Eric Byrnes -- To Sign or Not To Sign

by WeaverMania on Aug 3, 2007 12:08 AM PDT

Eric Byrnes is going to get a nice contract in free agency at the end of the year. Few players play with his passion, heart, and hustle while still putting up great production.

Eric Byrnes [2007]: .310/.373/.503, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 67 R, 21 2B, 7 3B, 27 SB, 122 OPS+, 35.7 VORP

His MLV (Marginal Lineup Value) is higher than Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes. His VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) is higher than Ryan Howard and Manny Ramirez. His PMLV (Positional Marginal Lineup Value) is higher than Alfonso Soriano and Mark Teixeira. He plays the same position as Alfonso Soriano yet has outproduced him this season in nearly every category --minus HR (by one), R, and SLG-- including in the sabermetrics.

I'm just wondering here (and maybe I do too much of it), but he does fit the Angels system nicely. He's a hustle player. He steals bases, he hits for solid power, solid average, gets on-base at a reasonable rate, and plays solid defense. He just seems like one of those players who gets the most out of their talent (i.e. Figgins, Willits). Would anyone be opposed to signing him in free agency this season? He's 31 years old. He'll be 32 by next season. He's making $4.575-million this season which will probably jump him up to around $8-million during free agency this season. We signed Gary Matthews for five-years, $50-million. He's making $6-million this season in salary. I'm saying that so people understand where I'm coming from with inflation and performance. We wouldn't have to give Byrnes more than a two-year deal. He'd be able to play LF next season should Anderson get injured next season at all. I know we have Willits, but Byrnes would be better than Willits next season for us for all intensive purposes. His [Byrnes] versatility in the outfield makes him very valuable to us on days where Vlad, Matthews, and Anderson need days off. He hits great off of lefties, righties, at home, on the road, at night, and during the day. His only downfall might be that he is notoriously dead in the second half of the season. He's a .290/.352/.499 hitter in the first half of the season before dropping to a .240/.300/.400 hitter in the second half of the season.

Would anyone be opposed to signing him, other than the fact that he is a former Athletic? I guess that's my question.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

Tweet Comment 43 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Byrnes Baby Byrnes

I love the way he plays...always liked his skills. Sign him up!

clik here!
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=588139&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692. c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive07 /072607_floari_byrnes_hr_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/07/26/flomlb-arimlb-1&mid=200707 272112265&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&am p;_mp=1

Do you know how to grow dreads like Vlad?

by Kokey8 on Aug 3, 2007 12:08 AM PDT reply actions

Sorry

I dont know how to just put a link without all the crap there.. anybody know how??

Do you know how to grow dreads like Vlad?

by Kokey8 on Aug 3, 2007 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Go here to learn grasshopper

Visit W3Schools!

And here it is

without all the crap

by eyespy on Aug 3, 2007 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Yoda. Your link didnt work (w3)

Do you know how to grow dreads like Vlad?

by Kokey8 on Aug 3, 2007 12:29 AM PDT up reply actions

how about

tinyurl.com at least??

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. earl wilson

by ladybug on Aug 3, 2007 1:34 AM PDT up reply actions

fixed

Visit W3Schools!

by eyespy on Aug 5, 2007 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I saw him introduce the D-Backs/Braves game Sat.

I saw him introduce the Diamondbacks/Braves game on Fox last Saturday, and oh my God was he a natural in front of the camera. They did a long sketch based on the idea that he was having a hard time getting to sleep because of the big series, and he kept showing up as different characters from late-night TV: gadget pitchman, news anchor, used car salesman, soap opera star, you name it. Relaxed, funny, and smooth... man, he was great. He's got a career ahead of him in the broadcast booth if he wants it.

Hoping Ervin Santana turns it around in Salt Lake. Go, Ervin!

by scareduck on Aug 3, 2007 12:30 AM PDT reply actions

As for whether the Angels should sign him

Absolutely not. His power is inadequate to hold down a corner outfield slot, he's on the wrong side of 30, and when he was an A, everyone at AN used to complain about how he always tried to make his catches harder than they needed to be, i.e., he often showboated (maybe takes bad routes?).

Hoping Ervin Santana turns it around in Salt Lake. Go, Ervin!

by scareduck on Aug 3, 2007 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions

and Chase Field is a hitter's park

besides that, the guy has a 10 cent brain.

why in the world do people keep thinking we need outfielders?

no way we sign him. no way.

by rbrianc on Aug 3, 2007 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions

I have the exact same impression

He's always diving all over the place, tucking and rolling- often it seems for no good reason- the anti Garrett Anderson, if you will. ESPN loves him because of this and the fact that he's a decent interview, so I think he gets an inordinate amount of highlights, which also makes him appear to be more spectacular than he really is.

by kdoc on Aug 3, 2007 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions

can he play third?

East coast bias

by Carl Johnson on Aug 3, 2007 12:32 AM PDT reply actions

i love

the way he plays but he doesnt seem to fit in our plans

by Sorbo182 on Aug 3, 2007 12:54 AM PDT reply actions

career year

I highly doubt he repeats this years numbers in the future. His BA/BIP is at a career high .345, which just can't be sustained with the amount of lazy flyballs that come off his bat. He leads all of baseball in infield fly%; Hillenbrand was awesome at those too.

Stoneman bites and he'll end up paying premium and receiving along the lines of the 270/310/480 line he put up last year.

by jpeiper on Aug 3, 2007 2:11 AM PDT reply actions

But, if he does that ...

While still hitting 26 HR, 79 RBI, 37 2B, and stealing 25 bases, would you still not want him?

I think his average season is pretty much what he did in 2004. He hit .283/.347/.467 with 20 HR, 73 RBI, 39 2B, 17 SB, and a 109 OPS+.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by WeaverMania on Aug 3, 2007 3:12 AM PDT up reply actions

can some one post his Home/Road splits this year?

Most people don't know that Phoenix's altitude is the 2nd highest in the MLB at 1290 feet, Its second to Colorado, and ahead of Atlanta.

i live in Phoniex - we don't him. trust me.

btw, the last guy FA signed that lived in Phoenix metro was Shea.

by rbrianc on Aug 3, 2007 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Home/Away

Home: .308/.365/.510, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 31 R, 19 BB, 10 SB
Away: .308/.376/.491, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 36 R, 22 BB, 17 SB

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by WeaverMania on Aug 3, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

thanks interesting and impessive

but we still don't sign him.

by rbrianc on Aug 3, 2007 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Before you guys go a second further

look into his 1st/2nd half splits, and stop any further crazy talk about signing the guy.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 3, 2007 4:10 AM PDT reply actions

I already mentioned it in the original post

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by WeaverMania on Aug 3, 2007 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Whoops

that will teach me to skim through readings.

Until I forget that lesson 10 minutes from now.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 3, 2007 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

No thanks

Normally its not a good idea to sign 31 year old players coming off their career years. It worked out with Matthews, but if you make a habit out of that strategy, it is guaranteed to hurt you sooner or later.

If Willits isn't enough for you, then don't worry, Juan Rivera will be back next year. His contract is up, but we'll be able to keep him through arbitration, he doesn't have enough time for free agency yet.

If I went to war and could only take one weapon, it would be an HK47.

by RallyMonkey5 on Aug 3, 2007 6:01 AM PDT reply actions

Free Agent Dollars

I think the ANgels should spend their Free Agent Millions on advertising in Angel Fan Blogs this offseason.

by Rev Halofan on Aug 3, 2007 9:12 AM PDT reply actions

If ARod opts out...

last night on Angel Talk Terry brought up if ARod opted out and his bidding went for $30 mil, the halos would be spectators on that.

would you "do what it takes" to get ARod? the lakers shocked the world getting Shaq and then Kobe when they did. i vote for winning the ARod sweepstakes. i trust Arte will find a way to make Vlad happy too.

by SCHalo on Aug 3, 2007 9:40 AM PDT reply actions

Terry

the new GM?

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Aug 3, 2007 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions

his topic last night

was "if you were a GM starting a new team and had the first pick, who would you take?"

the ones i heard: Jim Thome and Mike Piazza

by SCHalo on Aug 3, 2007 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Sure

in 1998.

Hoping Ervin Santana turns it around in Salt Lake. Go, Ervin!

by scareduck on Aug 3, 2007 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes

I enjoy winning World championships.

by mattwelch on Aug 3, 2007 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Barry, ARod, Griffey Jr, Ecsktein

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

Did you guess which thing was not like the others?
Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this one is not like the others,
Then you're absolutely...right!

by rbrianc on Aug 3, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Hint: one of them has WS Rings

from multiple teams, even.
the others have been the best in the game the last decade.

by rbrianc on Aug 3, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Ooh! I know! I know!

One of them has not hustled since the Reagan Administration?

by Stirrups on Aug 3, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Terry posted the Question to Scoc

His answer was Joe Mauer. Not a bad pick. Others that were mentioned were Justin Justin Morneau, Reggie Willits????, Albert Puljos, and Carl Crawford, Jose Reyes, Hanley Rmeirez

Personally I would have to say either Morneau or Reyes.

by Seik1177 on Aug 3, 2007 10:41 AM PDT reply actions

Sorry didn't post in the right spot

by Seik1177 on Aug 3, 2007 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

I like him, but not what we need.

by what A game on Aug 3, 2007 11:05 AM PDT reply actions

Willits

I think Willits is our Byrnes without the smugness and attitude. I think Byrnes kind of sometimes believes in his own hype, while Willits does the job without having to be a guy that has to be on ESPN, Fox or any other network willing to give him five minutes.

It is nice to be a spontaneous dirt-dog, fan-favorite, but Byrnes kind of comes off as fake [and/or] a flake.

by Halos2002 on Aug 3, 2007 4:12 PM PDT reply actions

not sure where he would fit

i love his style of playing and he has a great attitude. i would definitely like having him around.

by UCIHalo on Aug 3, 2007 5:12 PM PDT reply actions

Not opposed to it

I love the way he plays, If we have Vlad, GMJ, GA, Willits, and Byrnes and they each play 4 out of every 5 games, they would each play 129 or 130 games in a season. Obviously Vlad plays more than that as does GMJ. But would it be a bad thing for GA to only play about 100 - 115 games next year? I think it would keep him fresher and healthier, and make him more productive when he is in there.

I'm not saying it has to be Byrnes, but someone with comparable numbers, would fit in well.

Pain heals, Chicks dig scars, Glory lasts Forever!

by billhune on Aug 3, 2007 6:15 PM PDT reply actions