THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504300183
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
One Tides' starting pitcher has been the hardest to hit by far this season, and his name's not Bill Pulsipher. Righthander Paul Byrd has allowed 19 hits in 28 innings, which translates into a .190 opponents batting average.
Pulsipher's .236 is third behind Dave Telgheder's .232.
Byrd, a 24-year-old from Louisville, Ky., turned up in Norfolk as the least-heralded of the five starters. Which is only natural, in that Byrd was the least known of the three pitchers who came over from the Cleveland Indians in the winter trade for outfielder Jeromy Burnitz.
Dave Mlicki and Jerry DiPoto are with the Mets. But Byrd apparently has the goods, and the pedigree, to join them in due time. Byrd was an All-American at Louisiana State, which he helped win the NCAA championship as a junior in 1991.
Now that he's made some minor changes with the help of pitching coach Bob Apodaca, Byrd thinks his ceiling has risen.
``I've made some small adjustments that have made a big difference,'' Byrd said. ``I think I've become a much better pitcher after coming over here. Call it polish, call it what you want. But small adjustments, I believe, are going to turn into big results down the road.''
Byrd bounced between Charlotte and Double-A Canton/Akron the last two seasons in an organization filled with pitching prospects. He has worked to complement his moving fastball with a tighter, but more controllable curveball and a fast-improving changeup, according to Apodaca.
``I think the batting average will go up, but I think it will be a very, very good batting average against,'' Apodaca said. ``I don't think it's going to stay .190 because it's been pitching weather and not hitting weather right now. But I think it's still going to be significantly low.''
Apodaca said Byrd's penchant to work and his serious approach bode particularly well for him.
``He's going to get the maximum out of his potential,'' Apodaca said. ``If everybody could say they're getting the maximum out of their potential, whatever field it is, boy, they've lived a full life.''
NOTEWORTHY: Since the Tides sent eight players to Double-A Binghamton, that club has gone 6-1, following a 2-9 start. The six position players sent down are all hitting above .300. Jeff Barry is off to a .440 start there and Frank Jacobs hit three home runs in four games. ... Also in Binghamton, righthander Jason Isringhausen has 51 strikeouts, and only 15 hits allowed, in 31 innings. Las Vegas. by CNB