Barnes Shows Off New Look

Larry Barnes’ make-over has certainly made him more attractive.

Barnes, a first baseman for the Angels’ double-A team in Erie, Pa., slimmed down over the winter. He dropped nearly 30 pounds and is now fattening up on Eastern League pitching.

He was hitting .305 with 14 home runs and was second in the Eastern League with 77 runs batted in through Sunday.

“I did some lifting and running, but mostly I just watched what I ate,” said Barnes, who weighed 228 last season. “I stayed away from fast food and the only meat I ate was chicken and tuna. I had never followed a strict diet before.”

Actually, he had. The minor league players’ diet . . . eat at any fast-food restaurant that is open.

That’s about all a player can do, considering minor league salaries--about $800 a month before taxes--and the time games end--usually after 10 p.m.

But Barnes has found the benefits to breaking that routine.

“I just feel like I have a lot more energy,” Barnes said. “It’s tough to keep the diet up during the season. It’s just too easy to go get a pizza. But I’m still in better shape than I was last year.”

His psyche is better as well.

Barnes, signed as a free agent in 1995, was the Midwest League player of the year while at Class-A Cedar Rapids in 1996. He hit 13 home runs and drove in 71 runs at Class-A Lake Elsinore in 1997.

All it got him was another half season at Lake Elsinore.

The Angels wanted Barnes and Dan Buxbaum to play every day at first base. So Barnes stayed at Lake Elsinore, where he hit .246 in 51 games, and Buxbaum went to double-A. When Buxbaum was sent to triple-A Vancouver, Barnes was promoted and hit .273 in 69 games.

Buxbaum retired this spring, clearing the way . . . somewhat. Mo Vaughn signed a six-year, $80-million contract during the off-season, so first base is pretty much occupied for now.

“Maybe I can play some outfield, maybe they need good bench players, maybe I’ll get a chance somewhere else,” Barnes said.