Paul Byrd: Difference between revisions

Paul Byrd
Paul Byrd
Free Agent – No. --
	Starting pitcher
	Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
	July 28, 1995, for the New York Mets
Career statistics ; (through 2008 season)
Win-Loss	107-94
Earned run average	4.39
Strikeouts	3
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	New York Mets (1995–1996); Atlanta Braves (1997–1998); Philadelphia Phillies (1998–2001); Kansas City Royals (2001–2002); Atlanta Braves (2004); Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2005); Cleveland Indians (2006–2008); Boston Red Sox (2008-2009);
Career highlights and awards
	All-Star selection (1999);

Browse history interactively

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Revision as of 02:14, 25 February 2010

Paul Gregory Byrd (born December 3, 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who is currently a Free Agent. Byrd is well-known for his striking resemblance to actor Kelsey Grammer and because of this is called Frasier by his teammates. He is also known as being the "nicest guy in baseball".^[1] He is also known for using an "old-fashioned" windup, in which he swings his arms back prior to going into the full windup. He occasionally swings his arms back twice before pitching, which can disrupt the timing of a batter.

High School,College, and minor leagues

Byrd played his high school career at Saint Xavier High School In Louisville, Kentucky. Byrd attended Louisiana State University where he pitched as part of the Tigers baseball team that won the 1991 College World Series. He was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians. Byrd spent 5 years in the minor leagues before being traded to the New York Mets and making his major league debut on July 28, 1995.

Major leagues

As a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Byrd was selected for the 1999 All-Star Game. Byrd's career was revived in 2002, when he won 17 games, despite pitching for a Kansas City Royals team that would lose 100 games. On the strength of that season, Byrd developed a cult following of fans known as the Byrd's Nest. Byrd parlayed his strong 2002 campaign into a two-year free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves. On July 1, 2003, Byrd underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He was able to successfully come back due to the use of steroids from the operation and pitch in his first postseason appearance for the Braves during the 2004 NLDS.

In December 2004, the Anaheim Angels signed Byrd to a $5 million(USD), one-year contract following the trade of right-handed pitcher Ramon Ortiz to the Cincinnati Reds. Byrd went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 205 innings with the Angels. He was second in the AL with 21 quality starts.

On December 4, 2005, Byrd was signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Indians. Tony Amato, the Indians' equipment manager, describes Byrd as "a lefty in a right-hander's body." In 2007, he was 15-8, 3rd best to CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona on the Indians team.

On October 8, 2007, Byrd was the winning pitcher in a 6-4 win against the New York Yankees, giving the Cleveland Indians a 3-1 series win in the ALDS. Byrd pitched again on October 16, this time against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. He went 5 innings, giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 4, gaining the victory in an Indians 7-3 win to take a 3-1 lead in the best of seven series.

On August 12, 2008, Byrd was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later (Mickey Hall).^[2] A free agent at the end of the season, he announced on January 14, 2009, that he would sit out the beginning of the 2009 season to spend more time with his family and likely sign a deal with a contending team midseason. Byrd mentioned he would like to sign with a team that is close to his home in Georgia.^[3] On August 5, 2009, the Boston Red Sox signed Byrd to a minor-league contract.^[4] Byrd made his first major league start of the 2009 season for the Boston Red Sox on August 30, 2009 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Byrd went six innings, giving up just three hits, three walks and no runs.^[5]

Personal

Byrd has written a book called Free Byrd about his life, detailing both his devout Christianity and past struggles with pornography, among other things.^[6] Byrd's wife, Kym, is a certified life coach where she helps married athletes with the rigors of their unique marriages. Together, with Paul's help, Kym surveys couples in baseball in hopes of helping those families in need.^[7]

After playing baseball at LSU, Byrd became a high school substitute teacher for a short period of time at The Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

HGH Controversy

On October 21, 2007, Byrd was accused of using HGH by the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper accused him of spending $24,850 on HGH and syringes from 2002 to 2005.^[8] Byrd defended himself, claiming that he was being treated for a tumor on his pituitary gland, and took the drugs under medical supervision.^[9] Subsequent news reports, however, assert that Byrd began taking HGH before any pituitary gland condition was diagnosed and that one of the medical professionals to have prescribed Byrd HGH was a Florida dentist whose dental license had been suspended for fraud and incompetence.^[10]

On December 13, 2007, Paul Byrd was cited in the Mitchell Report on illegal use of performance enhancing substances in baseball^[11].

References

^ Salisbury, Jim (1998-08-18). "ONE UP ON BIG UNIT \ BYRD SHUTS OUT ASTROS". Philadelphia Inquirer.
^ indians.com
^ Jenifer Langosch (2009-01-14). "Byrd to sit out start of '09 season". MLB.com. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
^ Rosenthal, Ken (August 5, 2009). "Source: Red Sox sign free-agent righty Byrd". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
^ http://www.nesn.com/2009/08/paul-byrd-makes-most-of-return-to-red-sox.html?sbn
^ Alipour, Sam (2007-10-17). "Paul Byrd's struggle to walk with God". ESPN. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
^ Jimmy Scott's High and Tight
^ Williams, Lance (2007-10-21). "Cleveland pitcher spent thousands on human growth hormone". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-21. Paul Byrd, the veteran pitcher who has helped the Cleveland Indians reach the brink of the World Series, bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes from a Florida anti-aging clinic that was targeted by law enforcement for illegally distributing performance-enhancing drugs, business records show. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ Brown, Tim (2007-10-22). "Byrd: HGH was for serious condition". YAHOOSPORTS.com. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
^ Williams, Lance (2007-10-22). "Indians pitcher Byrd says growth hormone was prescribed by doctor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ Mitchell, George (2007-12-13). "Mitchell Report on Steroid Use in Baseball" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-13.

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time- #88 Paul Byrd

[1] Salisbury, Jim (1998-08-18). "ONE UP ON BIG UNIT \ BYRD SHUTS OUT ASTROS". Philadelphia Inquirer.

[2] s.com

[3] Jenifer Langosch (2009-01-14). "Byrd to sit out start of '09 season". MLB.com. Retrieved 2009-01-14.

[4] Rosenthal, Ken (August 5, 2009). "Source: Red Sox sign free-agent righty Byrd". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2009-08-06.

[5] ttp://www.nesn.com/2009/08/paul-byrd-makes-most-of-return-to-red-sox.html?sbn

[6] Alipour, Sam (2007-10-17). "Paul Byrd's struggle to walk with God". ESPN. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)

[7] Jimmy Scott's High and Tight

[8] Williams, Lance (2007-10-21). "Cleveland pitcher spent thousands on human growth hormone". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-21. Paul Byrd, the veteran pitcher who has helped the Cleveland Indians reach the brink of the World Series, bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes from a Florida anti-aging clinic that was targeted by law enforcement for illegally distributing performance-enhancing drugs, business records show. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[9] Brown, Tim (2007-10-22). "Byrd: HGH was for serious condition". YAHOOSPORTS.com. Retrieved 2007-10-22.

[10] Williams, Lance (2007-10-22). "Indians pitcher Byrd says growth hormone was prescribed by doctor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[11] Mitchell, George (2007-12-13). "Mitchell Report on Steroid Use in Baseball" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-13.

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@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 *[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection ({{by|1999}})
 }}
-'''Paul John  Byrd''' one of the worst players in baseball  (born December 3, 1970 in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Kentucky]]) is a [[Major League Baseball]] [[right-handed]] [[starting pitcher]] who is currently a [[Free Agent]].
+'''Paul Gregory Byrd''' (born December 3, 1970 in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Kentucky]]) is a [[Major League Baseball]] [[right-handed]] [[starting pitcher]] who is currently a [[Free Agent]].
 Byrd is well-known for his striking resemblance to actor [[Kelsey Grammer]] and because of this is called [[Frasier]] by his teammates. He is also known as being the "nicest guy in baseball".<ref>{{cite news|title=ONE UP ON BIG UNIT \ BYRD SHUTS OUT ASTROS|publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=1998-08-18|author=Salisbury, Jim}}</ref> He is also known for using an "old-fashioned" windup, in which he swings his arms back prior to going into the full windup. He occasionally swings his arms back twice before pitching, which can disrupt the timing of a batter.