Red Sox sign Paul Byrd

by Randy Booth on Aug 5, 2009 10:26 PM EDT in News

The Byrd Man is back, per FoxSports.com:

The Red Sox, seeking additional depth for their rotation, have signed free-agent right-hander Paul Byrd to a minor-league contract, according to a major league source.

Byrd, 38, is expected to be ready to join the major league staff around Sept. 1. He has yet to pitch this season and will require time in the minor leagues.

This is purely a depth move -- don't expect Byrd to be toeing the rubber tomorrow night. While he could prove valuable in September, that will probably be the only time he will. But still, it's nice to have a little insurance in Pawtucket.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

We have bad enough SP that he's like as not to be a bonus.

At least he looked more like a #5 than a #6 last year.

I’m looking at you Penny.

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 5, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

So are you saying you are tired of the Redsox getting depth rather than talent?

Because I don’t think any team in the majors can say they have more rotation depth than us, but we only have two starters that can get the job done. I can understand Theo’s offer to Seattle for Felix. I don’t see where Byrd can contribute that Bowden, Tazawa, healthy Dice-K, Wakefield can’t.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Aug 5, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree.

Bowden’s a good idea, I’m not sure WTF Theo’ problem is with him.
Tazawa needs some more time in AAA before he’s ready to be brought up
Dice-K’s still going to be a risk if he can make it back, as it is planned
Wake’s not coming back for a few more weeks at least

Only 1 of those 4 are a decent option for NOW, and the rest will be ready right about the same time as Byrd.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 6, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Bowden

He is young. He’ll get his time. The Sox don’t want to rush him. If he comes up and gets shelled, it could set him back. Confidence is very important.

What I hope everyone is noticing is how important Tim Wakefield is. League average, innings-eating pitchers are valuable. Penny, Smoltz, and Buchholz don’t go deep in games. Penny has averaged just under 5.2 IP/GS. Smoltz has averaged just under 5.1 IP/GS. In 4 starts, Buchholz has averaged between 4.2 and 5 IP/GS. Let’s contrast that to Wake, who averaged over 6.1 IP/GS this year. Since 2003, when he became a full time starter, Wakefield has averaged just under 6.1 IP/GS in 197 starts.

Byrd is similar to Wake. He is a roughly league average pitcher who averages around 6 IP/GS. If you replace Penny, Smoltz, or Buchholz with Byrd, it’s an upgrade.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 6, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess.

Bowden’s looked pretty good in his two major league appearances so far, so I guess I’m anxious to see him pitch again.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 6, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd take a flier on Tazawa at this point.

Nobody really knew WHERE he should go to start the year. Given his non-dominating if extremely solid numbers in AA, it seemed like the Sox had made a good if slightly-conservative choice. But he’s basically seen no difference in his time at AAA (SSS), and at that point it’s not so bad of an idea to give him a start.

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 6, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Who does he match up with in the rotation for scheduled starts?

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 6, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

With a healthy Peavy

The Other Sox have a pretty damn fine rotation.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Aug 6, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Key word there is healthy.

Plus, he’s going from Pitcher’s Heaven to Pitcher’s Hell, and facing better competition.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 6, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm.

I guess he’s cheaper than the other options.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 5, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

you are getting

6.1 IP 4 runs ish pitching.

Ian Browne aspires to be like me.

by jkeough on Aug 5, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

From Byrd?

No, you are not. That would give him a 5.68 ERA, Paul Byrd has had an ERA of 5.68 worse exactly once in his 13 year career. His FIP has also been that bad only once in his career. Since moving to the AL in 2005 he has pitched at a relatively league average level.

by Gnick on Aug 5, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

so what you're saying is

better than a typical Penny or Smoltz start

by RickD on Aug 6, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Ish.

Ian Browne aspires to be like me.

by jkeough on Aug 6, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

So, basically, we're resting some of the starters for the playoffs...

Assuming we don’t collapse.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 6, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I see the logic here

Wake’s hurt, and given his age and history of back injury there is no certainty that he will fully recover, Dice-K might be out for the season and even if he isn’t he’s no guarantee to pitch well, and Smoltz and Penny are really struggling. Bowden and Tazawa are solid prospects but who knows how they’ll react when initially brought up. They cannot be counted on for quality starts this year. Whereas with Byrd, you can pretty much bank on him being a decent innings eater with a FIP in the 4.50-5.00 area.

by Gnick on Aug 6, 2009 1:22 AM EDT reply actions

"depth" move

Not sure what Byrd has left in the tank, and I’d still bet we’ll see Bowden with the big club before Byrd. But yeah, I’m feeling y’all as far as generally concern with the non-Beckett/Lester part of the rotation. It’s disconcerting that there’s ZERO news about Wakefield’s status, and I’m starting to get a “shutting it down” sense about Daisuke’s season (I seem to remember hearing about him being transferred to 60-day DL, but I could well be mistaken on that).

If I were Francona, I’d think about moving Buch into the bullpen for a couple of weeks. Let him spend a few games just talking with the veterans and mowing down hitters with his fastball in later innings. You know, let him get some confidence with some strong work before handing him the pressure of starting. Just a thought.

More casual than the average fan.

by baseball conspiracy theories on Aug 6, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

The Daisuke 60-day move was entirely a matter of freeing up roster space during trades.

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 6, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Gotcha. That makes sense.

More casual than the average fan.

by baseball conspiracy theories on Aug 6, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Not sure if you read the Globe's blog, Extra Bases, but he's some updates:

From http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/08/sox_matsuzaka_o.html:

The Red Sox will wait until September to ease Matsuzaka into the starting rotation. Because he will likely last only four in five innings in his start, the Sox would need the extra bullpen arms provided by September call-ups. Asked if he thought he could pitch this season, Matsuzaka replied, "of course."

From http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/08/union_will_not.html:

Tim Wakefield threw a side session before the game, though he was not immediately available for comment. Francona expressed optimism that Wakefield would not need a rehabilitation assignment if and when he is ready to pitch, but Wakefield is still experiencing calf problems that would affect his ability to run and, among other things, cover first base.

From http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/08/bay_sits_agai_w.html:

Tim Wakefield threw on flat ground before the game and reported progress in his left calf. If Wakefield feels good tomorrow, he could throw a side session in the bullpen before tomorrow night’s game, a very good sign. Privately, the Sox still feel it could be some time before Wakefield returns, perhaps even weeks, but they will know more today.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 6, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Sox signed Byrd last year about this point in the season last year

He went 4-2 in eight starts. I saw him pitch in Texas and because the Rangers choked early last year, the crowd was about 70% Sox fans and we gave him a standing ovation when he left after the 7th. Who here thinks Smoltz, Penny, Buchholz, Dice-K (and dare I say Wake) will go 4-2 in their next eight starts? If Byrd can put together the kind of starts he had last year, he’ll be fine.

by Unrepentant on Aug 6, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

Correction: They traded for him - there is a difference. Of course, I'm also a stickler on these things.

Also, a pitcher has very little control over their W-L record, so I wouldn’t exactly use that as my sole measure of a pitcher’s performance. Aside from that, I agree, Byrd should be able to provide us some much needed innings in September, esp. if Wake or Dice-K can’t come back.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 6, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions