SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Marlon Byrd came to Texas knowing he
probably wasn't going to be an everyday starter.
Still, Byrd saw plenty of positives about joining the Rangers.
"Just the all-around situation, the best hitting coach (Rudy
Jaramillo) in baseball, they had a spot for me and a major league
deal," Byrd said. "They really wanted me over here, from the end
of the season all the way until I signed, I got phone calls. I
couldn't turn it down. I had other offers, but this is the best
spot for me."
Byrd is in a crowded outfield with Kenny Lofton, Brad Wilkerson,
Nelson Cruz, Frank Catalanotto and Sammy Sosa.
Manager Ron Washington emphatically said this week that he
wouldn't take six outfielders into the season. Then when asked
about Byrd, Washington quickly clarified that he wouldn't count a
designated hitter against that total, and Sosa or Catalanotto will
primarily handle that role.
Through his first 14 spring games, Byrd hit .357 (10-for-28)
with one home run and six RBIs. That total doesn't count 'B' games,
including going 2-for-4 Monday with a long three-run homer.
Byrd had a small setback Thursday when he was sustained a
bruised right hand when swinging at a pitch in the first inning. He
came out of the game against Arizona but said the injury wasn't
serious.
Washington has played Byrd in left field and right field this
spring. Moving around doesn't bother Byrd.
"It doesn't matter at all," Byrd said. "I may not hit all the
time, but one thing I do is play outfield."
Byrd had been solid offensively this spring, but knows he's
still only in the running to be a fourth outfielder -- or maybe the
fifth.
"I'm out there. Whether I get 100 at-bats, 300 or 400 at-bats,
if I get 100 at-bats and this team makes the playoffs, it doesn't
get any better than that," Byrd said. "I'm not a selfish guy. I
go out there and do what I have to do and try to help this team
win. That's it."
Byrd has never been able to duplicate the success of his 2003
season with Philadelphia, when he hit .303 in 135 games as one of
the NL's top rookies. He began 2004 as the Phillies' leadoff hitter
but lost that role and wound up hitting .228 in 106 games.
An injury sidetracked Byrd in 2005, when he fractured his right
ring finger diving into first base during a game and then went on
Philadelphia's disabled list. He was traded to Washington in May
2005, then split last season between the Nationals (.223 in 78
games) and Triple-A New Orleans.
In 408 career games, Byrd is a .263 hitter with 20 home runs and
123 RBIs. He's never played a full season in the majors.
"I've had a chance to be a starter. If I fulfill this role as a
fourth outfielder, you never know what happens. Gary Matthews Jr.
was a fourth outfielder," Byrd said. "As of right now, I have to
fulfill that role of being thrown into any outfield position."
Matthews wasn't originally a starter for the Rangers, but last
year became an All-Star center fielder. Then he got a $50 million,
five-year free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels.