|
Word to the Winners - Fantasy Baseball Advice
Fantasy Spotlight: Eric Byrnes - by Evan Cohen.
Save This Page
It didn’t take long for Eric Byrnes to become a fan favorite
at Chase Field. Entering his second season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, his
seventh in the big league, Byrnes has an infectious energy and enthusiasm that
he brings to the field. When No. 22 steps up to the plate, you’ll hear
a smattering of claps and “Let’s go Byrnes-ie. Let’s go Byrnes-ie”
chants. He even has his own website (at www.byrnesie.com).
Byrnes’ all-out hustle gets his teammates and the fans pumped up. He’ll
hit the wall running as he tries to shag down a ball hit in the outfield, he’ll
lay out on the turf and dive after a ball, or he’ll slide head first stealing
a base. He’s blue-collar all the way -- a non-flashy throwback player
who gives it his all every night.
In February, The Arizona Diamondbacks and Byrnes agreed to a $4,575,000, one-year
contract, avoiding arbitration. Byrnes hit .267 with career highs of 26 home
runs and 25 stolen bases last season, his first with Arizona, to become the
first Diamondbacks player to reach 25 homers and 25 steals in a season.
“Eric brings a lot of energy to the field and the clubhouse every day
and I know our fans enjoy the enthusiasm with which he plays the game,”
said Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes, no relation to Eric.
Eric Byrnes played center field last season, but moved to left this year to
replace Luis Gonzalez, probably the most popular player in the Diamondbacks'
history. Chris Young now roams center field.
Over seven seasons in the big leagues, which included stints in Oakland, Baltimore
and Colorado, Byrnes has 74 home runs and 259 RBI with a .261 average.
“Eric played great for us in 2006,” Josh Byrnes said. “He's
a rare player who can impact the game in a lot of ways -- with his power, with
his base running, with his defense and certainly every day with his energy.”
This is a rejuvenation of sorts for Eric Byrnes. A fan favorite in Oakland
for several years with the A’s, he became a struggling journeyman in 2005.
He slumped to a .226 batting average as he went from Oakland to Colorado and
finally Baltimore in a series of mid-season trades. This was a far cry from
his breakout 2004 season, when Byrnes hit .283 for Oakland with 20 home runs
and 73 RBI.
“One thing I’ve learned in this game is that it’s just a
long season,” Byrnes said. “You’re going to have your ups
and you’re going to have your downs, but the most important thing for
me this year is to find some consistency between the two.”
He started out the 2006 season platooning in centerfield with Jeff DeVanon,
but once Byrnes started swinging a hot bat, the job was his.
Byrnes, a California native, attended St. Francis High School in Mountain View
and then played collegiate baseball at UCLA. After an excellent career for the
Bruins, he began his professional career in 1998, when he was signed by the
Oakland Athletics. Byrnes led Oakland’s farm system in batting, with a
.357 average in 71 games with Visalia and Southern Oregon.
He made first appearance as an Oakland Athletic in 2000 and would regularly
be called up from Triple-A Sacramento from 2000 to 2002. After an injury to
Jermaine Dye at the beginning of the 2003 season, Byrnes became a starter in
the A’s outfield. He had his best season with Oakland in 2004, batting
.283 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs, which are all career highs.
The Byrnes File
Born: February 16, 1976
Hometown: Redwood City, CA
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210 lbs.
Age: 31
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Experience: 6 years
College: UCLA
Copyright © 2007 Ready-Set-Go Fantasy Sports, LLC.
All rights reserved.
|
