Down the Left Field Line:
Life, Baseball & Eric Byrnes

Eric Byrnes was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2009. Shortly thereafter, he was signed to a one-year contract by the Seattle Mariners. He seem to have made the team as the 4th outfielder and third DH, appearing in the depth charts in left field behind Milton Bradley and behind Bradley and Ken Griffey as DH.

This means that if he can manage to bat .270-280, he should be the the regular left fielder by the All-Star break, because from what I’ve read, Bradley was tossed from two spring training games, so I am figuring he’ll blow up earlier than usual this year. Byrnesie has always been one to capitalize on opportunities to step in for someone initially placed ahead of him, so…

When I saw him last September, he said he was finally healthy, so he gets to re-invent himself again in Seattle. He’s back in the AL West, so I will get to see him, assuming my financial situation permits and he stays on the field.

But this is the end of the Byrnesblog. Over the last two years, while Byrnesie has been nursing his wounds, other thing have taken precedence over baseball–I no longer have my MLB.TV subscription–and other forms of writing have taken precedence over blogging.

So while I will trade my Arizona cap for a Seattle cap and look forward to seeing the M’s open the season against the Oakland A’s, it’s time to say good-bye.

I had a good time writing this blog, and writing it actually led to the opportunity to meet Eric Byrnes. I also met, at least online, some good people who love the Diamondbacks and appreciated Byrnesie especially Matt, Tricia, and Brandi.

There were also good people who rooted for other players and teams, especially Cyn Donnelly, the Red Sox Chick, who made the world of baseball a little more of a global village.

And thanks to Tigger who loves the SF Giants and saw to it that I had tix when the D’Backs played in the Bay Area. Now it’s my turn to get her to some games in Oakland.

And the Diamondbacks themselves, including their announcing crew Daron Sutton and Mark Grace (who should have gotten into the Hall of Fame, dammit!) . Thanks especially for 2007.

Everyone, have a good season and a good life.

Byrnesblogger1

Before the Alk-Star break, I dreamt that the Cardinals won this year’s World Series. My subconscious must have been patched in to an alternate universe as the LA Dodgers swept the Cards in the NLDS. Too many men left on base, especially in the first game, a costly error in the second game and just too much Dodger blue in the third game. Manny and Andre Etheir, whom the A’s should have never traded.

Oh well, the Phillies are battling the Rockies and the Phils have Red uniforms…

Their game in Denver was snowed out today.  As MLB goes deeper into October and even November, the weather gets worse. They build off days into the playoffs and end up using for bad weather. Colorado, New York, Boston and Philadelphia are in this year, and next year Minnesota, which is also in the playoffs and has been a perennial contender this decade, will play outdoors.

Think about it. It’s hard to be in a baseball mood when games are snowed out.

ByrnesBlogger1

hit 44 homers and batted in 102 runs. He even stole 24 bases.

Very nice, but…

HE STRUCK OUT 215 TIMES!!!!

He says he doesn’t care, but he should, because the team finished in the cellar. (Worse than I figured. I had them fourth. But I wasn’t figuring on the injury bug).

Now, the team’s lousy performance this year isn’t all Reynolds’ fault. But when a guy strikes out nearly 5 times per homer, and almost 3 times per walk and almost as much as his hits and walks combined (150 + 76 = 226) he has to have cost the team some wins, especially when you know he’s got the stuff to win games.

Sorry, folks, I’m a glass half-empty kind of fan. Maybe because of my age. I remember Mays and Mantle, and for all The Mick’s rep as a strike out artist, it was never this bad.

Imagine how great Reynolds would be if he struck out 150 times and got 215 hits?

ByrnesBlogger1

to Ichiro Suzuki for his 9th consecutive 200-hit season;

to Derek Jeter for passing Lou Gehrig to become the all-time Yankees hits leader; and

to our own ERIC BYRNES for being the Diamondbacks’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award this year. The Clemente award honors community service.

ByrnesBlogger1

on Aug 23rd by Phillies second baseman Eric Bruntlett ended the game as the Phillies beat the Mets 9-7. There have only been 33 unassisted triple plays in regular season history. Click the link to see it.

I like rare plays, whoever makes them.

ByrnesBlogger1

Eric Byrnes debuted in the major leagues with the Oakland A’s.

Byrnesie, too bad that for the second year in a row, you are spending your anniversary on the disabled list. I remember 2006, when the Diamondbacks were playing the Giants on your anniversary. I went down to the premium seats as you were warming up your throwing arm, and stood behind you. I was wearing a Diamondbacks T-shirt with your name and number. It matched the color of the uniform you were wearing that day. I wish I had been with someone who could have taken a picture of that scene.

Here’s hoping that next year, you will be playing on August 22.

ByrnesBlogger1

NEWS ITEM:

PHOENIX — Scott Schoeneweis has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Arizona Diamondbacks because of depression, less than three months after his wife was found dead at their home.

The 35-year-old left-hander spent three weeks on the bereavement list after his wife, Gabrielle, was found dead on May 20 in the master bedroom of couple’s home in the Phoenix area.

Since returning on June 9, Schoeneweis has given up 15 earned runs in nine innings. He is 1-2 with an 8.24 ERA in 38 games this season.

Thoughts and prayers go out to Schoenewiess and his family. I hope he gets talk therapy and not just symptom suppressing drugs that could become habit-forming. What he’s been through needs time and human support, not chemicals.

Good on the D’Backs FO for giving him a break. I can’t imagine what he’s going through.

Good Luck, Scott. See you back when YOU are ready.

Byrnesblogger1

I just got a notice on my Facebook page that there was article talk about how the sports world was looking to be more clean and green. Here is my response:

Speaking as a baseball fan, I think MLB could be more green by going retro at the park. Manually operated scoreboards instead of these monster electronic jobs that use so much electricity. Also day games on the weekends. Take out the free WiFi that is starting to go into stadiums. That must have a carbon foot print. New stadiums should be built with public transit access. Domes in places like Phoenix should be used sensibly. There they leave the dome open and run the A/C in all but the hottest weather so as to give the fans the feel of an outdoor stadium without Phoenix’s 100 degree weather. Speaking of Phoenix, what baseball stadium really needs a swimming pool? We have got to get back to the days when we went to the ball park to see a baseball game, not to swim, be on computers or wave our VISA cards to the cameras on the big screen. That would save a lot of energy!

Byrnesblogger1

UPDATE: Let’s hear some other ideas. How about going back to traditional 2 for the price of one doubleheaders on Sunday and off days on Mondays and Thursday? Having the stadiums dark two days a week would save energy. It would probably be better for the players as well. Most other jobs get two days off per week, why not baseball players? I just heard this weekend that the San Francisco Giants just concluded a streak of twenty days in a row. That’s got to mean tired players who are more likely to get injured. And we wonder why players might use amphetamines?

Justin Upton was put on the 15 Day DL Thursday because of an oblique strain. Didn’t he have on the those last year?

Upton is batting .301 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs this season. He seems to be fulfilling his promise as a hitter, but he’s been on the DL all three years he’s been in the bigs. That’s worrisome.

On the other hand, who hasn’t been on the DL for the Snakes this year?

Byrnesblogger1

Brandon Webb’s season officially ended Monday when he had surgery on his right shoulder. He only pitched once — Opening Day — a lackluster start that ended in a no decision.

Webby at first refused surgery, opting for a more conservative approach aimed at strengthening his shoulder with the goal of pitching in September. But the shoulder did not respond adequately, and with the D’Backs season already in the toilet, Starter No. 1A decided to go under the knife. His shoulder was cleaned out, but no repairs were needed and he should begin throwing in October.

Could several years of 200+ innings be finally catching up to him?

ByrnesBlogger1