After 'long day' Byrnes ducks out early
Eric Byrnes said his quick departure from the clubhouse following Tuesday's 10-inning win had nothing to do with being unhappy with the media or D-backs fans. "It was just a long night," he said. "Hopefully you guys in the media didn't take it personally; it was just a long night, I had the family at home and I just wanted to get home."
"I 100 percent understood," Byrnes said of the boos. "I have no problem with it. The fans have high expectations, and they should. I feel like, in order for this team to be successful, we are all going to have to contribute, and that includes myself -- and we haven't gotten off to a great start. If they want to take out their frustrations out on me, I have no problem with that... It's nothing I wish for, but at the same time, I have a lot of expectations for myself, so if I'm not meeting my own expectations, I'm not happy with myself either. So in a lot of ways, I feel the fans' sentiment."
10 months ago
Jim McLennan
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You know, most of the time Byrnes drives me up the wall. He very much wants to be a character, wants to be liked and struggles on the field too much for someone who makes so much money. But the one thing I respect about him is that he seems to understand how this game works, about his salary and what it means. I really do get the impression that he wants to be a successful baseball player and is committed to being his best and seeing the team win. I just wish he could find the middle ground between the type of player he is and the type of player he wants to be.
Babe Ruth was a jerk but baseball's still a beautiful game - Dean Winchester
by luckycc on Apr 15, 2009 11:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I know what you mean
Byrnes is the most enigmatic player I think we’ve ever had. It’s not his ‘fault’ Moorad awarded him the fat contract, or traded away Quentin and Hairston – but by doing things like the TV show, he does set himself up as a much bigger target than lower-profile players and that might not be wise. On the other hand, he seems a genuinely nice guy: quotes like the above are impressive, and his opting to rename ‘his’ ballpark in favor of Saulo Morris is one of the most laudable acts of anyone associated with the team. Which is the ‘real’ Eric Byrnes? The shameless publicity hog? Or the selfless, sensitive guy? The truth, as with most things, is probably somewhere in the middle.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Apr 16, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've said before
that I’ve always been extremely impressed by everything I’ve seen of Byrnes when he goes on national programs. In the interviews I saw he would always go out of his way to talk about his teammates and give them props before talking about himself.
This was made obvious one time when the FSN guys were having a clip show that showed him bursting in on interview with one of the younger guys (Reynolds I think) that was talking about a big home run that he hit the day before. Byrnes came in saying something to the effect of “no, no, no this all wrong. You’re supposed to be talking about how great your teammates were. It’s our job to talk about how great you were.” Some might call it an act, but to me it’s inconsequential so long as he goes about things the right way.
I wish the guy wasn’t on the team. I wish that the team had done a better job sitting him down last year and keeping the hamstring problem from becoming a crisis. I wish he had a swing and throwing mechanics that resembled a major league ballplayer’s more than high school freshman hopped up on ritalin. But none of that affects how I view the guy personally. I think that he’s handled an extremely awkward situation about as well as anyone could expect.
There’s no doubt that he likes to be the center of attention, but he also knows when to defer it to others and I respect him for it. And no, just because he’s struggling isn’t enough reason for him to stop making a once-a-month t.v. show. Doing the show doesn’t qualify him as a “publicity hog” in my book.
by dahlian on Apr 16, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed with almost everything here.
With the exception of the famous interviews before, and wherein, he called TAP a “blogger with the personality of a thumbtack” and badmouthed CoJack a bit.
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, to be fair
I have met some very gregarious thumbtacks in my time.
"You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.
by kishi on Apr 16, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And then there's this...
The following is a preview clip from the latest episode of FOX Sports Arizona’s “The Eric Byrnes Show, Presented by RideNow Powersports.” The show debuts this Sunday, April 19, at 4:00 & 10:00 pm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHuScq37wJY
In this episode, Byrnes shows off his new clothing line — Byrnt Organic Clothing — by taking viewers to a recent fashion show and launch party at Moody Blues in Scottsdale that served as a fundraiser for the Pat Tillman Foundation.
Fundraiser or not, recorded in the off-season or not, it would be very easy for people to watch this and wonder what the hell our .150 hitting, $30 million earning outfielder is doing. 30 minutes of Byrnes taking early batting practice in a cage would probably do a good deal more for his public image.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Apr 16, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't believe
in pandering to the lowest common denominator. If it doesn’t affect Byrnes’ performance on the field, the performance of his teammates or break any legal and/or moral codes, I’m not going to criticize Byrnes for doing so.
If it’s something he wants to and enjoys doing, he shouldn’t stop just because a segment of the fanbase may misinterpret and resent him for his paycheck.
by dahlian on Apr 16, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rather than stoking controversy
this clip illlustrates what’s endearing about Eric. The image he’s promoting isnt phony and “handled” – that of the one dimensional ascetic, utterly consumed 24/7/52 with his rusty swing. He has outside interests, and that’s exactly the image he’s presenting.
It’s true he likes the camera – but that attraction predates pro ball and doesnt make him an uncaring phony. On the contrary, I know several instances where EB’s done terrific things, far removed from any publicity. He respects ‘ordinary’ people and takes to heart the fact he can make a positive difference in their lives.
Is he a saint or as simply genuine and vulnerable as Mark Fidrych? No, but for a modern ballplayer outta UCLA, he’s pretty damn genuine. I look at this clip, and see a guy minimizing his role in his wife’s clothing venture at some charity. He’s carrying their baby. He’s kissing his wife. He’s emceeing a fashion show.
I dont deny there are a few losers who would fabricate ridicule over this – but there’s nothing remotely controversial here.
If the FO is the focus of anything, something is seriously wrong with the picture ! - unnamedDBacksfan 2/20/09
by Diamondhacks on Apr 17, 2009 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hafta agree with Dahlian and 'Hacks here.
It would be short-sighted and, frankly, shallow, to hold this against him — especially considering the fact that this episode was, presumably, shot before the season began — before he was hitting .150.
Although I can see how somebody might have an immediate gut reaction against Eric after watching this episode. I just think it’d be far too kneejerk a reflex.
Or maybe I’m just biased because I like Byrnes so much personally. There are certainly greater vices than that. :-)
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 17, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously
The guy kills me. I mean, if every day I had to go to work and have people stand there and watch EVERY SINGLE FREAKING MISTAKE I made and act like they had any right to be like, “Wow, YOU SUCK. Did you see that? How are you still here? You should have been fired a long time ago! BOOOOO!” I would have a mental freaking break down. I mean, you would have to begin to question every action you made and that can’t help. I am glad that he got the hit last night, and the homer today and hope that people start to I don’t know… give him a half a break to get his job done.
"Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone."
by mrssoco on Apr 15, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What if
you made the same mistake seemingly everytime?
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would want it pointed out to me
But in the long run, he knows. Its not like he goes up to bat each time, gets knocked off and then thinks, “Wow I really did my best there and that was the outcome I wanted entirely.”
Not that it is even comparable in the least but it is kind of like when I worked in the nap room at my school. There was a little boy who just WOULDN’T NAP. I mean, seriously, he would be lilting to one side eyes shutting and I would try to lay him down and he would scream bloody murder until the whole room was awake. My coworkers and parents kept giving me “helpful” hints and tips about all the things I could do to get him to sleep. While I listened to them, and tried EVERY TRICK KNOWN TO MAN, the kid still wouldn’t sleep. I was doing my absolute best and still failing every time.
So as much as we give Byrnes hints and tips, there really is only two outcomes, he is either going to hit the ball or not. No matter the amount of times people around him scream at him it is isn’t going to help or hurt the cause.
"Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone."
by mrssoco on Apr 16, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's an atypical sports analogy
but I’m strangely okay with it.
by Azreous on Apr 16, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats what I'm here for
To be mildly confusing and totally sports inept. But… um… I make mean cookies and/or fake birthday cake?
"Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone."
by mrssoco on Apr 16, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What do you mean fake birthday cake?
The cake was not a lie.
"You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.
by kishi on Apr 16, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aperture science!
Okay, the cake wasn’t a lie, but when we changed it to Woo’s name it was a fake birthday. ;)
"Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone."
by mrssoco on Apr 16, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watch his swing.
It looks like he’s doing absolutely nothing to fix it — it looks the same everytime. That may be unfair, but it’s the truth. A crying baby is something you have no control over. A baseball swing is something you do.
The other thing that’s slightly different is, I assume you weren’t making $30 million working in the nap room.
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From what I have read/heard
He is the first in line for batting practice and comes in to work on it. Maybe he isn’t showing improvement but I doubt he is sitting twiddling his thumbs and thinking about ponies.
And seriously, how often are we going to bring up the money? Yes, its a lot and none of us are going to make that kind of money in our jobs. I usually resent the hell out of people who are self centered about money (I am so so so looking at you, Terrell Owens. “Feeding your kids” what a cock and bull line.) but I am not going to tell a guy not to take the money that is offered to him.
If I could make 30 mill at my preschool? I SO WOULD. As it stands I am pretty lucky at the salary that I make.
"Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone."
by mrssoco on Apr 16, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look --
I like Eric Byrnes. I really do. I even like his show. All I’m saying is, I can understand people booing him. I don’t think I would ever boo a member of my own team, but I do get why people are upset. First pitch popups are almost the worst kind of out you can get — they only take one pitch from the pitcher, and they’re very rarely enough to advance a runner.
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that's a point
It’s not like Byrnes sat out waiting for someone to offering him a big contract and worked to get several teams negotiating against each other (or themselves) for the money- they offered the extension to him. I do doubt that most people would turn down a raise, even if it was more money than we were expecting.
"You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.
by kishi on Apr 16, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
If my boss brought me in and said, “We like what you are doing and want you to commit to work here for the next two years. We are going to triple your pay.” I doubt ANYONE would say, “Okay, I’ll stay. But only if you give me a 1/3 of that.” And if you do then you seriously need to get out more.
"Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone."
by mrssoco on Apr 16, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes,
but remember, Byrnes was demanding $10 million/year. It’s not like he had absolutely nothing to do with this, otherwise we might have signed him earlier and for less money. You’re acting as if he was some working stiff making minimum wage who just walked into Moorad’s office and was handed a $30 million contract.
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't
know about anyone else, but as a manager if one of my people are making a consistent mistake, I need to ask myself what am I doing.
What? neh-are you se-no! No! I hh I I don't even't know what you're sayinhow whatdoyou whatdoyou talking about you want me to go away? I I I I can't no! I can't I can't just leave I - ...you can't leave me!
by soco on Apr 16, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, I'll admit it
I like the guy. That’s actually pretty much what makes it so frustrating to see him struggle. He’s a good guy, and I want him to succeed. And as much as he’s got the attitude of being the carefree guy on the field, I do sort of get the feeling that Byrnes is harder on himself than anyone of us- I mean, we complain when we’re thinking about the team, but this dude lives it every single day. Besides, after seeing this team look so freaking lethargic over large stretches of last season, I don’t think we have any room to complain about someone who plays with enthusiasm, even if it is sometimes overboard, am I right?
Eric, you got a clean slate with me this year. I’m cheering for you.
"You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.
by kishi on Apr 16, 2009 1:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
And agreed. 100%.
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eric Byrnes
If the FO is the focus of anything, something is seriously wrong with the picture ! - unnamedDBacksfan 2/20/09
by Diamondhacks on Apr 16, 2009 3:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I listened to him
on the Jim Rome show, driving to school one day. From what I understand, he WATCHES waaaay tooo much basketball. In fact, he apparently watches every damn sport out there, to the point that I don’t know if I want to play fantasy sports against him. Maybe he can spend a little less time watching different games, and actually hit the ball. I know he got a Jack today, but damn, as of the start of yesterday’s game, his batting ave was .068 or something. I guess it’s better than Upton’s .000 (as of the start of yesterday’s game).
I’m just frustrated that a guy, taking such a huge chunk of ’Backs payroll is sucking this much.
"I always think one step ahead, like a carpenter....the builds stairs"
by sergey606 on Apr 16, 2009 3:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
"family at home"?? "just wanted to get home"??
Being married has ruined Eric Byrnes!!
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
as it has
many men.
I didn’t say all, I said many!
"If you'd need to know, you'd know. but they decided that you don't need to know,so you don't. So stop thinking about what you don't know because you don't need to know what you think you need to know about!"
by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 16, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
soco used to be a lot cooler….. despite his having a pretty cool wife.
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty cool huh? ;)
I am glad that my front works!
And I can attest to the fact that neither socos are cool in the least. We are total nerds. ;)
"Treat your mind like a bad neighborhood - don't go there alone."
by mrssoco on Apr 16, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NERDS!!
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 16, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dan Bickley added his 2 and 1/2 cents tonight...
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2009/04/16/20090416dbacksbickley0417.html
Take a peek behind the curtain:
Here is Eric Byrnes, speaking of his image and how people in this town have turned on him for no good reason. What, he wanted to get hurt last season? You think he held the Diamondbacks at gunpoint for that $30 million contract?
Byrnes said he doesn’t give a bleep if people no longer enjoy his manic personality, and yet his raw emotion seems to contradict his message. He also admits he’s been trying too hard to start the season, hoping to impress his bosses and regain his starting job. And then the general manager, Josh Byrnes, walks by and summons the outfielder to his office, scolding him for bailing on the media after his game-winning hit the previous night.
by TAP on Apr 17, 2009 1:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but
Bickley can suck it.
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by DbacksSkins on Apr 17, 2009 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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