If you don’t know about the Mets’ much maligned and scrutinized outfield, then you are no Mets’ fan or you fell off the face of the earth-or both.
In the quest to piece together a solid, yet unspectacular outfield, the Mets are getting good springs from Collin Cowgill and now as of late Marlon Byrd. After hitting a three-run home run against the Venezuelan national team yesterday, Byrd is now hitting .400 while posting a .908 OPS in 15 spring training at-bats.
Of course, Byrd is no savior and he was a scrap-heap option for a reason. However, having a veteran like Byrd on the squad could have a calming effect on the ball club. For a team bereft of any veteran leadership in the outfield, the signing of Byrd does serve some purpose.
In 12 seasons in which he has played for five major league teams, Byrd has been a steady contributor across the board. In 3,835 career at-bats, Byrd has posted a respectable .278/.336/.413 slash line. Byrd has topped double-digits in home runs four times in his career (while posting a career-high 20 in 2009 with the Texas Rangers). Byrd has also batted higher than .290 four times in his career with his best mark being the .307 batting average he posted in 2007 with Texas.
Sure, you could look at the glass half-full and say Byrd is past his prime and that his numbers of last few years more accurately describe him. However, that is short-sighted, as Byrd has had a myriad of reasons for his struggles.
First of all, Byrd spent some major time on the DL in 2011 while battling an eye injury (he was beaned in the eye on an errant fastball thrown by the Red Sox’ Alfredo Aceves.). Then, while playing for two teams in 2012 (Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox), Byrd only amassed 47 at-bats before ending the season after being suspended for using PED’s (using the banned substance Tamoxifen).
Byrd said he had a good reason for taking Tamoxifen and that he knows he messed up. Upon being suspended, Byrd had the following to say:
“I made an inexcusable mistake,” Byrd said in a statement. “Several years ago, I had surgery for a condition that was private and unrelated to baseball. Last winter, I suffered a recurrence of that condition and I was provided with a medication that resulted in my positive test. Although that medication is on the banned list, I absolutely did not use it for performance-enhancement reasons.”
Byrd added, “I am mortified by my carelessness and I apologize to everyone who loves this game as I do. I will serve my suspension, continue to work hard and hope that I am given an opportunity to help a club win later this season.”
It does appear to be an honest mistake and now that he is healthy and with a club who is giving him a chance, Byrd is making amends and is impressing Mets’ management in the process.
With the Mets having rid themselves of Jason Bay and Scott Hairston in the offseason, Byrd is the only viable veteran outfielder who Terry Collins can trust on an everyday basis and if his spring is any indication, he could have locked up right field all to himself.
Again, Byrd is not going to carry this team on his back, but he should provide good bang for the buck and give what the Mets need in the outfield: a semblance of stability from a veteran perspective.
I am not a fan of Byrd and at 36 years old it won’t be long before he fades! I don’t care if he hits 500 in the spring he won’t last very long after the season starts! Thank god for Cowgill!
Byrd will be as reliable as Gary Matthews Jr. and Mike Jacobs.
I would try to find a sucker to take him off our hands before ST ends.
Byrd seems to be playing himself into some serious playing time. He could be in RF vs lefies and in CF vs righties. Of course at 36 coming off two poor seasons how long can you expect it to last? Over his career his OPS of .749 is slightly better than the NL average .740 for CF but the Mets are asking him to be a RF where the avg OPS in 2012 was .769 which makes him below average. I think bringing vets in non roster is a good way to fill a bench but the Mets have backed themselves into a corner this past winter. Hairston at 5M was too steep, or too long (I know he would be holding back the outfield prospects that are on the cusp of stardom) to be signed. I’m glad Byrd is doing well.