Carlos Silva vs Paul Byrd II
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The last time these two pitchers faced each other was on August 6th, in Minneapolis at the Metrodome. The end result was a 4-0 devastating Twins loss, that earned Cleveland a series split.
Carlos Silva had an excellent start, pitching seven innings, allowing two runs, on six hits, fanning six Indian batters, while allotting only one walk. The quality start finished by seeing Cleveland's starter Paul Byrd four hit the Twins offense. This was just another great start by Carlos that went for naught. In the month of August, Carlos has pitched 28 innings, allowing five runs on twenty-one hits, giving up three home runs, walking two batters, while striking out seventeen. Carlos has been pitching very well since the all star break, as stated by me many times on this site.
Paul Byrd has been crushing the Twins offense this season. Byrd is 3-0 with a 3.13 era in three starts. Byrd has that 1960's pitching wind up, swinging both arms at his side, then putting the ball in the glove, as he enters a more current wind up. Byrd has a season record of 12-5 with a 4.61 era. Hopefully the Twins offense can break through Paul Byrd, defeating him for the first time this season.
Silva on the other hand, has turned himself around from last season. With about six to seven more starts left this season, Carlos is on his way to pitching a career high in innings, only needing forty more to pass his 203 innings pitched mark in 2004. He has cut his home run allotment in half from last season, and is still seven home runs lower than his lowest home run season in 2004 at twenty-three. Carlos is working on lowering his era more this season, but is having his second best era season, sitting right now at 4.10. Silva's best era season came in 2005 at 3.44.
Carlos is also looking at getting a contract extension for next season, stating he wants to play in Minnesota, and will give a slight discount to stay here. Carlos' wife is a Minnesota native, and in an article from August 11, Carlos and his wife are looking at purchasing Twin Cities property to raise their family.
The article also quoted Silva's comments about playing in Minnesota: "This is the team I feel comfortable with. My friends are here. But sometimes it's not in our hands. This is my priority, and [the Twins] know that."As for the potential discount, Silva said, "We have a saying [in Venezuela] that the rich people are already complete. We don't have to get the most money."
Hopefully Carlos Silva and the Minnesota Twins can come to an agreement. Silva would be a great addition to the starting rotation of really young arms, and possibly a great bargaining chip for re-signing ace Johan Santana. Twins reporter Kelly Thesier has also stated: "One thing that could make the Twins more eager to re-sign Silva is his close relationship with Johan Santana." "There is a sense around the organization that re-signing Silva could entice Santana to stick around Minnesota." I will post the entire article separately for all to read.
GOOD LUCK CARLOS
&
KEEP PITCHING WELL
For more Twins updates, blogs, pitching match ups and series previews please go to:
http://carlossilvasupport.blogspot.com/
