Q&A with Paul Farinacci – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Could all of junior first baseman Paul Farinacci’s success on the diamond be because of his superstitious rituals or his laid back personality? Maybe, despite devoting his athletic career strictly to baseball, Farinacci has bigger career plans in mind. Farinacci possibly could be the next Simon Cowell from Fox’s “American Idol,” judging teammate Philip Mattingly’s singing capabilities? Whatever he chooses, because as of right now the possibilities are endless, Farinacci knows one thing: he would love to be a millionaire.
Other than first base, what other positions have you played since you first began playing baseball?
“I played third base for awhile. As a matter of fact, my first collegiate start was at third base.”
Which position do you prefer and why?
“I prefer first base because I think it takes my mind off of the infield and then I can concentrate on my hitting.”
Describe your emotions when you played in your first collegiate game?
“I remember playing Toledo and we were up 12 or 15 runs. I remember I was a little nervous, but at the same time I was excited to get my first collegiate at bat.”
When you are preparing for a game, do you have any rituals or any superstitions that you feel will make or break your performance?
“I make sure I listen to my CD’s and I also put on my uniform a certain way. I always put on my sliding pants first, then I put on my socks. Next I put on my uniform pants and tape my socks to my pants. It’s just weird stuff like that, but I do it every game.”
Describe your personality in the clubhouse?
“I’m pretty laid back. I’m not the type to get in anyone’s face. I’m just a quiet leader who tries to lead by example.”
Word Associations:
Clubhouse Clown: Steve Caravati
Clubhouse Bookworm: Cody Caughenbaugh
Most Superstitious: Mike Rabin
Best Dancer: Steve Caravati thinks he is the best dancer!
Best Singer: Definitely Philip Mattingly. He was a singer in his high school plays.
Best Dresser: Chris Hanners
Most Organized: Philip Mattingly
Clubhouse Leader: Derek Kinnear
Which do you prefer to play with, aluminum or wood bats?
“I prefer playing with aluminum bats because you can hit the ball farther.”
Who is your favorite team in Major League Baseball? Who is your favorite and most inspirational player?
“My favorite team is the Dodgers and my most inspirational player is Roger Clemens. He is 40 years old, but he still throws a fastball like a 25-year-old.”
What is your most memorable childhood moment involving baseball?
“I remember playing in the 13-and-under AAU tournament in Oklahoma and our semifinal game went into the ninth inning. I hit the winning homerun and our team was able to go to the finals.”
What other sports were you involved in during high school?
“I was involved in baseball, baseball, baseball and baseball. I did play basketball for one day in the summer!”
You are from Westlake Village, Calif. Why did you choose to travel such a long distance from home to come to Ohio State?
“No other school has the atmosphere that Ohio State has. Also, my dad went here and we would go to the Ohio State-Michigan football games when I was younger. I remember going to the game five years in a row. Plus, I came to Ohio because of the great weather!”
Why did you choose communications as a major?
“Because there are a lot of options with communications. Here at Ohio State there are four different communications majors within the major and because I’m not quite sure what I exactly want to study. It’s a good fit for me.”
What is the most difficult aspect about college life?
“Being away from my family. Also, there is no one in college telling you to go to class or study. You have to have your own motivation to go to class, to study and be responsible.”
What are your plans after graduating from Ohio State?
“To win 316 million dollars in the state lottery! Seriously, I haven’t really thought about it yet. I would like to continue playing baseball, but if I can’t, I want to get my masters and just go from there.”
