Byrd lost forty pounds?

It seems like he'll be in shape and I think he has the right mindset about eventually (he hopes) giving up center field. I also like what he says about day games.

4 months ago dcox38 60 comments 0 recs |

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Read that earlier today.

Hopefully he gains an extra step or two in the outfield this year.

by Dcr18 on Jan 19, 2012 6:20 PM CST reply actions

I actually saw Marlon working out last week.

My trainer had to point him out because I didn’t recognize him. He definitely looks a lot trimmer.

Hopefully he gets off to a good start and then the Cubs can deal him in June / July for a decent prospect.

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by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Jan 19, 2012 6:29 PM CST reply actions

I remember reading somewhere that he was close to 300lbs

At one point in his career… I think when he was rehabbing a knee injury.

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by SackMan on Jan 19, 2012 6:50 PM CST reply actions

I believe that was his college days.

by ubercubsfan on Jan 19, 2012 8:05 PM CST up reply actions

He talked about how overweight he was at GA Tech

In that article about him getting compartment syndrome

by subtle on Jan 19, 2012 10:01 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I think the key to the article is:

" Byrd is in the last year of his 3 year contract" I like Marlon and hope he has a good year, but this is a contract year and he knows it.

by Grockcubs on Jan 19, 2012 7:25 PM CST reply actions

And his last chance for a decent (by MLB standards) paycheck.

I hope he has a good year.

by jpeters407 on Jan 19, 2012 9:00 PM CST up reply actions

I like that guy

I know he’s not popular on this board, but he’s one of my favorite current Cubs. I haven’t seen many players in baseball who play that hard every day.

by tomas21 on Jan 19, 2012 8:26 PM CST reply actions

I do to.

If everyone would bust his tail like Byrd does it would add up for more wins. I just wish he would have better plate discipline.

by Grockcubs on Jan 19, 2012 9:25 PM CST up reply actions

Mrs. Zeke and I like him too.

Great attitude, effort and by all accounts, teammate.

Comeback Player of the Year?

We can hope!

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by Zeke on Jan 20, 2012 4:56 AM CST up reply actions

I'd have no problem with Marlon ...

if he would occasionally take a pitch.

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by elgato on Jan 20, 2012 7:33 AM CST up reply actions

I've always had and will continue to have great respect for Marlon Byrd.

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by daver on Jan 20, 2012 4:10 PM CST up reply actions

I acknowledge that Byrd will probably be a trade chip by June

But man, this guy shows leadership, and I wouldn’t mind keeping him around a few more years.

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by WindisBlowingOut! on Jan 19, 2012 8:41 PM CST reply actions

Byrd is...

or was, I suppose, a BIG dude. But all that muscle never produced much power which I thought was weird.

by kanderber on Jan 19, 2012 8:54 PM CST reply actions

he doesn't use his legs when he swings

Just wee-un.

by jesus christos on Jan 19, 2012 8:55 PM CST up reply actions

SNAC

Did Byrd stop buying supplements from Victor Conte’s Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning?

by DrCrawdad on Jan 19, 2012 10:51 PM CST reply actions

get a life

by tomas21 on Jan 20, 2012 8:03 AM CST up reply actions

its a fair question.

So i you can give you can take it.

by epsilon on Jan 20, 2012 9:35 AM CST up reply actions

As Byrd has never been under suspicion or tested positive for any kind of illegal drug...

I don’t see how it has any relevance except for him to act like an idiot.

by bdlugz on Jan 20, 2012 10:29 AM CST up reply actions

his question was not is byrd still buying steroids from conte...

nope, it was did byrd stop buying supplements….

which i, repeat, is a fair question.

So i you can give you can take it.

by epsilon on Jan 20, 2012 12:12 PM CST up reply actions

Disagree

Merely by mentioning Conte he’s implying Byrd has done something illegal. Typical M.O.

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by BeerCub on Jan 20, 2012 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

whatever was implied

i just don think its cool that Byrd is getting his supplements from a known PED pusher. its kinda shady…

So i you can give you can take it.

by epsilon on Jan 20, 2012 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

That's fine, but he doesn't need to imply he's doing steroids... because he isn't.

by bdlugz on Jan 20, 2012 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

Just checking

You do know Byrd has continued to use a nutrition and supplement plan personally designed by Conte for the last few years, right?

by cubzfan on Jan 20, 2012 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

Yes... and he is still clean with no reason to assume he's ever used an illegal substance...

by bdlugz on Jan 20, 2012 6:54 PM CST up reply actions

No reason? Are you serious?

Marlon Byrd, who associates himself publicly, who has his signed picture on the photo gallery of a convicted felon, is someone who you can’t joke about in regards to said relationship?

Marlon Byrd has not tested positive for PED. Ok. But let’s not make Byrd above a silly joke. I’m not assailing the morals of Mother Teresa.

The guy’s a professional athlete in a sport that basically allowed and encouraged PED usage for years and Byrd comes out and endorses the man and company who played a huge role in MLB’s PED scandal. Give me a break with the “he is still clean with no reason to assume he’s ever used an illegal substance…”

I don’t assume Byrd has used PED. As far as I know Byrd has not tested positive. But Byrd is not above a silly joke about his good friend, convicted felon, Victor Conte.

by DrCrawdad on Jan 20, 2012 11:32 PM CST up reply actions

Aren't jokes meant to be funny rather than stupid?

I don’t have a problem with jokes, I have an issue with idiocy.

by bdlugz on Jan 21, 2012 3:37 PM CST up reply actions

Lighten up.

And if you want to get into personal attacks and insults, idiocy? Break out the mirror.

by DrCrawdad on Jan 21, 2012 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

Not a Byrd hater.

From all I’ve heard about the Byrd and from what I’ve heard in interviews with Marlon, he seems like a great guy. I wish Marlon Byrd a great year for the Cubs in 2012.

That said, Byrd’s chosen a very public relationship with Victor Conte, the guy who founded BALCO, the guy who developed the banned steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), the guy who plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute steroids. Check out the roster of pictures on Conte’s “SNAC” website. If you were a professional athlete would you want your picture on that webpage, along with so many caught PED users?

I am not accusing Byrd of being a PED user. I hope that Byrd never tests positive for PED. And as I said, I hope he does great for the Cubs this year. But when you associate yourself with a scumbag like Victor Conte, neither Byrd nor his fans should take offense by a joke about the association.

by DrCrawdad on Jan 20, 2012 11:21 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Here’s the link.

by DrCrawdad on Jan 20, 2012 11:22 PM CST up reply actions

I do think it's odd

… that Byrd would publicly associate himself with someone like Conte.

That said, as you point out, Byrd has never been accused of steroid use. Guilt by association really isn’t fair.

(And yes, I know you were making a joke.)

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by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2012 7:35 AM CST up reply actions

And a joke...

… an obvious one too.

by DrCrawdad on Jan 20, 2012 11:00 PM CST up reply actions

SNAC?

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 20, 2012 4:14 PM CST up reply actions

Yes

It’s the acronym that Victor Conte uses for his “supplement” company.

by DrCrawdad on Jan 20, 2012 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

i prefer the pudding snack pack

Just wee-un.

by jesus christos on Jan 21, 2012 12:51 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Well, I'll be the first to mention this I guess, I haven't seen it anywhere else yet.

second baseman Darwin Barney, who put on 18 pounds of muscle.

Umm, nice! If he can develop more gap power to keep outfielders honest and provide some XBHs he could actually become worth a starting spot. I like the kid plenty, love how he plays the game smart, but he needs more value with the bat this year, and looks like he took notes.

by CubFan90 on Jan 19, 2012 11:11 PM CST reply actions

Campana

Put on 12. Lots of extreme weight changes for 3.5 months. All seem to be going in the right direction.

by Rammy 4 MVP on Jan 20, 2012 7:32 AM CST up reply actions

I'd rather Barney ...

focus on becoming more patient at the plate. This has a bad 2009 Ryan Theriot feel to it.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 20, 2012 7:34 AM CST up reply actions

I'm with you.

Not sure about Campana either. Although I’ve read it hasn’t, I’m a little concerned it could slow him down.

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by katie casey on Jan 20, 2012 7:39 AM CST up reply actions

I asked him about it

He said it hasn’t and they were making sure along the way that it wasn’t. Said his legs are stronger which will help. Well see though.

by Rammy 4 MVP on Jan 20, 2012 7:42 AM CST up reply actions

Well I was kind of operating under the hope all of our guys would learn to take more pitches.

Soto and LaHair were the only ones that showed any real patience at the plate last year. I’d like to think everyone will be working on that. Just saying the extra weight can only help someone like Barney that wasn’t actually useful because of his speed, he could stand to gain some good weight.

by CubFan90 on Jan 20, 2012 8:06 AM CST up reply actions

No, I understand.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 20, 2012 8:56 AM CST up reply actions

Two words:

Contract year.

But, still, good for Marlon.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 20, 2012 7:34 AM CST reply actions

Saw him at woodys winter warmup and talked to him a bit.

I could tell he definitely lost some weight, but didnt look as drastic as Soto 2 years ago.

by Rammy 4 MVP on Jan 20, 2012 7:40 AM CST up reply actions

Noise

Weight gan or loss is hardly predictive of more success the following year. About one-third of players with significant weight changes improve, one-third regress and of course the other third stays the same. It’s luck of the draw quite frankly as to whether Byrd will be better or worse than he’s been. His career numbers say he is what he is with 2009 as a clear zenith.

As for Campana, having the lowest hard-contact percentage in MLB in 2010 (minimum of 80 AB’s), the less he’s seen in the Cubs lineup, the better. Credit to Patrick Davitt for the metric.

by krummy12 on Jan 20, 2012 9:13 AM CST reply actions

by MPH73 on Jan 20, 2012 11:48 AM CST reply actions

Those English Bookmakers

will get you every time.

by Josh Timmers on Jan 20, 2012 12:20 PM CST reply actions

More on this topic from Grant Brisbee at Baseball Nation

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by Al Yellon on Jan 20, 2012 2:10 PM CST reply actions

Interesting

I also question Darwin Barney and 18 pounds of muscle.

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by rlpete on Jan 21, 2012 8:53 AM CST up reply actions

Me too.

I’m skeptical of Byrd as well. I’m finding it just too much of a coincidence that both he and his wife were both suffering from the same thing and didn’t know about it.

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by katie casey on Jan 21, 2012 10:04 AM CST up reply actions