Eric Byrnes of the Menlo Park Rec League
by Englishmajor on May 13, 2010 6:22 AM PDT
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PrintAs mentioned elsewhere, the onetime fan favorite and amateur security guard, having been released by the Mariners, is now playing for the Dutch Goose of the Menlo Park Community Recreation League. Some coverage of his first game with them last night is here and here and video of one of his two home runs is here. For those who have an interest, the league plays on Wednesday nights at the Frank Sequiera Jr. Field at Nealon Park, 800 Middle Avenue in Menlo Park. Schedule is here; the season runs through June 30 and the playoffs are July 7. I overheard some of the left field bleacher stalwarts planning an expedition, although the precise location of the slightly grubby bedsheet that read ERIC BYRNES FAN CLUB is unknown.
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Hmm...
Next time I make it out to the Bay, I might go out and take pics/video and write something up. Thanks for posting this.
"Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." - Satchel Paige
I think you should
The article ought to be titled “How To Play the Outfield Incorrectly” … I think every Little League coach in the Bay Area should take his/her team out to Menlo Park and watch the circus that is Eric Byrnes in the OF. “Ok kids, now watch the guy in left and don’t do anything he does during the game ….”
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
I, for one, think this is absolutely awesome/hilarious/fantastic.
Byrnesie is clearly a dude who doesn’t take himself too seriously. A lot of people like to bag on him because, well, I guess he wasn’t THAT good in the bigs, he was kind of a bad fielder, etc.
He was fun to watch though, and even more fun to listen to on the radio when he would guest host or call in to KHTK.
People can say what they want, but he played in the big leagues for 10 years and he’s in his early 30s and retired and gets to do whatever the hell he wants now.
Good for him.
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by mikev on May 13, 2010 8:16 AM PDT reply actions 9 recs
MLB.com trade rumors mentions that Byrnes earned about $39 million in his MLB career
not bad…and he’s in his mid-30’s…
Find me ONE person on AN who would turn down almost 40 million dollars and retirement at age 34.
Impossible.
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I would take 4 million and retirement at age 34!
What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.
Exactly
Byrnes is living the dream.
He has enough money to easily live the rest of his life in comfort (granted he hasn’t already pissed much of it away). He can do whatever he wants, and he still loves playing ball, so why not join a rec softball league? i think that is so cool, I mean where else can literally anyone watch an ex Major Leaguer just be one of the guys.
Next time I make it back up north I’m gonna make a trip out to watch him play…
AN: Where you will be an A's fan or Dallas Braden will show you the repercussions of your actions.
by stranahanahan on May 13, 2010 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Actually, I wouldn't take 40million if it meant I had to retire at age 34
But then I’m one of those weird people who likes to work and who isn’t that into money.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
You can retire at 34 and do other things though
Retirement doesn’t have to mean sitting on your ass forever.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on May 13, 2010 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions
With 40 million
Retirement would mean you can go work with kids and/or do tons of charity work you like to do and not have to worry making the ends meet.
Ask me about my squirrel.
Anyone ever tell you
“looks like someone has a case of the Mondays!”?
Exactly. I wish I could "retire" really young, never have to worry about money
But still be able to do things that a lot of people would call work.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on May 14, 2010 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Wasn't $30m of that in his last three years too?
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
Yeah. He put in his indentured servitude time and got a 3/30 extension while he was with Arizona, if I'm not mistaken.
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Yeah, if only my life could suck so bad.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
I like Byrnes ...
I bag on him more in response to those who — for some unknown, unbelievable reason — considered him a good player because he hustled and “tried hard.”
But yeah, he seems like a great guy … although I think it’s kinda weak he would play softball for what looks to be a pretty “lower division” team. If he’s gonna play, it ought to be for an upper division, national-tournament type team. Kinda like one of us playing T-ball.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
He's having fun
What’s wrong with that?
"Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." - Satchel Paige
It would kinda be like one of us signing up for little league
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on May 13, 2010 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, little league is probably better than T-ball
but you get my point.
There’s nothing terribly “wrong” with it, YonYonson … I’m not gonna lose any sleep over it. But still … I don’t know … he’s a major league caliber baseball player playing softball with a bunch of guys who aren’t. Not against the law by any means …
I know I would be pissed if I were playing against him, and his team went crazy every time he hit a home run … first of all, he ought to hit a home run just about every time up — secondly, it would be like you hitting a home run against a team of 10 year olds, and having all of AN meet you at the plate in order to mob you. Lol — it’s just kinda like, “Really?”
Like I said above, if he’s gonna play softball, it ought to at least be with a competitive team that travels … some of those guys are really good. At the very least, his team ought to keep the celebrating to a minimum.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
Maybe he doesn't want to travel?
Maybe he’s just playing ball with some buddies?
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No, I get that ... again, it isn't the end of the world,
I just really think it’s like you or I playing ball with a bunch of kids … one thing to have fun and enjoy running around. Another thing to high-five each other and get all stoked because we just hit a triple off some 9 year old. That’s all I’m saying. (I watched the video of his home run … he was fine, just thought his teammates were a little over the top.)
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
Looked like typical rec softball to me.
Ask me about my squirrel.
homers are a lot more rare in beer league softball than one might think
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They really aren't
The leagues I’ve played in, with fences, have them fairly often.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on May 13, 2010 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Most of the leagues I play in use limited flight balls and have a huge banned bat list.
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Ah, that'll do it. We don't use the restricted flight balls
And while there are banned bats, I’ve never seen a team challenge someone’s bat.
In the co-ed league I’m in, the right-center/right field fences are waaay short. There’s about a homer a game at that park.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on May 14, 2010 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
It's not so much that you can challenge a bat, but the leagues have lists of disallowed bats.
There are separate ASA and USSSA lists.
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Ohh, ok. I'm not sure the leagues I've been in have an additional list
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on May 14, 2010 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Meh
I wouldn’t be bothered by playing against him. It’s not quite as easy to hit a home run each time considering a) it depends on the pitches you’re given and you have to provide all the power and leverage for it AND b) how drunk you are when you take those swings.
Ask me about my squirrel.
Three things ...
it is “typical rec softball” — that’s exactly my point. I think it’s perfectly fine for Byrnes to play rec softball as well … what I’m saying is I don’t think it’s entirely cool to be playing rec softball — fun, yes, but still trying to win — and then have a guy who was playing professional baseball two weeks ago leave the yard and have his team act like they won Game 7 of the World Series.
“Homers are a lot more rare in beer league softball” … depends on what level of beer league we’re discussing. I’ve been playing competitive softball for close to 25 years … and no, I don’t think it’s life or death — I don’t take it THAT seriously, in other words … but I’ve been around the sport for awhile. Let me just tell you it would be shameful for a major-league baseball player not to leave the yard at least … at least … every other at-bat. That would be laughable, actually.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
I believe it is more about
high school friendships than anything else.
I’m still friends with guys I went to 4th, 5th, 6th grade, all through high school, even college togethr. Not very many people moved in or out of our neighborhoods as we grew up. I’m pretty certain Byrnes grew up the same way.
When you grow up in that environment, you want the companionship of old high school buddies, that you knew since you were ten…if you can do it. Even when they get rich or famous, you still relate as you did for all those years ago. He’s having a “blast” because it’s his buddies from long ago, all together on a team. Shit, it could be shuffleboard…they’d still “have a blast”.
I recently got together with two guys I knew since the 7th grade, through high school and afterwards, but had not seen in 30+ years. It was a “blast”.
Byrnes doesn’t need any level of softball other than with his buddies.
"I'm not going to comment on the cacophonous generation of ancillary noise". Ken Korach on the Tampa Bay indoor dome.
by One won lost won on May 13, 2010 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I can see what you're saying ... good point.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
I'm thinking you're taking a little too seriously yourself then
I mean, yeah, he should be the best player on the field and I’m sure his teammates are excited about that fact. Let them be. It’s supposed to be for fun. And if you were playing in that league and you didn’t like, there are plenty of other leagues to join, go find one that fits your needs. But if what they’re doing bugs you like this, that’s kind of on you.
Ask me about my squirrel.
Damn guys, c'mon
how many times do I have to say it’s not that big a deal?? I’ve said it over and over again.
Just giving another perspective, that’s all … you’re acting like I’m really coming down hard on him. I’m not.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
FWIW, I get where you're coming from
I mean, Byrnes is actually still drawing a major-league paycheck. It does seem a little out of balance.
That being said, one thing about softball and baseball is that you can’t just give the ball to your ringer every play like you can in football or basketball. He gets his turn, but so do the other guys on the team. So his presence doesn’t ruin the game overall, even if it does skew the final score.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Seriously - walk him.
Plus I imagine he’d still be a liability in the outfield, so that evens it up some.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
by OldhamA on May 14, 2010 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
QOTM!
"Hi, I'm A's catcher and stolen base machine Landon Powell. You might ask me what I eat to keep up this marvelous physique. Why, friends, of course I eat 'Dannycakes' brand frozen pastry products. See folks, only 'Dannycakes' brand are made with the finest in off-brand bleached white flour, and enriched with two vitamins and minerals. Plus, every box contains a NEAT PRIZE!"
by Gaijin_Suketto on May 14, 2010 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Not so much on him, but on the others on the team
I just keep seeing you going “They shouldn’t be so excited.” They’re playing softball with someone who’s been playing MLB for a number of years. Why wouldn’t they be excited?
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Well, being excited in the "this is really fun playing ball with a pro"
sense of the word, I have no problem with.
Being excited in the “WOOOOOO! Eric Byrnes just went yard! YES! Our team rocks!!!!!” sense of the word I find a little weak. Like I said, it’s like me giving you a high-five and chest bump after you hit for the cycle against the kid in the wheelchair.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
Was that his team, or the fans in the crowd?
by LoneStranger on May 14, 2010 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I get what you're saying
If there was someone in our soccerball league who was so much better than everyone else and he could just win games all the time, it would take away the competative edge of the league a bit. I mean, we are rubbish, but that doesn’t mean we want to win just as much.
That said, eh. He looks like he’s having fun, and it wasn’t as if he was giving it the Big I Am or anything
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
The ninth fastest thirty year old in San Francisco
Reminds me of a story I heard about a professional footballer playing 5 a side.
At the time the player (Paul Gallagher) was playing professionally for a Premier League side. He’s not playing professionally for a Championship side.
Needless to say he scored any time he wanted – he slacked off until his team actually needed a goal. I doubt his employers would be happy to hear he was playing 5 a side football outside of ‘office hours’ though, but that’s another story.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
I play indoor 3 or 4 nights a week.
2 of the teams are very high comp and have professionals on them. It’s fun.
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Dude, this guy was playing the Prem.
I’m a decent player – never had the skill to make it, but I understand the game really well and I’m athletic, so I played to a higher level than I probably should have. I’ve played with an academy reject – one who was released from Bolton Wanderers (and they have a weak academy) at 16. He was RIDICULOUSLY good.
Nobody I know would get near a Premier League footballer. It’d be embarrassing for all involved – seriously, what does anyone get out of it?
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
In my rec league
you were allowed one “over the fence” HR per player per game. Every over the fence HR after that counted as an out. In a non-competitive engineering league, we tried to discourage ringers.
In mine it was two homers and everything after that was a single
There were hardly ever any homers as it is. That year we had one game where another guy and I went back-to-back, which was cool.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I'll play 5 on 5 wiffleball over softball any day.
Mostly because I’m a pitcher.
One of my nicknames is ""Young Moyer,"
because I throw total slop. Then again, I’m 2-1 and the only pitcher in our “league” with an ERA under 4.
"Hi, I'm A's catcher and stolen base machine Landon Powell. You might ask me what I eat to keep up this marvelous physique. Why, friends, of course I eat 'Dannycakes' brand frozen pastry products. See folks, only 'Dannycakes' brand are made with the finest in off-brand bleached white flour, and enriched with two vitamins and minerals. Plus, every box contains a NEAT PRIZE!"
by Gaijin_Suketto on May 14, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
I love wiffleball!
I would never play softball because I’m such a wimp, but wiffleball fascinates me. Something about how you can throw/swing as hard as you can but the ball still barely moves is aesthetically pleasing to me.
In my brief stay in Benicia when I was 20 years old, a friend persuaded me to play some one-on-one wiffleball and I loved it.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
If you think the ball doesn't move, you haven't played official wiffleball.
I can hit an 85 mph fastball (or could a few years ago when I still played baseball). I could NOT hit a guy who knows how to throw a wiffleball. It comes hard, you’re swinging a plastic yellow toothpick, and the damn ball moves in ways you’d never expect.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on May 14, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
By "move" I meant even if you hit it hard
it doesn’t go very fast. But yeah, it has lots of motion. That’s what’s cool.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I want to give this whole baseball/softball thing a try.
Sounds like fun.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
We should get an AN pick-up game going.
by LoneStranger on May 15, 2010 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
I vote yes on this
"Since other people actually read these threads, though, probably best that your particular brand of wrongness not go completely unchallenged." - PT
by designatedforassignment on May 16, 2010 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions
If I were the opposing pitcher, I'd bean him.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
Reminds me of this:
Carl: Way to go, Homer!
Lenny: You’re number one, Homer!
Grimes: But it, it was contest for children!
Lenny: Yeah. And Homer beat their brains out!
[audience cheers wildly]
Is this green yet?
100% Athletics, 100% Baseball. 2009 Athletics, 40% Baseball.
by fruitattack on May 13, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Byrnes is rad that is all.
Wuertz was scratched from a minor league game on Wednesday, but bounced back quickly on Thursday, throwing mostly fastballs and sliders, although he did mix in three sliders. -Rotoworld
by ElQuesoCapitan on May 14, 2010 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow, that's about a mile or so from my house.
And the Dutch Goose is walking distance. I’ll have to check this out some time.
I was heartened to read this
Put me in the category of Byrnes fans who knew he had limitations, but who also genuinely enjoyed his nigh-reckless demeanor. His explanations of the whole Seattle debacle clear up a few things, which is nice. I was a little disappointed to see him give up pro ball so easily, though it’s certainly his prerogative. I just thought he might try to stick around as a lefty-mashing pinch hitter.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
There was a Dutch Goose here in Moscow, Idaho a number of years back...
The lady who ran it was I think the daughter of the guy who ran the original back in MP. She even did their apparently famous deviled eggs. More importantly, she hosted a $1 draught pint Thursday.
They were terrible for many years,
but then they changed the name and started calling them just “eggs”, and now they’re great.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
by iglew on May 14, 2010 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
You live in Moscow?
I lived in Moscow.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
I moved from the Bay Area to Pullman in '96
and then moved across to Moscow in ’98 and have been here since. Nice enough place. Quiet.
Yeah, I went to the U of I for undergrad
It snows 9 months out of the year, but I liked it all the same. There’s something nice about a town where you can get your bar-hopping done on foot.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
I was hoping Eric would be wearing one of those little league jerseys with the sponsor on it.
The closest he could come to his dream of being an SF Giant could be something like the San Fernando Dry Cleaning Giant Stain Removers (or sumpn like that).
Green and Gold Lantern Corps
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