In an attempt to gain a better understanding of the league, we will try and preview each Wingnuts’ series with several questions answered by personnel from each opponent. Jon Barr, the Diablos’ Director of Broadcasting, was kind enough to take some time and let us know what’s going on in El Paso as the season begins.
SS: El Paso has 10 returning players from 2007, a high number for an independent club. This trend can be found though with several teams in the leauge. What do you think the reason is for this?
JB: I think that in Independent baseball, clubhouse chemistry is huge. In affiliated ball, the players are out there to move up the ranks, winning is in a way secondary. At this level, a lot of the guys know they are not going to get signed by an affiliated team, so they are in it to win it. The Diablos returned a solid core, because they enjoy playing for Butch Henry and they are treated well. They spend so much time together, as one player said, it’s like a brotherhood. And they want to be reunited with their brothers every season.
SS: How did everyone associated with the team cope with the collapse in last year’s division series?
JB: Well it definitely left a sour taste in everybody’s mouth. At the same time, it gives the Diablos more incentive in 2008. Any time you play with a chip on your shoulder your going to be that much more resilient. If anything, perhaps the Diablos can learn from last years defeat and not make the same types of mistakes this season.
SS: After what happened in the playoffs, would you consider Fort Worth your biggest rival in 2008?
JB: I would absolutely consider Fort Worth the Diablos biggest rival. The Diablos and Cats played in some intense games in 2008. There was definitely a little bad blood between the teams. I saw the Cats lost a lot of last year’s team, so I don’t know if the rivalry will be quite as big. But after what happened between the squads in 2007, I can assure you that many of the Diablos players have circled those games on their calendars.
SS: What are your thoughts on Jorge Alvarez? How does this guy keep it up into his 40’s?
JB: You’d have to ask him! He’s a freak of nature. He loves baseball, and is probably the happiest ball player I’ve ever met. His work out program is intense and he doesn’t look like a 40 year old. If anything, he’s in better shape than any player on the Diablos team, maybe any player in the league. He’s told me that he has to work twice as hard as a guy half his age. And I think he works three times as hard as guys his own age!
SS: The offense was top notch last year, but the pitching was middle of the pack, plus you lost Greg Wiltshire. What are your thoughts on the additions to this year’s staff?
JB: The Diablos pitching staff is obviously the biggest question mark in 2008. There are 3 new starters in the staff (4 if you count Justin Knoff who made a couple of starts last season). Obviously, getting Josh Neitz back was huge. He had a very solid 2007 season, winning a career high 9 games. Justin Knoff should be quite successful, as he was a great swing guy last year between the pen and the rotation. As for the three new starters, they each bring something unique to the table. Beau Hintz is a control specialist with a lot of experience, who will aid the rotation. Adam Blackley is from Australia and has an instant rapport with fellow Aussie, catcher Matt Kent. We saw last year what Kent and his fellow countryman Greg Wiltshire could do together. Not to mention, Blackley has a nasty cutter. The biggest surprise to me was David Whigham, who mowed down you guys today. He wasn’t originally slated to make the rotation, but he may have bought himself a lot of time in the staff with a six inning, one earned run performance. He’s a poised youngster with potential, who can be a contributor to the staff. The bullpen has a ton of new faces as well, most notably closer Chris Thompson. Thompson didn’t have much of an opportunity to consistently finish games with a struggling Pensacola team last season. He’ll certainly get more chances with El Paso. The Diablos have a couple of rookies in the pen and a couple of players with a few years of experience. How these guys gel could be the difference between a good season and a great season.
SS: You’ve bounced back really well from the 21-5 loss on opening night.
JB: Yeah, that loss may have been the best thing that could have happened to these guys. The Diablos came out flat in the opener. The pitching staff was atrocious and the offense mediocre at best. Any time you see a team set a league record for runs allowed in a game, it’s a huge motivational factor. The Diablos don’t want to get embarrassed at home. They normally play well at Cohen Stadium. The veterans didn’t let the youngsters take the loss to personally. However, the loss shifted their focus and the team seems more poised in the midst of this four game winning streak.
SS: Your twin brother is the broadcaster for the new Grand Prairie AirHogs. Have you made any side bets on the clubs you broadcast for?
JB: No not yet. Although, I haven’t seen his team yet. I’m sure it’s going to be fun being in the same press room, though quite a spectacle at first. I definitely pick the Diablos over the Airhogs for the season series. We play them more than twenty times, so I’ll probably know them better than any other squad by the end of the season!
…thanks a gain to jon, who did a great job with this interview…
