Hangin’ out with … Bo Hart

Bo Hart is the Barnstormers’ starting second baseman. He’s hitting .227 with one homer and eight RBIs in 21 games.

The nine-year veteran reached the big leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003. After spending most of the past four years with Triple-A Memphis, this is Hart’s first season in independent ball.

Below is a longer version of the interview that appeared in Monday’s New Era.

What is the biggest difference between the pitching in the Pacific Coast League and the Atlantic League?

It’s just the velocity is less. The guys who are pitching here have a great idea of how they’re going to pitch hitters. They’ve got good movement. They’ve got good breaking stuff and good selection. Velocity is the only thing that isn’t there compared to the PCL.

Is it an adjustment for you?

Absolutely. There are guys here who come in throwing between 80 and 84 (mph). It’s an adjustment down. A lot of those guys are effective in this league. A lot of guys are effective like that in the big leagues. You have to go back and forth. It’s not as consistent between 86 and 92. It’s consistent lower. You have to take a step back and really trust yourself and hit good pitches.

You started off slowly and you obviously want to put up good enough numbers to get out of here. Does that put added pressure on you?

No. We had a 10-day mini-camp and five or six games. I probably got 12 at-bats before the season started. You’ve got to start with 50. I’ve been going to spring training for six weeks for the last eight years. If you don’t get 30 or 40 at-bats before the start of the season, it’s tough to get going. I’ve always been a slow starter. Hopefully, I’ll come around the next few weeks and produce more than I have been.

You were in Memphis for a long time. How well did the fans there know you?

I was received very well there. I had to fill some shoes. Stubby Clapp played there for five years and that was the first question I was asked in 2003 when I first went there. How are you going to fill Stubby’s shoes? My answer was I was going to make my own footprints. They appreciate the kind of player that I am. I definitely loved playing there. The fans treated me real well, especially after I came back after signing with Colorado.

Was there talk of returning to Memphis this season?

Not really. I think my opportunity had passed there. It was time for me to leave. I tried to leave the year before, but it didn’t work out and just happened to work out that they needed a guy. I lived there, so it seemed like the smart choice to make for me to go back (last season).

You were on the bench for the playoffs and World Series with the Cardinals in 2004. What was that experience like?

That was great to be part of those parties and to be a reserve guy in case somebody got hurt. It was a great time. I’ll never forget all those moments. That was once in a lifetime.

What was Busch Stadium like during those games?

It’s a pretty loud stadium for being open air. Houston is a little louder because it’s closed. The fans there applaud everything. The smallest little thing, like sacrificing a guy over or a hit-and-run or whatever, they’re going to show their appreciation for the things you do on the field. When you have 50,000 people clapping for you, it’s easy to smile.

Tony La Russa co-wrote a book “3 Nights in August” that centered on your Cardinals’ 2003 team. Have you read it?

I read the parts that I was in. It was great. I came off pretty good, I think (laughs). I was facing (Mark) Prior and the Cubs. When I read those parts, I remembered those at-bats. I have them on video, actually. That was fun to think back and read what (La Russa) was thinking at the time.

Were you portrayed accurately in the book?

I think so. I got lucky. Let’s just say that. That’s what it said in the book.

He gave a copy to everybody. He wrote something nice in the cover. I went to the back to find out where I was. My dad actually got a copy of it too and my mom. They said, You’re on Page 94 or whatever, so it was fun.

What is it like to play for La Russa?

He’s very intense. He’s quiet. The first few weeks I was kind of intimidated because I grew up an A’s fan, so I knew about him pretty well and was a big fan of his for a long time. In the first two weeks I don’t think I said more than 10 words to him. I think he left me alone because I was doing so well at the time. Finally, he was like, ‘Hey, you can say hi to me if you want.’ He was being sarcastic. That kind of kickstarted our relationship.

He treated me very well and taught me some things on the side. He puts a lot of trust in his coaches that he picks and chooses. They’ll teach us most of what they want to teach us and in the game situational types of things, he would take me to the side and he would say, ‘This is what you need to be thinking or what you needed to be doing.’ It was a good experience.

Was it an intimidating experience to walk into a big-league clubhouse for the first time?

Yeah, absolutely. But I was ready to play and I wasn’t going to let where I was or who I was with intimidate me while I was playing. Maybe I would off the field, eating dinner with this guy or taking groundballs with this guy. It was definitely a time to sit back and watch and learn and take in as much as I could for the small amount of time I was there.

“Mississippi Queen” is your at-bat song. We don’t get much classic rock here. Why was that your choice?

I heard it on a beer commercial. I think it was Coors Light, I’m not sure. My wife, who’s not from Mississippi, but from Tennessee and Mississippi is right there. I asked her for her opinion and she said to try that. It’s my first classic rock song.

What kind of songs do you usually choose?

Just something that’s familiar to everybody and makes them clap a little bit. When I hear it, it gets me excited. It definitely plays a role in your mindset when you go to the plate. The catchers seem to like it in this league.

(York’s) Greg Brown was singing along when I got in the box. I said, ‘You like that?” He said, “Actually I do.” It’s all in good fun.

If you play in Lancaster for the whole season and don’t get picked up, is this it for you? Have you thought that far into the future?

I haven’t. I’ll make that decision if that happens. I’ll try to work hard enough to get out of here. Hopefully, there’s a need. Even if I’m doing well and I don’t get picked up, it’s not an indication that I can’t play at that level any more. Even if I do poorly here, it’s not an indication. It’s just the way it happens.

It’s about opportunity. It took for two guys to get hurt within the same week for me to get to the big leagues. A spot doesn’t always open up. If there’s no spot and I’m doing well, there’s nothing I can do about it. I hope there’s a need for a player like me and someone will take a chance again.