Paul Byrd
From SoSH
Paul Byrd is a journeyman pitcher who played briefly with the Red Sox during the 2008 regular season and playoffs.
| Born: | Dec. 3, 1970 |
| Birthplace: | Louisville, KY |
| Hometown: | Alpharetta, GA |
| Height: | 6'1" |
| Weight: | 185 |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | 4th Round, 1991 by Cleveland Indians |
| College: | LSU |
| High School: | St. Xavier HS |
| Other Teams: | New York Mets 1995-96 Atlanta Braves 1997-98, 2003-04 Philadelphia Phillies 1998-2001 Kansas City Royals 2001-2002 Los Angeles Angels 2005 Cleveland Indians 2006-08 |
| Years with Boston: | 2008 |
Contents |
Early Career
Byrd was drafted by the Cleveland Indians but did not play a game for the Tribe. Byrd bounced around frequently during his early career, primarily around the NL East. For a brief time, he was teammates with Curt Schilling on the 1999-2000 Philadelphia Phillies managed by Terry Francona. Byrd was frequenly inconsistent and injured, but made the 1999 NL All-Star team. He did not pitch in his only appearance in the mid-summer classic. He was traded to Kansas City, where he lead the league in complete games in 2002 on one of many awful Royals squads.
The soft-tossing Byrd showed enough promise from 2002-05, despite not playing in 2003 with an injury, to sign a multi-year deal with the Cleveland Indians for approximately $21 million during the 2005 offeseason. However, Byrd's sub-4 ERA creeped to the mid-fours and he increasingly gave up the longball to opposing batters.
The Byrdman with the Sox
The Indians, out of playoff contention, traded Byrd to the Red Sox for a PTBNL. Byrd started several games for the Red Sox during the regular season, including a key win at Yankee Stadium on August 27, 2008 and making his last start of the regular season against his former club in a 5-4 win.
Byrd made one appearance in the offseason as the longman in the Game 3 ALCS blowout. He pitched 3 innings, giving up 4 runs to the Rays as Jon Lester took the loss in a 9-1 rout. Paul did not appear in another game.
What Happened to That Boy?
Byrd is probably better known for his 2007 Playoff exploits. Boston fans were elated as Byrd tossed 5 innings of 1-run ball against the New York Yankees in the 2007 ALDS, where the Yankees, despite operating on a nearly $200 million payroll, were forced to pitch Chien-Ming Wang on three days rest. Wang was shelled early and Byrd got the win, leading to Yankee Elimination Day and the last game which Joe Torre would manage the MFYs.
Byrd was similarly masterful against the Boston Red Sox during the 2007 ALCS, where he pushed the Red Sox to the brink of elimination in Game 4, throwing 5 innings of 2-run ball and getting the win against Tim Wakefield. Byrd would not get to take the mound again, as the Red Sox stormed back from a 3-1 series deficit to take the ALCS and eventually the 2007 World Series.
Byrd in 2009
Paul plans to sit out the start of the 2009 season and join a team halfway through the season.
Awards
- 1-time American League All-Star (1999)
