Bengals' Barry has homer record in his sights

Photos: Rich Central vs. Oak Forest

Updated: March 31, 2011 4:02PM

Tim Barry sits in a chair just outside Oak Forest's dugout Wednesday, his thick arms folded across a hoodie that comfortably lies over his No. 21 jersey, the look of someone without a care in the world.

It's not the look of someone who is on the on-deck circle to history.

Barry just finished an 0-for-2 day against Rich Central that included a strikeout and flyout that was caught on the warning track in center field.

"Warning track power?" I say to him, with more than just a hint of sarcasm.

The senior slugger just smiles.

In fact, the ball he hit to center field was a missile, barely rising 20 feet above the ground. It just didn't have enough air underneath its storage compartment to stretch beyond the fence.

Three games into the 2011 season and Barry remains stuck at 41 career home runs, nine shy of breaking the state's all-time record, held by Odin's Curtis Parrish.

"They're keeping the ball away from me," Barry said of opposing pitchers' strategy thus far. "They're kind of pitching around me. But that's OK."

Well, it's OK if the situation calls for it. Runners on base, close ballgame, yes, the situation demands Barry be pitched to carefully.

But the last thing that should occur during this potential record-breaking season is for opposing coaches demanding their pitchers not to pitch to the 6-foot-1, 210-pound right-handed hitter, whether the situation calls for it or not.

That's not baseball, that's a game of Chicken Run.

"In key situations, we'll walk him. That's baseball," said Lemont coach Joe Rodeghero, whose Indians play Oak Forest on Monday and Tuesday. "Otherwise, we're going to go at him. Why punish the kid because he's a tremendous hitter? If he hits three home runs, he hits three home runs. That's how it goes. But we will pitch to him."

That's the strategy most teams should adhere to when Barry digs into the batter's box.

Is he an imposing presence? Yes.

Should pitchers flinch when he takes a big hack, fearing a potential laser up in the middle? Probably.

Should you feel proud to serve up his 50th homer? No.

But walk him? Only if the bases are loaded.

Barry is a young man, made of flesh and bone, like everyone else.

He makes outs. In fact, he's been retired in six of eight official at-bats this season.

Granted, he boasts gorilla strength and exceptional plate discipline.

But if I'm a pitcher, I'd relish the challenge of facing one of the greatest slugger's the area ever has produced.

My best against The best. Something to tell the kids and grandkids about someday.

Especially now, while Barry has yet to zone in at the plate.

"I'm opening (my hips) up too much," Barry said. "I feel fine. I'm trying to get into a groove."

The young man who is in a groove is Bobby Sheppard who, incidentally, hits right behind Barry in the four-hole of the Bengals youthful lineup.

On most teams Sheppard would bat leadoff.

But Oak Forest coach Thaddeus Gatton, knowing a quality hitter behind Barry will force teams to think twice about pitching around him, inserted Sheppard in the cleanup spot.

Sheppard, who is getting looks from UIC, Northern Illinois and St. Xavier, is off to a blazing start - he was 2-for-2 with three runs during Wednesday's 5-2 win.

If Barry is pitched around, Sheppard will see more fastballs and opportunities to drive in runs.

If Sheppard remains hot at the dish, opposing teams will think twice about pitching around Barry.

"I feel like I have to deliver hitting behind him," Sheppard said. "But I'm getting good pitches to hit because of Tim. Usually, he gets pitched around and he's on base and I get a good pitch to hit. I'm a contact hitter, but I feel like I can drive the ball."

On Wednesday, Rich Central left-hander Tyler House went right at Barry. It was great theater. House, headed to Missouri, challenging the Kansas State-bound Barry, who finished 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

"He got me a few times today," said Barry, who fanned on a 3-and-2 changeup.

So far, pitchers have fared pretty well against Barry, who is 2-for-8.

However, it's not a matter of if he will get hot, but when.

I predict Barry will break the record by the middle of May - that is, as long as he is regularly pitched to.

"He's not the type of kid who is feeling any pressure," Gatton said. "He's just going about his business. But once he gets locked in, watch out."

Consider yourself warned.

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