Spring Break
All Access with baseball player Jordan Tokarz
Senior second baseman finishing final season
Richard Morse / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Sports
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Why did you choose Elgin Community College?
Basically, it was because Elgin was the only school that really recruited me and gave me any scholarship money. I don't regret going there. I had a great two years there, but it was the only choice that I had.
What are your favorite things at Eastern?
Just hanging out with my friend s is a blast. Whenever we have our days off from baseball, it's just fun to kick back and hang out with each other. It's what I love about it. Everyone is so close, it's just fun to kick back and relax with everybody.
What do you do on the road trips?
When we have the long trips like the one to Florida coming up, that's a real, real long drive. A lot of people sleep, people bring their PSPs, just play some games. People are messin' around with their laptops and watching movies. We play some cards with some of the teammates too. There's a lot of stuff you can do on a long drive but it's not as bad because you're talking with everybody or you're playing a game so it doesn't seem as long as it is.
What are your plans after senior year?
After college, I'm hopefully still playing baseball, but you never know if that's going to happen. If not, I am going to be student teaching in the fall. I'm a (physical education) major, so I'm going to be getting that all complete. So hopefully I'll be getting a job teaching PE and coaching baseball.
Why is your brother, Ryan, your biggest influence?
I look up to him with a lot of things I've done in my life. When I see him play baseball, he plays so hard, I just wanted to be like him. Everyone wants to be like their big brother and it's no different with me. So, what he did, he pushed me to be the player I am today. Everything he has taught me has made me who I am.
How close of a relationship do you have with him?
Pretty much like most brothers, we've been going out a lot more since we've both been in college. We have similar friends. We hang out and talk a lot. We share a room at home too, so it's hard for us to be separated. We share a lot of things in common.
What is a favorite memory of your brother?
One thing I always remember is one time when we were playing football with a bunch of the neighborhood kids. One of the kids was getting a little rough with me and he, as an older brother, came over to protect me and he threw the football at the guy and hit him in the nuts. It was pretty funny. He was there to protect me, but we also had a lot of fun growing up.
Have you ever played on the same team with him?
We played on a fall league team, a Bulls/Sox Academy fall league team. It was actually the best team that they've ever had in the league. It was a fun fall. It was him playing (shortstop), and me playing second. It was real fun to do that with him.
Is there any significance to wearing the No. 3?
I've been No. 2 my whole life until I came here. (Junior outfielder) Curt Restko was No. 2, and I asked him if I could have that. My mom actually makes a bigger deal than anyone that I don't have No. 2 anymore. I really just take No. 3 because it's close to No. 2. When I got it, it was because I liked (Alex Rodriguez), but now that he's on steroids, I don't really want to say that anymore.
You come from the Chicagoland area, Cubs, or Sox?
Sox, definitely. I don't know why. My whole family likes the Cubs, but somehow I turned out to like the Sox. Growing up I just liked more of the players on the Sox so it just turned into me liking the White Sox more.
Has that turned into a brother rivalry?
Yeah. We've exchanged the words sometimes. It wasn't too good for him in '05 when the Sox won the World Series. And then with the Cubs losing every single year, its just kind of fun sometimes.
Do you follow any sports other than baseball?
Oh yeah, I follow football. I'm a big (Chicago) Bears fan. Every Sunday I watch them. It's good that they're on down here. We've got the whole family, all Bears fans.
Why is Christmas your favorite holiday?
It's not just all presents, it's just that being a college student I don't get to see all the family and cousins that I used to. It's just fun to see all my family members, as well as my girlfriend's family members. It's fun to hang out with them because I don't really get to see them that often, either. It's just a good time of year.
What's the best Christmas present you've received?
My girlfriend got me Blue Man Group tickets. That was a real fun show. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. It was fun. We went down to Chicago and had a great night.
How does it feel to be the reigning OVC Tournament Champions?
That was a huge win, and we all have the confidence that we're going to do it again. We're not too overconfident that we're going to look past everything and not be able to do it. We're good, and we're playing with a real good confidence this year so far. I'm real happy with the way that everyone is playing, and I think we have a great opportunity to win our conference and do something at (Regionals) too. I'm real excited with how this year might turn out.
What was the biggest benefit of spending those years at a community college?
Definitely the training. My baseball skills, I wasn't expecting it to be that difficult as it was at the junior college level. If I were a freshman coming into this level it would have been a huge step. Instead of taking one giant step it was just a couple of baby steps. It just made it a lot easier to transition.
Another big debate in baseball is the aluminum bats and people getting injured, what are your thoughts on aluminum vs. wood bats?
As a hitter, I love the aluminum bat, it's a lot easier to hit with it. It's sad that people are getting hurt and sometimes getting killed from the aluminum bats, but I think it's a part of college baseball, the "ping" sound. Its just part of the game in college. I don't think we can get rid of it.
A lot of people will say that a junior college has easier classes than those at a university, what would you say to those people?
They are a lot easier at a junior college, especially the online courses. Those were a joke. The classes were easier, but you still get credit for them.
What are the biggest differences in atmosphere from your community college to Eastern, and which do you prefer?
I definitely prefer the university more because you're more involved with all the students. At the community college, there's a lot of people living at home, and it's not really the college atmosphere at all. Coming to a university, you're living on your own and it's a lot more fun being on campus.
Last year you batted leadoff, second and third 19 times each, which of those do you prefer?
Batting second. It's what I did in high school; it's what I did at the junior college level. After second it would be leading off. Batting second I just feel comfortable, if the leadoff guy gets on, get him over. It's just the job I have to do. I feel real comfortable in that spot.
Do you feel that there is any pressure batting in the two spot?
I don't think there's any pressure batting in any spot. You just go up there you have a job to do and you do it. It doesn't matter where you're hitting in the lineup.
What do you think are the biggest things that will separate you, as a baseball player, from other PE majors on the job market?
Just the experience of having four years of college with a college sport under my belt. I feel like I have a great knowledge that some PE coaches will not have. I feel like that will help me in getting a job as a coach easier than some other people.
Are there any sports other than baseball that you feel like you have that knowledge?
No. I just have the basic knowledge of most of the other sports, like football and basketball and volleyball. It comes nothing close to the knowledge I have of baseball. I don't feel like I have a leg up on anybody in those other sports.
Have you ever played any of those other sports competitively?
Not since middle school. When I got to high school it was just all baseball so I didn't really focus on any other sport.
A lot of people say that a second base/shortstop combo that plays together regularly gets to know each other is the best way to go. Would you agree with that?
I totally agree with that. Even growing up in little league I was the second baseman and the shortstop I played with all the way through high school, we developed a good friendship and it carried over onto the field. We both knew what we wanted to accomplish. It carried over here when I got here with (senior infielder) Jordan Kreke. I came in and we lived together the first year I was here and we've just been good friends on and off the field, we've done a lot of good things on and off the field.
Speaking of A-Rod, there is currently a lot of criticism of players for playing in the World Baseball Classic instead of spring training, A-Rod specifically now with his hip. What are your thoughts?
It could have happened to him in spring training too, you never know when that stuff is going to happen. I think it's great that some of the players go and play for their country. They're playing games for spring training, or they're playing in the World Baseball Classic. I don't think it really matters that they go and represent their country.
You've said that Stewie Griffin is your favorite animated character. Why do you like him so much?
Family Guy is just a funny show. It's usually on at the time I go to bed, so I usually fall asleep to it. It just cracks me up the things he does on the show.
What's the best Christmas present you've ever been given?
My girlfriend got me Blue Man Group tickets. That was a real fun show. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. It was fun. We went down to Chicago and had a great night.
You were ranked No. 84 in the nation in hardest to strike out, how does that make you feel?
I never like to strikeout. With two strikes I always like to put the ball in play. I know I'm not going to get the most hits out of hitting that way. I've never really struck out that much so it didn't mean that much to me.
Quick Hits
- If you weren't playing baseball today, what would you be playing? Football
- Favorite sports team: White Sox
- Favorite breakfast cereal: Frosted Flakes
- Favorite movie: Wedding Crashers
- Favorite home cooked meal: Chicken Parmesan
- Favorite TV show: Family Guy
- Favorite soft drink: Mountain Dew
- Favorite ESPN show: Baseball Tonight
Richard Morse can be reached at 581-7944 or at rjmorse@eiu.edu.
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