02-23-2010, 03:32 PM
This was KLaw's take on Byrd.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Marlon Byrd is a nice fourth outfielder who could play every day on a non-contender, but he <b>doesn't handle centerfield well enough to play it every day </b>on a team with aspirations of playoff contention and doesn't hit well enough to play every day in an outfield corner. He boosted his overall stats the last few years playing in a good hitters' park in Texas, posting a .290/.339/.415 line in 516 road PA over that time, a line that won't cut it in left or right field, and he's no better than average defensively in center, perhaps less if he has to play it 150 times a season. He replaces Milton Bradley and Bradley's replacements, but even with the off year Bradley was more productive for the Cubs on a rate basis than Byrd was in Texas, and the Cubs have improved by less than a win between the pair of moves.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
KLaw - ESPN Insider
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Marlon Byrd is a nice fourth outfielder who could play every day on a non-contender, but he <b>doesn't handle centerfield well enough to play it every day </b>on a team with aspirations of playoff contention and doesn't hit well enough to play every day in an outfield corner. He boosted his overall stats the last few years playing in a good hitters' park in Texas, posting a .290/.339/.415 line in 516 road PA over that time, a line that won't cut it in left or right field, and he's no better than average defensively in center, perhaps less if he has to play it 150 times a season. He replaces Milton Bradley and Bradley's replacements, but even with the off year Bradley was more productive for the Cubs on a rate basis than Byrd was in Texas, and the Cubs have improved by less than a win between the pair of moves.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
KLaw - ESPN Insider