Just as head-first slides turned Pete Rose into “Charlie Hustle,” outfield somersaults turned Eric Byrnes into a fan favorite in Phoenix.
“They love him,” Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb said. “He’s loud and vibrant, but hey, whatever works for him. He’s got 50 stolen bags and that’s huge for us. So is his energy.”
Byrnes, who sometimes launches himself head over heels when unleashing a throw to the infield, is the poster boy for a young Diamondbacks team that hustled its way to the NL West title with 90 victories. The D-backs begin an NL division series tonight, hosting the Cubs at Chase Field.
“I don’t think anybody thought we would be here with the team that we’ve got on the field now,” Webb said.
Arizona had hoped the offseason acquisition of lefty Randy Johnson would give it the best pitching staff in the league. But Johnson’s recurring back problems, a slew of other injuries and a heavy reliance on young talent turned the Diamondbacks into one of baseball’s most improbable success stories.
“This is the most selfless team that I have ever played on,” Byrnes said. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on paper, but there is something to be said for 25 guys pulling together.”
It’s not that the Diamondbacks have won, but rather how they have won. They were outscored 732-712, an astounding statistic for a playoff team. And they hit an NL-worst .250. They are the first team since the 1906 Chicago White Sox (.246) to finish last in hitting yet lead the league in victories.
At times this season, Arizona has started a player, outfielder Justin Upton, who began the year in Single-A, and another, third baseman Mark Reynolds, who started in Double-A. And shortstop Stephen Drew and center fielder Chris Young have just one big-league season under their belts.
But Byrnes said he wasn’t shocked by the Diamondbacks’ NL West title.
“It’s not that big a mystery to me,” he said. “We’ve got a decent starting staff, a solid bullpen and we have scored runs when we’ve needed to.”
In one-run ballgames the Diamondbacks were a remarkable 32-20. The Diamondbacks’ three-headed monster in the bullpen – setup men Tony Peña and Brandon Lyon, along with closer Jose Valverde (league-high 47 saves) – makes the team tough to beat once it grabs a lead.
But Byrnes is the player who sets the tone in the field. In addition to his 50 steals, he hit .286 with 50 doubles, eight triples and 21 homers. For that, the Diamondbacks awarded him a three-year, $30 million contract through 2010.
Byrnes has given the franchise a makeover, replacing the beloved Luis Gonzalez as the face of Arizona baseball. Gonzalez, who left as a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was the quiet, classy gentleman. Byrnes is more like a big-hearted frat boy. He rarely turns down an interview request, hosts the weekly “Eric Byrnes Show” on the Phoenix-area Fox affiliate and laps up attention like a golden retriever.
“We get on him about it, but he’s the real deal and nobody plays harder,” Webb said. “He’s been great for this team.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
