144 replies to this topic

[Yaz4Ever]

If it really is Bowden for Byrd and $$ for his contract, I can't imagine how this can be bad. Maybe Theo thinks Bowden can be a serviceable set-up guy in the NL Central.

I agree. If this is, in fact, the official deal, I don't see anything for us to complain about.

Although, I'm sure we'll find something.

[rembrat]

Bowden and a PTBNL for Byrd. Cubs picking up nearly of his money. Nice one by Cherington.

[The Gray Eagle]

Hey, we've got a CF who is hitting .343! Oh wait, sorrry, that's 3 for 43.

He definitely used to be a useful player, hopefully he still is. Better than Repko I guess. Repko gets dumped off the big league roster to make room, I hope.

[Andrew]

They have a spot on the 40 IIRC, so they might just DL Repko for now.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

They have a spot on the 40 IIRC, so they might just DL Repko for now.

No room on the 40-man, according to Sox Prospects. DFA to Repko seems like the logical solution. Shame he's hurt, at least for him. Might let him slip through waivers though.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

If it really is Bowden for Byrd and $$ for his contract, I can't imagine how this can be bad.

Byrd is certainly better than Repko, and the cost isn't high.

But I don't know that Crawford-Byrd-Sweeney/Ross Platoon is better offensively than simply Crawford-Ross-Sweeney at this stage of all the players' respective careers.

And it's very unlikely to be better defensively than Crawford-Lin-Sweeney/Ross Platoon.

[Yaz4Ever]

If we add in Lars and offer to pay all of Byrd's salary, will they take Bobby V off our hands?

[OttoC]

I'm not convinced that Marlon Byrd couldn't be an upgrade to the pitching staff. I wonder if we'll see more panic moves. Myself, I'd just give up on the season, trading off as much as they can and rebuilding young (and inexpressive).

[The Gray Eagle]

Wait, we added an OF, why did we DFA Spears and keep Repko around??? It's a minor thing, but it's yet another move that makes no sense. Repko is a generic 6th OF, 31 years old and injured, you don't jump through hoops to keep control of that guy.

Way to find a way to get even older and more unbalanced for no reason.

[Rudy Pemberton]

Well, Spears is terrible. Agree that adding an OF to replace him is silly. I would hope that Repko is replaced by an infielder today, maybe even Middlebrooks if Youks is banged up.

[Plympton91]

I would imagine that if Repko is hurt, they can't DFA or demote him. They can only put him on the DL, perhaps, if bad enough, 60-day DL. But, way back in my memory I seem to have a recollection that the 60-day DL spots have a limit, as well.

[sfip]

It's no secret the Sox OFers other than Lin have awful throwing arms. How good is Byrd's throwing arm? No I don't remember from his Philly days.

[OttoC]

Overall, Byrd has had 51 assists and 30 errors in 11 years (including this one). In CF, he's recorded 37 assists and 23 errors. Close to 80% of his innings have been in center, where he appears to be about average. See
http://www.baseball-...elding_cf::none for a breakdown.

[mr_smith02]

Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB)
4/22/12 12:35 PM
Given his reputation, it might surprise folks to hear that there is only one player #RedSox Padilla has had a real problem with: Marlon Bryd.

This should be interesting. Wasn't Padilla released from Texas for his clubhouse behavior becoming a distraction?

[86spike]

Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB)
4/22/12 12:35 PM
Given his reputation, it might surprise folks to hear that there is only one player #RedSox Padilla has had a real problem with: Marlon Bryd.

This should be interesting. Wasn't Padilla released from Texas for his clubhouse behavior becoming a distraction?

Padilla can go screw.

[Sprowl]

Padilla can go screw.

Not a whole lot of content in that post. What is there to the Padilla feud with Byrd? At this point, a general conflagration might do the club good. 25 cabs might not be nearly enough.

[rembrat]

http://latimesblogs....arlon-byrd.html

When Padilla was released, several Rangers did not conceal their joy. And Byrd, then his Texas teammate, wasn’t shy about it.

"About time," said Byrd. "It's absolutely a positive for this team. We have to get rid of the negatives to make a positive, and I believe this is a huge positive for this team."

Added Byrd: "You have to be a good teammate. You have to help teach younger guys the right things. He wasn't a positive influence on the young guys. You started questioning his character and about how much he cared."

All a prelude to Sunday in the seventh inning. The Dodgers were leading 7-0, when Ryan Theriot doubled for only the Cubs’ second hit.

Which brought up Byrd, Padilla’s old buddy. Byrd, who happened to be seven for nine against the Dodgers in the first two games of the series. Byrd, who was promptly hit in the back.

Byrd walked slowly to first, eying Padilla.

"When a guy is throwing a two-hit shutout and he’s pinpoint all day long, and you get hit with a four-seamer, you have to question it sometimes," Byrd said. "That’s why I looked at him and smiled."

As if we needed more shit.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

http://latimesblogs....arlon-byrd.html



As if we needed more shit.

Why? Is it going to affect the season any? Will they suddenly slump to playing .200 ball, and if so would we be able to tell the difference?

[rembrat]

Probably not but there already has been some talk about the clubhouse being divided between hitters and pitchers. Padilla and Byrd's history adds to that.

But I don't really think Padilla is long for this . I can see him easily being DFA once Cook is ready.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Why? Is it going to affect the season any? Will they suddenly slump to playing .200 ball, and if so would we be able to tell the difference?

Seriously -- the pitchers and hitters on this team apparently already hate each other. Quitters on the one side, snitches on the other.

It's a big deal when it's Josh Beckett and Kevin Youkilis feuding -- two all-stars who have been with the team for years, who have assumed leadership among newer players, and who have been fan-favorites in the past. When it's your brand-new 5th OF and brand-new bullpen long-man fighting, that's hardly a blip on the radar.

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

Probably not but there already has been some talk about the clubhouse being divided between hitters and pitchers. Padilla and Byrd's history adds to that.

But I don't really think Padilla is long for this . I can see him easily being DFA once Cook is ready.

Baseball players are usually pretty good at forgetting on-field differences once they get on the same team.

Even off-field differences are easily forgiven. Brain Daubach was eventually well accepted by Tim Wakefield (there were interviews to this effect at the time) even though Wakefield was a union rep and Daubach was a "scab" player in 1995. The same thing happened in other clubhouses.

Shoot, pretty much no one of the Red Sox of the 1980s got along with Wade Boggs, thanks largely to his colorful off-field activities. But they somehow pulled together and won three divisional pennants in 5 years during the Boggs era.

I agree about Padilla, though. I'll be mildly surprised if he's still around by the ASB -- and shocked if he's on this team by mid-August.

[rembrat]

Baseball players are usually pretty good at forgetting on-field differences once they get on the same team.

Even off-field differences are easily forgiven. Brain Daubach was eventually well accepted by Tim Wakefield (there were interviews to this effect at the time) even though Wakefield was a union rep and Daubach was a "scab" player in 1995. The same thing happened in other clubhouses.

Shoot, pretty much no one of the Red Sox of the 1980s got along with Wade Boggs, thanks largely to his colorful off-field activities. But they somehow pulled together and won three divisional pennants in 5 years during the Boggs era.

I agree about Padilla, though. I'll be mildly surprised if he's still around by the ASB -- and shocked if he's on this team by mid-August.

I hope your right but Byrd disliked Padilla while they were on the same team, in Texas. I don't think I've read any comments from either about the situation yet.

And I really don't care who hated who a billion years ago. It's a different game now.

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

I hope your right but Byrd disliked Padilla while they were on the same team, in Texas. I don't think I've read any comments from either about the situation yet.

And I really don't care who hated who a billion years ago. It's a different game now.

True, players are much less prone to these kinds of feuds and petty dislkes now due to the increased player movement, increased off-seaon workout activities at centralized faclities, union solidarity and a generally less insular, more professional approach overall among ther modernizing factors.

1995 wasn't exactly a billion years ago either, or even 1986, especially if you're a Red Sox fan.

[glennhoffmania]

Why? Is it going to affect the season any? Will they suddenly slump to playing .200 ball, and if so would we be able to tell the difference?

Well it might reduce the number of posts saying that this team is about to go on another 100+ win pace like they did last year, so that's one positive.

[opes]

There's no way they're giving up Morales for a crappy OF. Come on.

I wouldnt be so sure. The way this season is going, anything is possible. Besides, Byrd is off to a hot streak right now, so they will have to give him up.

[RingoOSU]

Opes, they gave up Bowden.

[opes]

Damn it! missed that.

[mabrowndog]

Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times with a nice piece on Bowden.

The former supplemental pick knew it was only a matter of time before he officially moved on to the next chapter in his baseball career.

“I knew that somebody was going to give me a real chance and a real opportunity to go out there and play,” Bowden said via cell phone. “That’s kind of what I’ve been waiting for.”

“The last four years have been difficult because I wasn’t always put in the best situation. I would go up for a day and get sent back down. I would go up for three days and get sent back,” said Bowden, reflecting on the 39 appearances he made with Boston between 2008 and this season. “It’s just hard to go up there and pitch your game and feel comfortable. You know you’re not part of the team, you’re just kind of a temporary.”

“I thought I was going to get thrown out there more and show what I can do, then [getting designated for assignment] happens, which I was very grateful for,” Bowden said. “I feel like I’m just starting my major-league career.”

Once Sox general manager Ben Cherington hung up the phone with Bowden Saturday, a familiar face (Theo Epstein) wasted little time in officially welcoming the newest member of the Cubs.

“Theo called to say that they want me in the bullpen and that I’m going to get a consistent opportunity to get thrown out there,” Bowden said. “That’s all I need. Theo knows the potential that I have. That said, it’s a great feeling knowing that he wants me to come over and pitch for his club.”

[TheoShmeo]

Looks like Mr. Bowden is employing a healthy amount of cognitive dissonance whilst ignoring that Theo Epstein was the GM of the team that treated him like a "temporary" from 2008-2011. Not that it matters but it is sort of amusing.

[HangingW/ScottCooper]

I honestly don't think it's unreasonable to expect Bowden to wind up closing in Chicago by the end of the year.

[Reverend]

Looks like Mr. Bowden is employing a healthy amount of cognitive dissonance whilst ignoring that Theo Epstein was the GM of the team that treated him like a "temporary" from 2008-2011. Not that it matters but it is sort of amusing.

That's funny; I hadn't thought of that. Alternatively, he might find something gratifying about the idea that Theo dealt for him in the end.

Of course, he didn't cost much...

[OttoC]

Defensive Regression Analysis for Byrd: http://seamheads.com...=407781&tab=dra

Doesn't seem to be a particularly good outfielder from this site's point-of-view.

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Funny, this is the third time Byrd and Padilla have played together (Philly was other). I wonder what the record is?

Here is an article that talks about what made Padilla a bad teammate. Apparently, number 1 was his propensity to hit other players, which put his teammates at risk. He also apparently skipped meetings.

He was also befriended by Manny in LA.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

I have actually been very impressed with how Byrd has looked since coming here. I expected to get a guy who being a journey-man type has limited "old-player" skills and who was on the way out of MLB.

What I've seen so far is a guy who looks like he's in great shape, has a relatively quick bat, plays decent defense and desperately needed a change of scenary away from a bad team...

I really like the pick-up ....especially on Chicago's dime

[URI]

What old player skills does Byrd have? His walk rate isn't good, and he hits for just ok power. Do you mean he's declining, and thus becoming old?

"Old player skills" are something specific...low batting average (important because you have to be more selective at the plate, and that leads to less contact in the case of old player skills), a lot of walks, a lot of power, very little speed.

I still see Byrd as a shrug-cost-nothing-of-value-better-then-Repko trade. We'll see what happens after his 25th at bat in Boston.

[trekfan55]

What I see in Byrd is that he's a competent CF, something the team severely lacked when Ellsbury went down.

[mabrowndog]

Spears has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Pawtucket per Mike Andrews of Sox Prospects.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

I always thought of Byrd as a Mike Cameron type with a little less power. I expected Byrd to come over and be a two-week stop gap with eroded skills who hits the occasional dinger, K's a lot and who has lost a step or two on the base-paths. What I have seen so far is more of a contact hitter, who seems to have some speed. I expected "old-player skills" slow, trys to get on with the walk, low batting average etc. a platoon type at best. what he has been so far has looked like a useful professional who has some speed left. I know it's a SSS, but he has looked better than a typical salary dump pick up whose time is up in the major leagues.


Something that is head and shoulder's above Repko

Edited by Carl Everetts Therapist, 25 April 2012 - 12:47 PM.

[URI]

I always thought of Byrd as a Mike Cameron type with a little less power. I expected Byrd to come over and be a two-week stop gap with eroded skills who hits the occasional dinger, K's a lot and who has lost a step or two on the base-paths. What I have seen so far is more of a contact hitter, who seems to have some speed. I expected "old-player skills" slow, trys to get on with the walk, low batting average etc. a platoon type at best. what he has been so far has looked like a useful professional who has some speed left. I know it's a SSS, but he has looked better than a typical salary dump pick up whose time is up in the major leagues.


Something that is head and shoulder's above Repko

That's fair, but Byrd doesn't really walk that much, and strikes out at a lower rate than Cameron did.

[sachilles]

I'm having a tough time pinpointing it, but there is something odd with his swing. Something along the lines of a late pitch recognition, but quick enough hands to make up for it. A higher than traditional back swing.

[Savin Hillbilly]

That's fair, but Byrd doesn't really walk that much, and strikes out at a lower rate than Cameron did.

And he has much less power, because he's a GB hitter with a middling HR/FB, where Cameron is a FB hitter with a pretty good HR/FB.

Byrd's #2 similarity comp at BBref is Coco Crisp, and that seems like a pretty good comp, especially if you zoom in on Coco's RH splits (from the right side, Coco has slightly worse contact and PD and better power, which is basically the difference between him and Byrd overall). So Byrd = RH Coco with less speed and defensive ability.

[rwerber]

Great story on Byrd here who is incidentally hitting .333 as of today.. Great pick up so far.

http://fullcount.wee...-learn-hitting/

[pjr]

Trade now complete as the Sox send Hunter Cervenka to the Cubs.
http://www.mlbtrader...byrd-trade.html

[Lose Remerswaal]

No more Exene jokes for me in the minor league game threads.

[SumnerH]

No more Exene jokes for me in the minor league game threads.

If he gets traded back the Sox could give him the once over, twice.