Paul Byrd Quotations

Mentally, we could have fallen apart, but this team doesn't do that. We could have had the attitude that we're snake-bit, but we didn't.

One of the reasons I signed here was because of the way this team played on defense. Jason set the tone with some good catches.

I got us through six, ... But the bottom line is, our bullpen came in and picked me up when, reasonably, they could have been tired.

I didn't watch any video, didn't see any Warren Spahn video. That's just the way it came about.

I didn't want to be down 1-0, but our team did a great job of scoring for me. Moyer usually does real well against us, so I think it's a good sign that we scored four off him. That's a credit to our offence. We can score in many different ways. I was really excited for Vlade. He's really fun to watch. You don't want to miss any of his at-bats.

I don't care what spot I pitch in the rotation. I can help anywhere they put me.

I felt good. I was hitting my spots and I felt like they weren't squaring the ball up on me and I didn't feel like they were comfortable up there. But the last inning it all changed.

I can't do anything different based on the importance of the game. I just have to pitch my game. I've said that all along, even though it's playoffs, you're going to get 85, 86, 87 (miles-per-hour) on the corners and I'm not going to strike too many people out.

I can't say enough about our bullpen, ... I'm a control pitcher, I don't rely on velocity. It wasn't a big deal to me. I got away with a few pitches.

I can't say enough about our bullpen coming in and picking me up. I'm a control pitcher, so I don't rely on great velocity anyway. It wasn't a big deal for me. I was able to move the ball around a little bit and got away with a few pitches.

I can't really do anything different based on the importance of the game, ... Even though it's the playoffs, you're going to get 85, 86, 87 (mph) on the corners. I'm not going to strike too many people out, not going to give up too many runs. I just keep us in the game and battle. I need some runs. I need hitting. That's just the kind of pitcher I am.

I enjoy pitching the big games, I enjoy the pressure,

If the guys are gonna' score 10 or 11 runs again I definitely won't stop them. Some days they will have to pick me up and some days I will have to pick them up.

He is an MVP with the bat, he's got a great arm, he's humble in the locker room and he brings food for everybody in the clubhouse. I've never played with anybody like that. He's an enjoyable teammate.

He gives me the signal from the dugout through the catcher. There's times when you throw over there on your own and times, ... when you don't have a choice.

When I put that (jersey) on (Friday), I think my whole family will be excited for me.

He's a big-game pitcher and a big competition pitcher. He pitches well against everybody, and not just the smaller lineups. He had some guys at the plate tonight with a lot of RBIs, and he made them look uncomfortable.

He's a talented player, a fun player to watch. You don't want to miss any of his at-bats.

How would you compare your style to Randy Johnson's?

It came down to a few plays of execution. We were able to execute. It's not a situation where they failed. We just executed well.

I threw OK. I would have liked to get more innings, but our offense showed what it can do.

I thought they were hot and I could have done a better job. I threw too many breaking balls and it cost me.

I think we feed off that. These games count. That (emotion) is the way it should be.

It gets you fired up. I know they don't do it on purpose, but it brings you to another level.

I was able to locate the ball; that is the key for me. If I can locate the ball, I can get anybody out. If I throw the ball over the middle, I get nobody out.

I was just glad that Mike had given me the ball. In Game 1, they had a lot of confidence in me. Even when I struggled in New York he had a lot of confidence in me even though I was losing velocity. So I felt honored that they trusted me and gave me the ball. That doesn't change even though the situation is different.

Just amazing. I've never seen anyone score that quickly from second.

I was glad to get out there. It was emotional for me, just putting on the uniform and being able to take the field at Jacobs Field.

It feels good to go out and give a good performance, ... Our team did a good job scoring for me.

It doesn't matter what spot I pitch in. I can help at the top or in the middle. I'm not an ego guy. What does matter is getting the ball with a chance to win. You've got that in Cleveland.

I think I figured it out, ... All teams that start with T give me trouble. Tampa, Toronto, Texas. But in all honesty, it's the way it goes. The balls I threw on the corners they hit and the ones over the middle they crushed. It's just one of those nights.

I'm honored, excited and glad they're giving me the ball. I'm ready to go.

My change-up didn't show up until the fourth or fifth inning, ... I hung up a couple of breaking balls in that (fourth) one inning.

We've made two red-eye flights and guys haven't really complained,

We could have fallen apart and felt like everyone was against us, but we didn't do that. We could have had the attitude that we're snakebit, but we didn't.

When I signed here, Mark and I talked about how I'd finally be able to pitch for him and the Indians. Someone said, 'He was drafted by Cleveland 15 years ago, and he's finally going to get a chance to suit up for that team.' I kind of got the chills when I read that.

We were excited for (Wedge). Guys were talking about it.

We've had a couple of red-eye flights going into tonight, guys haven't really complained. I don't know if we're delirious or what. Everybody has had a great attitude.

We've had a couple of redeye flights and guys haven't really complained. I don't know if we're delirious or what,

I sense momentum. I sense chemistry. I sense things coming together. I'm really excited about the way the team is playing and the way we're picking each other up.

I sense momentum, I sense chemistry, I sense things coming together for us in all phases of the game. It's really good timing. I'm really excited with the way our team's playing right now and the way we're picking each other up.

I wanted to give us seven or eight innings. We've made two red-eye flights over the last couple of days and guys really haven't complained. I don't know if we're delirious or not, but it's one of the reasons I like this team. They've got character.

I wanted to give our team at least seven, eight innings,

I wanted to be with a winner. That was more important than getting a bigger contract.

tell us where to play and we'll be there.

See, I needed that. I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't get my first strikeout until the fourth or fifth inning. I need guys to make plays for me out there.

The mood was up in the locker room, which was nice. We've had a couple of red-eye flights. I think we were a little delirious, so we were kind of happy. I was glad to go out there and give us a good performance. I wanted to pitch a lot of innings.

That's not us. If you take things for granted in this game, you're done.

That's not something that's gonna happen a lot with me. I pride myself on making you earn first base.

That's me, contact all over the place. Ground balls, fly balls, that's my game. More times than not, I'll take that. I'll definitely take that with the defense I have behind me here.

You're only going to get games like that a few times a year. I appreciate the way my teammates picked me up.

They picked me up, ... I can't say anything more than that.

It wasn't until the fifth inning that I struck somebody out. So the balls were going to be flying around so it was important the way the guys gave effort and made plays.

It was emotional for me putting on this uniform at Jacobs Field. To finally be able to do that meant a lot. I didn't pitch my best today, but everyone was great to me. I promise I'll give them a lot more to cheer about down the road.

It was a very frustrating day in that way. My team would pick me up and I would go out and walk somebody. I can't say enough about how we played today.

It was a tremendous play. I thought for sure it was out of the park, then I saw that he had a line on it and I thought he was going to play it off the wall. I really didn't think he would get to it.

It's only four games, we can't cruise. What we didn't want to do is press. And so far, we haven't pressed.

It's tough when your team comes out and scores like that for you, and then you give up a walk and a home run. It's frustrating. But I can't say enough about how we played. That kind of run support is just phenomenal.

That?s one of the reasons I signed here. I really like our defense.

It was a good year to be a free agent as a pitcher. There was a lot of teams seeking pitching. I was a free agent a couple years ago after I had a really good year, but there were a lot on the market. This year there wasn't very many out there, so everybody's stock rose.

It was phenomenal to get that type of run support. You only get that two or three times a year, so it was nice that they were able to pick me up. I appreciated that.

It was one of those days where you wake up and the room is dark, and you say where am I? But it beats sitting home on the couch watching.

It's weird pitching in Cleveland with a Cleveland uniform on.

It's very gratifying to me, ... My career hasn't gone exactly like I would like it to with the (Tommy John) surgery (in 2003), so it's gratifying to be on this team.

I wanted to respect the inside, but it went over the middle and he crushed it.

It took me a long time. I was pressing a little too hard, but tonight I just tried to go out there and relax. It feels good to go out there and give a good performance. My last couple have been poor, and it was weighing on me. It's no fun to be in a pennant race and not giving the team quality starts, so I was glad to turn it around tonight.

It took me a long time, ... I was pressing a little too hard, but tonight I just tried to go out there and relax. It feels good to go out there and give a good performance. My last couple have been poor, and it was weighing on me. It's no fun to be in a pennant race and not giving the team quality starts, so I was glad to turn it around tonight.

It was good to see Vladdy get his 300th,

They hit some balls hard but they were right at people. We're similar teams. It's a good match-up.

The thing I see is that we're getting the hits now. Before, maybe if a guy crushed a line drive, it was hit right at somebody for an out. Now the hits are starting to fall in and we're stringing them together.

I'm really excited about the way my teammates picked me up tonight. The bullpen and our offense overcame my poor start and I'll be able to sleep tonight because of that.

I left a lot of guaranteed money on the table. But my family said, 'How much money is enough?' They are paying me a lot in Cleveland. I want to win and that was more important than the larger contract in Kansas City.

I'm a control pitcher, so I don't rely on great velocity anyway. It wasn't a big deal for me.

I'm not a guy who gets behind in the count a lot. That's what's been so frustrating, falling behind and walking guys. But I'm not going to throw 10 years away because I walked some guys.

I needed to go out there and give us a good start. It was just bad timing. I shoulder the loss.

I'm the Rodney Dangerfield of parents. Last year, Colby said, 'Why do they want your autograph? You're only average.

In my mind, you can only keep Vladimir Guerrero down so long.

I just wanted to throw strikes and give a good performance. If I get beat, I want it to be throwing strikes, not walking people. After the Shelton home run, I was able to stop overthrowing and get my control settled.

I love the pressure and I love that every game counts. I've been on last-place teams and first-place teams, and this is what it's all about. Coming down to the wire, every pitch means something and you can't take anything for granted. It's very exciting. I think all of our guys have really turned it up a notch.

I love opening day. You've got a packed house and it's a playoff-type atmosphere. I'd love to see the fans come out for more.

I love the feel of it, the big wall. It has its own unique feel. I like seeing some of the skyline in the background.

I know he doesn't do that on purpose, but it fires you up and it gets you back on focus.

I haven't seen a game like that, ever. It's disappointing he didn't make them earn it. It's unfortunate the way the last few innings turned. You don't want to take any credit away from them, but it's a gift.

I have to give credit to Tampa Bay, they did a great job of hitting the ball. But the bottom line is, our offense overcame my poor start and I'll be able to sleep tonight because of that.

I just tried to throw strikes. If I get beat, I want them to beat me. I don't want to walk guys like I did in my first two outings.

I just hopped the fence one day in spring training with the Royals and just started working on different deliveries,

I pitched OK. I didn't pitch exceptionally well, but I don't think I pitched five-runs poorly.

I pitched OK. I didn't pitch exceptionally well, but I didn't think I pitched five runs poorly. The bottom line is we won the game. I can't say enough about how we played as a team. One of the reasons I came here was the way our team plays, and you saw that (yesterday).

His call, ... And it's not like he steals signs or anything. He used to catch, so he's got the best instincts of any manager in those situations, him or (Braves manager) Bobby Cox, anyway.

I don't know if we were delirious out there or what. We've had a real good attitude about our travel situation.

I don't know if we're delirious, or what. Guys haven't really complained.

I didn't have my best stuff; I struggled with my mechanics early. It feels good to go out and have a good performance. My last couple were poor. It doesn't feel good to go out in a pennant race and not pitch well.

I came here because I believe this organization has a chance to win now and on into the future.

I definitely felt some fatigue in my last start in Chicago, but I'm hoping that was due to a lack of rest, ... I personally don't throw that hard. I'm not a max-effort pitcher, so I expect my arm to rebound well and be able to go late into the game.

I changed because most of the Democrats left us. We need folk like him who aren't afraid to come talk to us poor folks here.

I feel like because of my performance, we were never really in it.

I don't want to press, and I don't want to take it too lightly. It's frustrating, and it's not acceptable.

You can't really worry about the A's. You can only worry about your team today. That's the attitude we're taking.

You want to give your team a good start and put balls on the corners. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes I give up a lot of runs.

And I don't like the White Sox, so that helps.