[Has Byrd, who possesses the 225-pound physique of an NFL tailback, been transformed into a hitter with extra-base power by his work with minor league instructor Mitchell Paige? Or is Byrd just in an eye-opening hot streak? Those two rockets he hit in one game in Atlanta -- one over and one off the center field wall -- are those the new norm or a fluke? The Nats need to know.] I'm a different hitter now, ... A light went on. Now I see how guys like Jose Guillen do it. |
Four games seem like a lot right now, especially with the schedule we have. We have to hit a hot streak, and we have to ride it out 'til the end of the season. |
He could easily have swung away right there and tried to get his hits, |
He could easily have swung away right there and tried to get his hits. Most guys, if you're going for .400, you're swinging to get your hits. |
He didn't even have his good stuff today. Tonight felt like we were a second-tier team. |
He got me out with fastballs, changeups, curveballs, |
He got me out with fastballs, changeups, curveballs. He was on today. ... That's the Beckett from the World Series a couple of years ago. |
I had to explain that I was disappointed in myself, but they got a read that I was angry with an attitude, ... I was angry with myself. |
I'm trying to put it together to help this team win, ... I think that's what [manager] Frank [Robinson] envisioned when they brought me over here in the first place. |
It has been a long time, but if I volunteer, I'm the guy that has to work hard, and I don't like looking foolish out there. If that need came along, yeah, I would have to start working on it. I just couldn't go out there and do it. |
It means a lot to everybody from the top all the way down. |
It's a terrible loss. We had so many chances. |
That's the Beckett from the World Series a couple of years ago. |
That's the guy we have to beat. We expected to win tonight. It's going to be tough tomorrow and the day after. |
We didn't really string anything together and put pressure on him. He got real comfortable, settled in. |