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A Byrds-Eye View
By Administrator | August 14, 2008
Newly-acquired right-hander Paul Byrd met the Boston media today for the first time as a member of the Red Sox.
Byrd was 7-10, 4.53, in twenty-two games with the Indians this season… but he is 4-0 in four starts since the All-Star Game and has the AL’s best ERA during that time (1.24). He trails only Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson (0.66) for best in the majors among pitchers with at least 20 innings since the All-Star Game. He has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last three starts, including a complete-game win at Toronto in his last appearance on August 9th.
He has a career record of 104-91 and a career ERA of 4.37.
He gets his first start in a Sox uniform on Friday night.
Paul Byrd made his first appearance in a Red Sox uniform tonight, albeit just during warm-ups… he’ll make his first appearance in a game when he starts on Friday night in place of Clay Buchholz. AP photo
Some tidbits from Byrd:
“I’m a huge Terry Francona fan… About 10 years ago, like to the same week, he picked me up off waivers when I was with the Braves and gave me a chance to start against Randy Johnson. I ended up winning and I kind of got my start there, so I’ve got a little fondness in my heart for Terry ’cause he gave me my shot. (He runs a) great clubhouse, relaxed. His one rule is just that you play as hard as you can and if you don’t, you’ll get yelled at, and I’ve always loved that… (I) learned a lot from him in Philadelphia”.
“I want to be counted on. People have asked me ‘Are you excited about going to a team where there’s a lot of pressure?’. The alternative is taking the mound when games don’t count, and you’re not in anything. That’s no fun at all. So I love the pressure. I’ve always responded to the pressure. It doesn’t mean I’ll do it here but it means that in the past I have a history of pitching in big games and doing well and so that’s what I want to do”.
“It’s getting late in my career, I’ve never won a World Series, I’ve never pitched in a World Series. That’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little boy and it feels like I’m in a place where that can happen”.
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In his most recent post-season experience, Byrd started two games with the Cleveland Indians during last years playoffs and was the winning pitcher in both games. In Game 4 of the ALDS against the NY Yankees, he pitched five innings and allowed two runs on eight hits… in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Red Sox, he again pitched five innings, limiting the Sox to two runs on six hits.
Topics: Sox Players, SoxTransactions |
