Byrd shows defensive skills in Weevils’ 5-2 victory

BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

KANNAPOLIS— Florida has 25 Marlins, but it’s unlikely Piedmont manager Greg Legg would trade his one Marlon for all of them

Piedmont left fielder Marlon Byrd has simply put up the best all-around season in franchise history. Since Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium opened its doors in 1995, there have been occasional players who could run like Byrd and hit like Byrd and field like Byrd, but there has never been anyone who does all those things as well as Byrd.

Even in a routine 5-2 Piedmont win on Saturday night in which Byrd went 0-for-4 at the plate, he showed his value with two terrific defensive plays.

Further validation of Byrd’s value came this week when Philadelphia named him winner of a prestigious Paul Owens Award, as the entire organization’s position player of the year.

“It feels great, but I worked hard this year,” said Byrd. “I plan to keep working hard. There are still holes in my game.”

Pitchers just don’t seem to be able to find them.

“Marlon’s deserving of this award,” said Piedmont manager Greg Legg. “He’s been fun to watch this year and fun to coach this year. He loves to play the game and he has fantastic character. He’s had just a great, great year.”

Byrd’s “great, great year” has included a South Atlantic League-leading 57 extra-base hits, 17 of them homers. He’s first in the leaguein RBIs (93), third in runs (102) and has to be in the top 10 in autographs signed.

Throw in the fact that the 225-pound Byrd’s powerful chest and arms are mounted on the legs of a running back. He’s stolen 40 bases in 44 attempts this season.

“Marlon’s beaten people with his legs, his arm, his glove and his bat,” said Legg. “I think he goes out there next year and does it again. And the next year. And two years from now he’s knocking on the door of the big leagues lettin’ people know he’s ready for a job.”

Hard as it is to believe, Byrd was not also named SALMVP this week. Instead, Hickory catcher J.R. House and Charleston (S.C.) outfielder Josh Hamilton, a pair of celebrated teenagers, shared top honors.

Legg didn’t complain, explaining that it had to hurt Byrd’s candidacy that the Weevils are 87-46 and steamrolling the SAL.

Around the league, the feeling was that the Weevils would have been formidable even without Byrd.

“On the other hand,” offered Legg, “people wondered where would Charleston have been without Hamilton or where would Hickory be without House. And yeah, those guys are real good players and they put up good numbers.

“It was a fair vote,” Legg continued. “I got to vote, I just couldn’t vote for my own player. For my money, the MVP should be Marlon. But the thinking from the league was that we had a room full of potential MVPs.”

Legg was talking about slugging first baseman Nate Espy, who leads the league in homers (21) and center fielder/catalyst Jay Sitzman, who is second in the league in batting average.

So Byrd settles for joining Espy, Sitzman, Legg and hitting coach Jerry Martin on the league’s postseason all-star team. He’ll receive the Owens Award on Sept. 26 at Veterans Stadium.

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The Weevils’ latest win was relatively peaceful.

Ryan Madson (14-5) won for the sixth time since July 30, although he wasn’t as sharp as he can be and yielded a two-run homer in the sixth to Eric Guyton.

“I can’t explain it, but it all feels good,” said Madson. “They hit line drives all over the place tonight. I just got the breaks. Things just worked out.”

Lefty Mark Outlaw came in for Madson with two on in the eighth and retired the side on one pitch.

Legg felt that pitch was proof that this was simply the Weevils’ night, as so many nights have been this amazing summer.

“Outlaw came in in the eighth and didn’t make a good pitch. He got a changeup high. Luckily, their guy (Brad Wright) hit it hard, but beat it right into the ground.”

The Weevils got another break in the sixth when a two-on, one-out liner went right to second baseman Ambiorix Reyes for an easy double play.

Hot-hitting Jorge Padilla slammed a two-out, two-run homer in the fourth with Espy aboard to back Madson.

Buzz Hannahan added two hits, including a run-scoring single in the fifth that made it 5-0. He also stole two bases.

“We played a good ballgame,” summed up Legg. “Good defense, good pitching and we ran the bases hard. Capital City came in here and played us tough. We just played a little better.”

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NOTES:Madson, who fanned six, hasn’t lost since July 19. ... The Weevils have pounded 209 more hits than their foes this season. ... Byrd will turn 23 on Aug. 30. “I’ll celebrate by playing ball,” he said with a laugh. Piedmont will play at Cape Fear that night. ... The Weevils have won five of their last six contests. ... Piedmont is off today and heads to Cape Fear on Monday. ... The last regular-season opportunity for fans to see Byrd and his teammates will be in a series with Delmarva Sept. 1-4. Playoffs start on the 5th.