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May 21, 2009 - Tony Barnette Podcasts with Aaron Fischman

Tony Barnette Blog readers, check out Tony's recent podcast interview with Davis Sports Deli's Aaron Fischman. Tony discusses his rise to AAA, his experiences in Spring Training this season, and his love for blogging. As you all know, Tony's a really entertaining guy and that shines through in this interview. I hope you all enjoy it.

- Patrick Crawley, Managing Editor

Tony Barnette Interview - Part I

Tony Barnette Interview - Part II

 

 

January 10, 2009 - Invited to Spring Training

2009 is well under-way. It should be an exciting year. Christmas came early to me this year. A.J. Hinch (Head of Player Development for the Diamondbacks) called me with a few days before the holiday and informed me I was being invited to participate in Big League Spring Training.

Needless to say, it was a good day in the Barnette household. After a strong season in Mobile - and a good showing in the Arizona Fall League - it all got better with that phone call.

I am currently spending my offseason up in Federal Way, spending time with my family and getting some much needed R&R. I found the ideal offseason job, working as an instructor at a baseball facility called the Big League Edge, ran by former Major League pitcher Jim Parque.

I bought a 2004 F-150, sold my old truck (which i crashed last offseason...whoops). Word to the wise, be careful while driving in the dead of winter at night with a measly 2-wheel drive Ford Ranger when there are black ice warnings...I guess those warnings weren't just blowing smoke. Three full turns and a collision with the center barrier wasn't what I had in mind. Nobody was hurt, just my pride and my bank account.

Looking back on 2008, I couldn't have drawn it up any better, minus a rough 2-5 start to the season. The AFL was the most fun I've ever had playing on a team. Winning the AFL Championship was a blast.

Now, down to brass tacks. With all good that came with 2008, I last left you with a 9-3 fantasy football record. It got better from there my friends! Behind the arm of Phillip Rivers, and underneath the legs of DeAngelo "I almost traded him for Tim Hightower and some slappy receiver" Williams, I won my fantasy football championship by a landslide. With Phil and DW both putting up 30+ points for me in the championship week, I walked into victory with a cool 129 - 87 victory. And to think, I had to be begged at the beginning of the season to join because I'm stingy and didn't want to throw down any money for the league cover.

Now I am a cool $200 richer.

I am taking off for Arizona soon, most likely before the end of the next weekend. I just cant do it anymore. The rain and the cold here is just old. I'm over it. Why I keep leaving Arizona just about every year is beside me. You would think I would have figured it out by now...I haven't. Hopefully one day [I will].

My iPod is full after I spent the better part of four hours downloading Iron Maiden and many other face-melting heavy guitar bands to keep my eyes peeled back as I push myself to the limits trying to get to Arizona as fast as possible. I just need the water works in Washington to shut off for a bit. 1) I-5 needs to not be flooded, or 2) the mountain passes need to not have avalanche warnings. Hmmm, avalanches? Or floods? I guess it's a flip of the coin with this one. Just leave the black ice out of this trip and I think I will make it just fine.

[Editor's note: playoff picks coming up...].

[I predict the] Cardinals give the Panthers a run in the first half, but we all know DW is gonna march up and down the field. The Giants have the edge over the Eagles. The city of Philadelphia can't have two winners in one year, that would be just too much goodness for a city with such angry fans. Plus my little brother looks identical to Eli Manning... only he has the exact opposite amount of athletic talent! Haha.

In the AFC, that's where the tough pick comes: Baltimore v. Tennessee. I'm giving the edge to Baltimore, I like Flacco and their D is the meanest in all the land. With LT on the fritz against the Steelers, oh screw it...Chargers upset the Steelers. I will never root for the Steelers, NEVER! I am calling a Super Bowl that most will call me an idiot for....Chargers vs. Panthers. Super Bowl MVP = DeAngelo Williams!

I'm out for now! I will check back in at the beginning of spring when I'm rubbin' shoulders with my favorite major leaguer: Dan Haren. (The D-Backs traded 6 prospects for him last year, 3 were starting pitchers).

 

November 26, 2008 - Thanksgiving Thoughts

Here we sit. It's the last part of November, the Phillies are World Series Champions, the world wants LeBron to be in New York, I am 9-3 in my Fantasy league and, most importantly, the Phoenix Desert Dogs successfully won the Arizona Fall League Championship for a fifth straight year!

I am back in the cold, rainy state of Washington looking back on my Fall League experience and believe it was the craziest time I've spent on a baseball team in my life.

The team got along from Day One. Practical jokes were being played and if you were in the opposing dugout, you probably thought we were the most absurd team ever. Well, you would be right. If you weren't there, you wouldn't know about it.

In a game against the Peoria Saguaros there was a side bet to our closer, Andrew Carignan, that at the end of the game (after he struck out the last batter) he would be paid $300 if he stood on the mound and posed as Usain Bolt. He did it!

The other team wasn't happy and needless to say, he had a little chat with the league president. But it was worth it.

Personally, I wish I would have performed a little better in the Fall League, but I did an average job.

The Fall League was a great experience for me. I got mix and mingle with, so to speak, the best minor league talents in the country. Most of the guys in this league are going to be making an impact on major league rosters in the next year or two. It is a special feeling to know that the guys you are playing with are going to be major league players sooner than later. It's also sweet to know that they are thinking the same about me.

Besides winning the championship, my most memorable moment came on a cool night against the Mesa Solar Sox. A good friend of mine, and former teammate, at Arizona State, Jeff Larish, stepped up to the plate against me. The count is one ball and two strikes. I throw an inside fastball that Jeff looks at for strike three. He was not happy about the call and, in turn, starts getting on the umpire. Sure enough, as Jeff is walking back to the dugout, he says something to get himself thrown out of the game! HA HA!

It was pretty fun for me that night. Jeff is a great guy but it is a cool feeling to strike out a friend and then have him get tossed out of the game.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, the 2009 season is approaching and approaching quickly. February is going to be here faster than I want it to. After a 10-month season, I am going to be taking about two weeks off to relax and spend some quality time with the family. But after the 4th of December, I am going to be back on the horse, working out and getting geared up for the 2009 season.

The D-Backs haven't told me what their plans are for me. But hopefully it goes along the lines of a Big League Spring Training invite and a trip to Reno at the beginning of the season to start my year in AAA!

To all the fans out there, have a Happy Thanksgiving and we will be in touch soon!

 

October 13, 2008 - First Report From the Arizona Fall League

Here we are. It's October 13 and we are six games into the Fall League!

So far, being in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) has met my expectations. After we practiced for a week we got games under way. I've had a chance to get to know some real cool guys. The team is as laid back as can be.

I think the greatest part about being here is that the coaches are letting us go out and play our game. They understand why we are here and that we are the top players in the country. So they give us free reign to just go out and compete.

The competition out here is great. I am going up against the best of the best. As of today I have logged 3 innings and give up 1 run while picking up a win out of the bullpen.

I have to say, I have a new-found respect for bullpen guys!

I was asked to work out of the bullpen to keep my workload light and I had my first experience with throwing on short rest. I pitched an inning, had a day off and then was asked to pitch two innings the next day. It was a huge culture shock!

Needless to say, my arm was killing me! I toughed it out though (so don't worry!).

The best part about the bullpen is the story-telling. When they say "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" it goes the same for the bullpen. Everyone has a bar story, a story about another teammate or a story about someone you knew in the past that they know!

I have reunited with a lot of old friends that I knew from the college days at ASU because I am living in the heart of Tempe. I remember why I love this place! The night life is great and I have had the opportunity to take a lot of guys out and show them the way to have a good time in Tempe.

My mother, brother, sister-in-law and (nearly) 1 year-old niece live in Glendale (about 30 minutes from Tempe). They have been able to make it to just about every game!

Naturally, I don't get to see them much due to my travel schedule. My niece is growing up so fast. This is the first time I have been an uncle...it sure is exciting! I am going to be sure to steer her away from those crazy baseball players (I know too much! Ha ha).

I'm going to call it right now. The Tampa Bay Rays will meet the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series and the Rays are going to win in six games. I think the Rays are just too hot right now. Everyone knows, when it comes to playoff time, it's about who's hot right now.

On another note my fantasy football team is scraping by somehow!

After this week I am going to be 4-2. But I need some guys to step up. My roster is pretty solid with Philip Rivers, LT, Marshawn Lynch, Jericho Cotchery, Vincent Jackson, Santonio Holmes, Dallas Clark and the Giants/Chargers as my defense. If anyone has any good ideas -- or inside info -- on trades I should make, I am more than willing to take some pointers!

I am off to watch the Giants-Browns game so I'm gonna check in with all you fans later!

Next time I stop by, hopefully our 3-3 AFL record will have a bigger number in the win column and the same number in the loss column!

 

 

September 29, 2008 - Welcome To The Tony Barnette Blog

Hey everyone! I'm Tony Barnette of the Arizona Diamondbacks and I spent the 2008 campaign in AA with the Mobile Baybears. I'm new to Davis Sports Deli.com and I am excited to be a part of it. I'm excited to be able to share some stories along the way about my life in the minor leagues and the pursuit of the Big League Dream.

I was born in Anchorage, AK, grew up in Federal Way, WA, and started college at Central Arizona College before transferring to Arizona State for my junior and senior seasons. After college I was drafted by the D-Backs in the 10th round in 2006.

Now that we have the background taken care of, it's time to let the story-telling begin.

Right now I am visiting my friends and family in Federal Way until it's time to head off to Phoenix for the start of the Arizona Fall League, on October 7. It is an exciting time of year for me personally. I was fortunate enough to make a strong turn in the second month of the season. After going 2-5 with an ERA somewhere in the mid 6's, I put in a lot of hard work and ended up posting a record of 11-7 with a 3.87 ERA. I was also tied for first place in strikeouts in the Southern League.

In turn, I was rewarded with an invitation from the D-Backs to participate in the Arizona Fall League.

I love baseball and everything about this game. When it comes to pro baseball, I think Roy Campanella said it best. "You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a little boy in you, too."

There is a certain aura around the game of baseball that is tough to understand unless you are on the inside looking out. It's tough to understand what it takes to show up every day and play each game as if it is going to be the last.

That is where I come in.

Through my newly-founded partnership with Davis Sports Deli.com, I plan on giving you, the readers and fans, an inside look at the good, the bad, the ugly, and the downright hilarious aspects of minor league baseball.

I look forward to being the story-teller and sharing my personal experiences with the outside world!

 

 

 

 

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