Webb is Aces as Byrnes-less D'Backs Beat Pads 4-1; And a question for you

Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb was lights out as the D'Backs beat the Padres 4-1. Jose Valverde got the last three outs. Matt of DiamondHacks did live blogging. You can check it out here.  And no, catcherJohnny Estrada is NOT related to the Estrada who played on CHiPs.

Shawn Green had another multi-hit day, going 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored, bringing his average up to .226. Jeff DaVanon went 1-5 with a run scored, and while he is showing signs of cooling off, he's still batting .365. The Padres started a righty, Chan Ho Park, who wasn't exactly chopped liver himself in the first half of the game. The start of a righty meant that Eric Byrnes, alleged everyday CF, did not start again, in fact, he did not enter the game in any capacity.

Here's what has happened to Byrnesie of late:

4/15 Started. Double and a walk in a game where D'Backs were shut out by the Astros.
4/16 Did not play. ('Stros).
4/17 Started. 2-run homer and walk against the Giants, a team he does well against. Was pulled in a double switch and did not bat in the 9th. The more I see these double switches, the more I like the DH.
4/18 Did not play. (Giants).
4/19 Started. No hits, but two walks, no K's and one run scored. (Giants).
4/20 Did not start as Giants were starting a right-handed sinkerballer and Melvin doesn't want to start Byrnes against sinkerballers. (Byrnes likes the high pitches). Was called on to pinch-hit in the 7th against self-same righthanded sinkerballer. Flied out to center.
4/21 Started. (Dodgers). RBI single in 7th that followed a hard luck, hard-hit line-drive straight to short that did not drive in the runner from third in the fifth. Was pinch hit for in the 9th when the Dodgers put in right handed relievers.
4/22 Did not start. (Dodgers). Hit a pinch-hit single in the 7th but was forced out at second.
4/23 Did not start. (Dodgers). Was inserted as a pinch runner in the 8th but was not put into the outfield for the 9th and did not bat.
4/24 Did not play (Padres).

Eric Byrnes has become the fourth outfielder. Right fielder Shawn Green is going to be given every chance to get going. And he has had several multi-hit days in the past week or so, though with all that, his batting average and RBI total are still anemic. Alleged fourth outfielder Jeff DaVanon is going to have to drop another 100 points off his batting average before there is any serious consideration of returning him to the bench. Even then, the fact that he is a switch hitter means that he'll get plenty of playing time. I wouldn't mind that but for the fact that most of his chances are going to come at the expense of Byrnes, even though DaVanon can play all three outfield positions.

I really want to see Byrnes traded A.S.A.P. to a team that really will use him as the everyday center fielder he thought he would be when he signed with the D'Backs. The truth is that if the switch-hitting DaVanon bats anywhere near his career average of .286, Melvin won't want Byrnes as an everyday player, and Byrnes doesn't need another platoon situation. If the D'Backs trade Byrnes, then find out they need another backup outfielder, there is always Carlos Quentin, who was sent back to AAA at the end of the spring even though it was admitted that he has nothing more to prove at that level.

Byrnes is 30. A baby by the standards of the Giants' outfield, but a mature veteran to the rest of MLB. He doesn't have that many more years to latch on as the everyday player he needs to be if he is to be his best. He had hoped it would happen in Phoenix, but it sure doesn't look like that now.

The best laid plans of mice and men
Gang aft agley
And leave us naught but grief and pain
For promised joy.
--Robert Burns.

Steve Gilbert, the MLB.com Diamondbacks beat reporter and author of The Tao of Steve, doesn't agree with me. You can read our discussion in the comment section of his post "Where's Green?"

Bear in mind we have differing perspectives. Steve looks at the issue in terms of what is best for the team. He likes the depth the team has by having both Byrnes and DaVanon. I look at it in terms of what is best for Byrnesie. He's gone from being the everyday center fielder, to being "spelled against tough righties" (to use a Steve Gilbert phrase) to not being started against any righties, and the first month of the season isn't even over yet. I want to see Byrnesie play every day. There's another commentator who also added his opinion.

Maybe the D'Backs can get a pitcher for Byrnes. Steve's reporting that Russ Ortiz has been taken out of the starting rotation.

Join in the discussion over there or over here. The question is: Should the D'Backs trade Eric Byrnes, and if so, what should they try to get in such a trade?

Kéllia "It's deja vu all over again" Ramares
Oakland, CA