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A Byrd in the hand is worth plenty

The Red Sox seem to do a lot of smart things, and while claiming Paul Byrd seemed fairly insignificant and slightly extravagant at the time, the claim and trade for him may turn out to be a brilliant move that could save their season. He's only 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA so far for Boston, but he may be needed more than anyone figured.

Josh Beckett's elbow is a concern, as is Tim Wakefield's shoulder, and Clay Buchholz's struggles were significant enough that he was sent to Class AA. So while Boston appeared to outsiders to have excess pitching, its decision makers knew better. The soft-tossing Byrd has come to Boston and filled in admirably, raising the question of whether the Yankees might have been wise to claim Byrd to either 1) block Boston, or 2) use Byrd themselves.

Right now three-fifths of the Yankee rotation is comprised of Carl Pavano, Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner. Byrd would almost certainly have helped.

Around the Majors

• While the Yankees should have been Byrd watchers, I can't really blame the Dodgers for passing on Adam Dunn and allowing the Diamondbacks to claim him and make a trade for him. The Dodgers had understandable fears the Reds might stick L.A. with Dunn, a chance the Dodgers didn't want to take considering their glut of outfielders. While Cincinnati probably wouldn't have done that, the Dodgers still didn't want to risk it.

• The Mets are getting major contributions from their farm system after some suggested they traded their best pieces to the Twins. Daniel Murphy, a very patient hitter, has been especially impressive. And Nick Evans and Argenis Reyes have helped, as well.

• Luis Castillo took the rare step of telling the Mets he needed a few more days after the team said he was being activated. When he is eventually activated, it's expected he'll platoon with Damion Easley, who's been excellent in his absence.

• John Maine is a very tough kid. But there's reason to be concerned he won't be able to help after a bone spur was found in his shoulder (and his velocity fell from the mid 90s to the 88-to-90 range). Of course, Maine is just the type to want to keep pitching.

• Aaron Crow, who rejected the Nats' $3.3-million offer to sign with the Forth Worth Cats, tells Eric SanInocencio of Baseball Digest Daily Live that he would prefer if Washington picked someone else next year. Crow said after he was picked, he "didn't hear back from (GM Jim Bowden) for the rest of the month.''

• I think Cardinals star Albert Pujols may be better than any of us ever thought, if that's possible.

• Baltimore's Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff are red hot, but despite both reportedly clearing waivers, there appears to be no trade action on them. Mora is hitting .440 this month with six homers and 30 RBIs. Huff has raised his average from .239 on June 8 to .301, and he leads the AL with 69 extra-base hits.

• Rays manager Joe Maddon benched B.J. Upton for failing to hustle recently. But apparently, Upton isn't cured of that malady yet. His nonchalance enabled A.J. Pierzynski to tag from first to second on a long flyball (but not too long) in the White Sox's winning rally on Sunday.

• Pierzynski gets credit again for faking out umpire Doug Eddings and pretending that Willy Aybar interfered with Pierzynski in a rundown even though replays showed Pierzynski stuck out his elbow to initiate contact. Pierzynski also faked out Eddings in the ALCS three years ago, reaching first when Eddings mistakenly called that Angels catcher Josh Paul didn't catch a third strike.

• Rocco Baldelli's two home runs since his comeback is the Rays' most recent great news in a season of great news. There was concern in spring whether his infirmity would enable him to play again.

• Bill Chuck points out that if Tom Glavine doesn't pitch again, his career will be bookended by identical seasons of 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA, his stats in both 1987 and 2008. Which he humorously points out doesn't show much improvement. Glavine, opted for shoulder and elbow surgery, signaling he intends to play next year.

• As of today, Phillies closer Brad Lidge is my dark-horse candidate for National League MVP.

• And in the A.L., Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez, who got his 50th save and is well on his way to breaking Bobby Thigpen's record of 57, isn't such a bad choice, either.