Paul told the guys Keuchel will be a great fit for the Braves locker room.
“He’s a great fit.” Byrd said “It’s not official he’s got to pass a physical, everyone is very excited about him, Snitker just talked about how important it is for a young pitcher to see how a Cy young award winner go about his business.”
When asked if Keuchel can help the younger pitchers on staff.
“Absolutely.” Byrd said “We saw Folty when he lost a mph or two change his body language, Keuchel doesn’t hit but I think 89 and he can teach these guys how to get guys out when you don’t have your best stuff.”
Byrd said Gausman is a good pitching going through a rough patch.
“I think he’s a very good Major league pitcher who is in a tough place.” Byrd said “We saw him come over last year and have success, but this year he is off. When he’s throwing the ball down it’s up, so for me it’s a location issue with him and that has to be fixed, if he turns this around as well then you will have a good rotation.”
Paul told the guys Luke Jackson has closer stuff.
“I do like Luke Jackson.” Byrd said “Would I like to have Kimbrel, yes but you can’t have everything, most teams have a weakness, the first thing you have to do is make it thru the season, the second thing you have to do is get hot at the right time. I think Luke Jackson has good stuff, closer stuff he’s had a rough stretch but most of the year he’s been dominant.”
Byrd talked about Austin Riley’s magic.
“The stuff he is doing up here I don’t see 30 year olds in their prime do. He is very poised at the plate, he knows himself and is doing things I’ve rarely seen, I don’t want to compare him to the greats. There’s a different sound off his bat, when you hear that sound it’s magical, it’s beautiful, Bo Jackson had that sound off his bat when I played with him in Kansas City.”