Barzilla brings experience into play
"Whatever I can throw and get them out with on a given day, that's what I go with," he said. "It's almost like a chess game."
It's a comment that reflects a certain maturity, which Barzilla has in abundance now, thanks to spending seven seasons in baseball's Minor Leagues -- plus 1/3 of an inning with the Houston Astros in 2006.
Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors are all well and good, but what about getting an out in the Major Leagues?
"It was priceless," Barzilla said. "It was great to get up there and be around all the Major Leaguers. I got to pitch against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field, which was amazing. I really want to get back there, and [right now] I feel like I'm pitching well enough to warrant an opportunity to get back up there."
Barzilla is off to one of the better starts of his professional career. In 13 appearances, the 28-year-old is 6-2 with a 4.40 ERA over 61 1/3 innings in which he's tallied 34 strikeouts and 24 walks.
Five of Barzilla's wins have come with him in the starting role, but he still also collected a win in relief, something he's quite familiar with from his days as a closer at Rice University.
"I was a closer at Rice, but right when I came into pro ball they started me that first year," he said. "The following year they put me back in the bullpen. I really haven't had a defined role."
While Barzilla is open to being used in either role by the Express, he said there are differences -- both mentally and in off-field training -- when it comes to filling a starting role or pitching in relief.
"When you're starting, you know you're going to be out there for a while," he said. "There are different ways you will pitch to hitters to set up your game. You have to establish your fastball and be able to work out of different situations in the game. You have to be able to go the distance.
"As a reliever, your approach might be different. You just are trying to get a certain guy out with everything you've got, for one batter."
Barzilla said he prefers the starting role because he knows he will pitch every five days. That helps him judge how hard to work out during off days, toning down workouts as his start dates approach.
Pitching in relief can be a whole other story.
"As a reliever," he said, "you never want to go lifting weights heavily on game days because you may have to pitch with the game on the line that night."
Barzilla tries to avoid "dead-arm" by adhering to a basic strategy when he's on the mound: get opposing batters out with no more than four or five pitches.
"I try to make that first pitch a strike because that's a huge factor," he said. "If two or three of your first pitches are strikes, it just puts you in control of the game, and in control of the hitter."
On any given night, Barzilla has three pitches at his disposal: fastball, curve and changeup. But he also has two or three versions of each, dramatically expanding his pitch arsenal.
Another weapon Barzilla can rely on, especially if he's having a bad night, is the support of his teammates.
"I go out there looking for a win every time," he said. "And the team is making that awfully easy to do right now with the run support that has been there."
Ultimately, though, Barzilla is prepared to fall back on his experience.
"Maturity, growing, experience," he said. "It's something you can gain from going against a lot of hitters and throwing a lot of innings. It's definitely been a tremendous factor in my ability to improve.
"It wasn't until about two years ago that I started to realize that I am ready to be a Major League ballplayer. Before that, I thought I could do it, but I hadn't had enough experience. Age and experience is a major factor in finding your way to the Major Leagues."
Especially when they translate directly into confidence in your arsenal and approach.
Mark Shugar is an associate reporter for MLB.com.