Cubs, Byrd looking for more consistency

Marlon Byrd quickly found a few ways into the hearts of Cubs fans last year:

• He hit a 3-run homer in his first at-bat of the regular season (while making sure to run quickly around the bases, demonstrating a knack for “playing the game right”).

• He made several diving catches in the outfield to gain Gold Glove consideration.

• He was named to the National League all-star team and did or said all the right things for the entire season.

Byrd was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreary 2010 Cubs season.

He established career highs in games played (152), leading the Cubs in that category as well as in at-bats, runs and hits.

By his own admission, Byrd would like to see a little more staying power.

“Improve on my second-half numbers,” Byrd said at the Cubs convention and later repeated at spring training. “I was definitely not happy with those.”

Let's have center field take center stage as we look at the issues with Byrd as well as the future.

Splitsville:Byrd didn't need a stats sheet to know his first half was better than his second last year. Before his all-star appearance, Byrd had a hitting line of .317/.365/.380 with 9 of the 12 homers he hit for the season.

After the break, the line took a dive to .261/.321/.361.

Byrd will turn 34 during the season, and although he's in great shape it's possible the Cubs may give him some more rest this year.

Speaking of splits, Byrd also hit much better against lefties than he did against righties. He went .357/.390/.526 against left-handed pitching compared with .267/.328/.389 against right-handers.

Adjustments: When the Cubs signed Byrd to a three-year, $15 million contract before the 2010 seasons, one of the red flags was that he was moving from Texas to Chicago.

Although the parks play about even offensively, the heat and humidity make the Rangers' ballpark a launching pad while the cold winds can hurt power hitters in Chicago.

Sure enough, Byrd's home run total dropped from 20 in 2009 to 12 last year while his RBI declined from 89 to 66.

Byrd's on-base percentage increased from .329 in 2009 to .346 last year. His groundball rate moved up from 40.5 percent in 2009 to 52.2 percent last year, while the flyball rated dropped from 40.7 to 30.4.

In other words, maybe he wasn't trying to tee it high and watch it fly at Wrigley on days when the weather wasn't permitting.

The future:Byrd's contract is backloaded, with $5.5 million due this year and $6.5 million coming in 2012.

The Cubs also are taking a look this spring at top prospect Brett Jackson, their first-round pick in the 2009 draft.

It's unlikely Jackson can do what outfielder Tyler Colvin did last year and make the Cubs roster out of spring training, but a good start in the minors could force the issue.

Of course, much will depend on whether the Cubs see Jackson as a center fielder or as a left fielder. He hit a combined 13 homers, 36 doubles and 14 triples last year between Class A Daytona and Class AA Tennessee.

The Cubs see Jackson, 22, as a potential five-tool prospect. A college player at Cal, he's plenty polished and doesn't seem lacking on confidence.

Byrd is a strong clubhouse presence. Whether the Cubs keep him or try to trade him will depend on where they are in the standings come summer and how fast they see Jackson getting to Chicago.

The entire situation figures to be well worth watching.