Friday, May 14, 2004

Where are they now - Marylon Byrd

Ok, former GT player Marlon Byrd has gone over the edge. He is now wearing a Duke Bluedevil cap I guess under his regular hat and it has helped him break his slump. Personally, I'd just assume go 0-150. But oh well. -

"Duke and Byrd: Look no further than the top of Marlon Byrd's dome for the source of his recent success.

Adorning his shaved melon is a blue cap for the Duke Blue Devils, worn at the request of closer Billy Wagner, who thought it would change the slugging outfielder's luck.

The act alone is a punishable offense, considering that Byrd grew up in Atlanta and attended Georgia Tech. But Byrd hit a leadoff homer on his first day after wearing it -- the May 5 game against the Cardinals -- and has worn it every day since.

He's batting .333 (8-for-24) in the six games he's been wearing it, with five RBIs and five runs scored.

"Speaks for itself," said Wagner. "He's a changed man."

Byrd said it's all about the wins right now and doesn't mind the ribbing he will likely take once the word gets out. He scoffs at Kevin Millwood's notion that Byrd will hate Georgia Tech by the end of the season.

"No way, but it's working right now, so I'm going with it," said Byrd. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."