The Perils of Patience and Lack Thereof

Going into tonight’s game Eric Byrnes had great numbers against Dodger starter Derek Lowe and Dodger closer Takashi Saito. Looking at him in tonight’s 2-0 loss, you would have thought he was seeing them for the very first time.

He took most of the pitches he saw from them tonight. When forced to protect the plate in his first time up, he GIDP. And only the highness of the chopper to third and his speed saved his second grounder from also being a double play; the Boys in Blue settled for a fielder’s choice that got the lead runner.

Eric singled his third time up but was thrown out stealing on a pitchout. He ran on the first pitch. This is now the 2nd time in the last three attempts that he has been thrown out and both times were on pitchouts. (He drew a lot of throws when he was on with the fielder’s choice). Opposition teams have recognized him as a base-stealing threat and have made the adjustment. He now has to make the counter-adjustment.

Byrnes was his usual hustling self in the outfield, but at the plate he seemed lethargic. He has days when he seems unsure of himself at the plate and he ends up checking his swing and looking at things he should swing at. This was one of those days; it ought not to have been, given his prior successes against the pitchers he faced tonight. But there he was against Saito in the 8th, two out with runners on 2nd and 3rd and he was caught looking at a fast ball.

So Byrnes tonight had a DP, an FC that was almost a DP, a CS, a K and he had 4 LOB, three in scoring position. He came up with the game on the line in the 8th and served as a negative reminder of why Albert Pujols and David Ortiz are so special.

To sum up the night: YUCK!

Kéllia "Still waiting for XBH No. 63" Ramares
Oakland, CA