12/22/07 Eric Byrnes On The Nationals...Sorry, That's "On" As In "Talking About"

by Patrick Reddington on Dec 23, 2007 1:03 AM EST in News

Arizona outfielder Eric Byrnes has his own radio show on XM radio, and I believe it's called "the Hustle" with Eric Byrnes, but rather unbelieveably in this day and age, there is now show site anywhere to be found, so I'm relying on my memory to recount both the name of the show and response Byrnes provided to a Baltimore area caller who wanted to know what Byrnsie...

http://www.byrnesie.com/ssp/news/...

...thought about the caller's neighbor to the south...Byrnes thinks(paraphrasing of course, since I was driving when I heard this...):

-The Nationals are a couple years away.
-The Nationals need to show they are winners to attract
big name free agents, at least finish .500 for a few years.
-Before resigning in AZ, Byrnes considered DC as a free
agent destination.
-Right now they'd have to overpay for stars because DC is
not an attractive place to play.
-New stadium, Manny Acta are positives.
-Byrnes has a high opinion of Acta, with whom he has
crossed paths professionally...

Washington baseball fans had better get used to hearing that phrase, "...the Nationals are just 'a few years away'", because it's going to be printed ad nauseam in every MLB '08 preview, magazine, newspaper and blogger's article or analysis of the team's chances in the upcoming campaign for the next few months, starting here...

As for attracting free agents, I'd agree that the Nationals are not attractive right now, probably "a few years away" from finishing higher than 3rd in the NL East, but the Nationals are in good shape with the new stadium, (once everyone sees how it plays), and a young, well-regarded Manager in Manny Acta, to attract free agents to compliment what will be a young, experienced, competitive(i.e. "playoff) team in the near future...

I think Byrnsie is spot on about overpaying for free agents. That's what the Nationals would have had to do to attract Andruw Jones or Aaron Rowand, both of whom are probably too old to be of much use "in a few years" when the Nationals are legit, or bona fide...

Eric Byrnes already has his second career lined up when he retires from play, the show's good, not great, (he actually gave himself a C+ for the day's show)...very insider-ish though with Byrnes still playing and all...

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Comments

The Hustle?

How can't this radio show have a streaming internet version? I'd love to hear Byrnes on a lot of baseball topics.

"The Hustle?" Do they use the music? :)

ScoutingBook: Top Baseball Prospects, Closer Watch, more!

by scoutingbook on Dec 23, 2007 3:02 AM EST reply actions

eric byrnes

isn't it, '...too old.' anyway, ,manny acta is a 'few years' away from being considered anything. he is not frank r. will 'byrnsie' have a different view of free agency when his time to resign comes up. keep watching.

nik

by Mr Sparkay on Dec 23, 2007 5:29 AM EST reply actions

I doubt that Kasten really cares

about free agents. By definition, everyone overpays for free agents, and it's nearly impossible to rebuild through free agency. Player development and trades are the best way to build a team, with an occasional free agent to fill in where you cannot develop players.

And who really cares what Eric Byrnes thinks....I wouldn't want him for 1/2 of what the D-backs are paying him.

by vaclipper on Dec 23, 2007 8:15 AM EST reply actions

The Hustle...

I don't know about a streaming version, scoutingbook. I searched for a show site for 15 minutes before I decided if it was taking 15 minutes to find he didn't deserve a link...

It's actually a funny show, yesterday Byrnes had callers call in with suggestions for guests, and then Byrnes checked to see if he had their phone #'s...talked to Troy Tulowitzki...when I was listening...

thanks for the edit Mr. Sparks...

Manny Acta is solid, he complained early on about not having much to do while the Nationals got hammered early, but they were competitive most of the season and I don't remember too many situations where he blew a game...by comparison, I think my Brother Scout, Braves fan and Source For All Things Baseball had Braves' Manager Bobby Cox's total at like 10 last season...he's very critical though...

There were no free agents, outside of a few pitchers that I seriously thought were a good fit, though I think Andruw is a good fit anywhere...but 2 yrs at $36.2 for Andruw or 5-years $60 million for Rowand made no sense for DC...

I like the drafting, the prospects and the overall direction of the new Administration...I have just been waiting three decades to cheer for a winner...the Milledge trade looks good for DC now, but what will Milledge do? Is he a .300 hitter? .270/25/80? What do you expect from a peak-Milledge...

3-years at around $10 million, you wouldn't take Byrnsie for that...this woman thinks he's worth every penny...

http://byrnesblog.mlblogs.com/

-aka..."Down the Left Field Line: Life, Baseball & Eric Byrnes"

by Patrick Reddington on Dec 23, 2007 12:25 PM EST reply actions