were facing the Cleveland Indians, Junior walked up to Lou Pinella, the manager and I , looked out at the closer Jose Mesa, who was throwing GAS, a 97-mile-an-hour fastball and said, "I'm getting ready to hit number 300.”

He walked up to the plate and hit a bullet to right-centre and when he started his trot, he looked right at us in the first-base dugout as if to say, see, I told you I would.

One of the characteristics of Ken Griffey Jr. is that he is an aggressive hitter and at one point he was in struggling with plate discipline. He was chasing too many off-speed pitches out of the zone and getting himself out because he was pulling off everything.

As we were standing around the batting cage, I said to him, "Junior, a mediocre hitter who is disciplined at the plate is better than a great hitter who is undisciplined." He looked at me with those puppy dog eyes, put his head down for a moment, then looked me right in the eye and said "yeah, you're right.” We talked about staying on top of the ball and driving it the other way. Man, he went on an incredible tear, his average went up and he started hitting like Ken Griffey Jr., the man who owns the most beautiful swing in baseball.

Jays strong in practice, passive in game

Speaking of swings, I saw first hand the way the Jays hitters were attacking the ball in batting practice, but when it came to the actual game, for the most part the Jays hitters were very passive at the plate.

This was disturbing to me because when we were brought up, the philosophy was to attack the ball and be very aggressive early in the count. So I asked Gary Denbo, the Jays’ batting coach, about the hitters' lack of aggressiveness and why they take so many pitches and get themselves in a hole.

Denbo said it wasn't by design. He told the hitters to be more selective and not swing at so many bad pitches. This is a very dangerous tactic. In fact, it actually handicaps the batters because at the major league level, you get a very high percentage of first pitch strikes. Pitchers are taught to get ahead of the hitter, go to work on him and try to make him hit a bad pitch or a pitch that he can't hurt you with.

I heard Cal Ripken Jr. ask [Detroit Tigers manager] Jim Leyland on the air about this same subject this past weekend and Jim was very adamant against taking the good pitches early in the count and swinging at the bad ones, getting themselves out later in the count.

Leyland also went on to say it was the reason their offence had struggled out of the gate. So he told his hitters, “you can't hit like that" and they started hitting and got themselves back into the race in the AL Central, which I feel is still up for grabs.

I like what Cal Ripken Jr. calls it, selective aggressiveness. So, Jim, Cal, and I are all on the same page, swing the darn bat! Remember, it is called OFFENCE for a reason, not defence.

Posted by Signa Butler at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

As I watched the Toronto Blue Jays game Friday night, I was excited to see the four, five and six hitters come through against the Los Angeles Angels.

In the fifth inning, the call to the bullpen came for the only lefty the visitors had, Darren Oliver. He is one tough cookie.

He got Matt Stairs on three nasty pitches, one painted the outside corner and Oliver got the call. So when Lyle Overbay took a 3-1 fastball to the opposite field to drive in Alex Rios - who also went the other way in his at bat - it was good to see that he learned what to look for from Stairs’ at bat.

Wilkerson also took a 0-1 cutter with two outs to the opposite field. It was a big four-run fifth for the Jays as they sent eight batters to the plate in the inning.

As I watched the Toronto Blue Jays game Friday night, I was excited to see the four, five and six hitters come through against the Los Angeles Angels.

In the fifth inning, the call to the bullpen came for the only lefty the visitors had, Darren Oliver. He is one tough cookie.

He got Matt Stairs on three nasty pitches, one painted the outside corner and Oliver got the call. So when Lyle Overbay took a 3-1 fastball to the opposite field to drive in Alex Rios - who also went the other way in his at bat - it was good to see that he had learned what to look for from Stairs’ at bat.

Wilkerson also took a 0-1 cutter with two outs to the opposite field. It was a big four-run fifth for the Jays as they sent eight batters to the plate in the inning.

Going corner to corner

Why do I mention going opposite field so much? A hitter has to go where the pitch is hit and drive the ball. When you use the whole field, from corner to corner, you can really do some damage.

But what has happened since that game? If you are going to contend for the American League East title, you have to find a way to win the one-run games. I know it is much easier said than done, but this team has a lot of talent and since the Jays are only five games back, don't give up on these guys. After all, can you believe that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (or is it just Rays, oh well, I'm Old School) are in first place? That's just crazy! They came out of nowhere!

It's good for a young team like the Rays to generate some excitement and surprise people. They are led by a crop of young talent such as B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, and Scott Kazmir to name a few. It's a new hero every day. On Sunday, it was a walk-off home run by Gabe Gross.

Home-grown talent matters

Now, if you look at their team batting average, you might not be impressed, but look at how they are winning.

Scott Kazmir is so dominate as a pitcher, he is just amazing. OK, not that I am bias or anything, he is from my area and I coached him on a summer league team with my older son Josh, but if you think I am playing favourites, check out his stats. I still can't understand why the Mets traded him away.

Most of the talent that the Rays have is "home grown" from their farm system, the old-fashioned way. Carl Crawford, another young all-star, came up through their system and now they are reaping the benefits.

Sounds a lot like what the Jays did with us - Lloyd Moseby, Dave Steib, Tony Fernandez and myself. They groomed us in the minors and then when we got to the big leagues, they knew what to expect – winning. And that is just what they got.

It’s a family game

The great thing about baseball is I get to share my passion for it with my boys.

Josh has always loved to dive for balls. We came up with the sock game to play inside because we broke something and really made my wife mad. This was when he was little, so he could do this, I would roll up a big sock into a ball, then try to throw it and he would have to catch it before it hit the ground. You should have seen him diving for that sock! It was great. No wonder he is a second baseman.

Since it's almost the draft for Major League Baseball, I have taken my youngest to a few pre-draft workouts. But to get ready, we have been hitting, throwing, and getting in shape. It's wearing me out. Jeremy wants to hit everyday! Yes, I get a little rub down and back to the cages I go.

Ease of a swing

What about Ken Griffey Jr. and Manny Ramirez? Ken is sitting on 599 home runs and Manny finally passed the 500 home run mark, going into Monday's games. That is just amazing.

I tip my hat to those guys because they are some of the greatest hitters to ever play the game of baseball. The ease of their swings makes it look like it's nothing. But the truth is, I know both of these players, and they spend countless hours in the batting cage perfecting their swings.

Both are workaholics and it has paid off big time!

Posted by Signa Butler at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)