CENTER FIELD :: Sox Sink A Byrdie Putt

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Sox Sink A Byrdie Putt

Paul Byrd -- he of the HGH-tainted past, the momentous victory over the Sox in last year's ALCS and the Frasier-esque face -- traded in his Indians cap for a Red Sox cap today. This gave me the perfect opportunity to use that "Byrdie Putt" pun I've been holding onto for so long. It also means that the Red Sox might just have found the patch to plug the hole left by Wake's DL stint (and Clay's continued mediocre outings).

From the Globe:

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has completed a trade with the Boston Red Sox, sending RHP PAUL BYRD to Boston in exchange for a player to be named or cash. The player to be named must be agreed upon on or before January 15, 2009.

Byrd made 22 starts with the Indians this year going 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA (131.0IP, 146H, 70R/66ER, 24BB, 56K, 23HR).

And from MLB.com:

Boston is getting Byrd at his best. After a rough first half in which he seemingly couldn't keep the ball in the park, Byrd changed his windup, rediscovered his curveball, curtailed the home runs and gone 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break. He is 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA in 22 starts overall.

Comments (12)

[ Twinkie ] says:
on August 12, 2008 4:20 PM

So I take it we're sending Buchholz back down? or Zink after tonight? And we're not confident in Colon to return? Why did we do this??? Paul Byrd = do not want.

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on August 12, 2008 4:26 PM

Charlie Zink was an emergency measure - I don't think he, or anyone on the staff - thought he'd be around any longer than a game or two.

That leaves Buchholz - who has been mediocre (understatement) so far. And if this team seriously wants a pennant race, mediocrity won't cut it -- especially with the Angels (and in the NL, with the Dbacks acquiring Adam Dunn, or the Cubbies).

Paul may not be perfect, but he reconfigured his mechanics this year, and has been pretty phenomenal the last 6-ish weeks or so. Certainly better than Buchholz, anyway.

[ Twinkie ] says:
on August 12, 2008 4:32 PM

I guess. Buchholz has been making me want to rip my hair out lately. It seems almost like he got worse since we tried to "fix" him. I didn't imagine Zink would be sticking around too long, but I was hoping it would be more than one game.

I hope this works out. I really do. But I'm still pessimistic about any trades.

[ Hurricane ] says:
on August 12, 2008 4:38 PM

I just simply can't cheer for byrd... Its like did you ever know someone who cheated and still was barely mediocre and a dbag to boot, you wouldnt go and hang out with him outside of work or school or whatever.

Thats what the sox are doing....
???Theo has beer goggles???

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on August 12, 2008 4:47 PM

Considering the Gagne HGH fiasco, Theo and co have shown they're not shy about acquiring a potential HGH PR nightmare.

But outside of, you know, the cheating thing, I've not heard any stories about Byrd being a douche. What have you heard or read?

[ Jessi ] says:
on August 12, 2008 5:27 PM

I'm really really hoping that the player to be named is either Lugo or Cora (I wouldn't mind Crisp either). I also hope that they go to Cleveland ASAP.

Any chances of that?

[ Anonymous ] says:
on August 12, 2008 5:32 PM

what the hell. i love lugo and cora and crisp. how dare you

also, on a side note---i know manny doesnt play for us anymore, but he was making headlines today for the dodgers. he apparently went to find a bathroom during the game and the umps had to delay the game while they went to look for him.

[ Jessi ] says:
on August 12, 2008 5:34 PM

Seriously "Anonymous?" I'm horrible detecting sacarsm on the internet. You sound serious, but I doubt anyone loves Lugo....

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on August 12, 2008 5:43 PM

Yeah- if that was sarcasm, I don't think it worked. And if not, no one should be slinging "how dare you"s around here. Except me... at Lugo.

Baseball is a business. "Liking" a player is not a valid reason for not trading him - especially (a) when said players are not producing or we have depth at their positions, and (b) *someone* has to get traded. If it's not Lugo, Cora and Crisp, it would have to be Lowrie and Ellsbury. You can't have your cake and eat it, too.

[ Jessi ] says:
on August 12, 2008 6:26 PM

I would hate to trade Lowrie or Ellsbury for Byrd. Lugo, Cora, and Crisp are older and not very good. While Lowrie and Ells (who is underperforming a bit) are young with a ton of potential.

[ Jennifer ] says:
on August 13, 2008 11:40 AM

I doubt they'll trade any of the J-Rookies as Francona's been pretty strong on home-grown talent. Plus, with J-Mast performing so well in the pen, Jed showing exactly why HE should be our starting shortstop, and Jacoby's recent signs of emerging from his slump (tailbone injury aside), I don't think it would be in his best interest to trade either of them.

I suppose we have to ask ourselves, "What position do the Indians need to strengthen/back-up/etc?" Or we can wait for that PTBNL to be named.

[ NHgal ] says:
on August 14, 2008 8:22 AM

I second the motion to send Lugo. Maybe we should start a petition?

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