J.C. Barker is feeing remorseful.
The former Pierce College right fielder, who was removed from the team following two altercations with head coach Joe Arnold during the Brahmas’ March 31 loss to Citrus College, expressed his regret for his conduct during an interview Wednesday evening.
“I’ve come to realize that I’ve made some stupid decisions,” he said.
Trailing 9-5 in the fifth inning, Barker drew a leadoff walk and was thrown out attempting to advance to third base on Jason Barmasse’s single to center. As he entered the dugout, Arnold expressed his discontent with Barker’s baserunning.
“I understand [Arnold’s] point of view,” Barker said. “You’re not supposed to make the first out at third. He told me that and all I really told him was, ‘Coach, I think I was safe.’ I wasn’t trying to back-talk. I just wanted to walk to the other side of the dugout because I wasn’t in the mood to argue.”
Arnold, however, did take offense to Barker’s comments and exiled him to the bullpen for the remainder of the game. Following the Brahmas’ 15-12 loss, he informed Barker he was no longer a member of the team.
“That team means everything to me,” Barker said. “I felt like I was part of something real special – a family-like atmosphere. When he said, ‘Take off your jersey. You are no longer part of this ball club,’ my heart just shut down. I said, ‘Is this a joke?’ I was thinking, ‘This can’t be happening.'”
Then, Barker let loose.
“When [Arnold] kicked me off the team, I realized that my passion and everything I work hard for every day just got taken away from me and I didn’t know how to react,” he said. “I snapped and I wish I could take it back.
“I’ve never done that ever. And out of the heat of the moment, I did it and right when I got to the parking lot, I wanted to walk back over there and say, ‘I did not mean that.'”
Instead, Barker determined the best action to take was to let the situation cool off and has since attempted to contact Arnold via telephone and e-mail to apologize, but has received no response.
“I just want to talk about the situation and make [Arnold] understand my side,” Barker said. “I was disrespectful. I understand where he was coming from but at the same time I wish he would just talk to me and hear me out for everything I have to say.”
“To be honest, I felt this could have been handled differently whether he talked to me face-to-face or a suspension like other players this year,” he added, referring to pitchers J.R. Bromberg and Mike LaRosa, who were suspended earlier in the season but have since been reinstated.
Barker realizes he will more-than-likely not set foot on the diamond again this season, but still holds out hope for the future — a future in which he promises reform.
“Realistically, I understand that I’m done [for this season], but next year, I could promise that I wouldn’t act out of manner like I did this year just because I was upset,” he said. “This is a learning experience. If I could play next year and he would allow me to, I would take full advantage of that and be an asset to the team. We’ve got a good group of guys and the bond and chemistry we have on the team is huge.
“I would love to be a Pierce baseball player again and I would do whatever it takes to become one.”
J.C. Barker (center) removes his jersey after being kicked off the baseball team on March 31. (Gerard Walsh / Roundup)
