D-Backs Notes: Byrnes shaves, vows new 'stache

In two minutes, Eric Byrnes' 17-day mustache was history. Not that it is gone for good. "I'm declaring 2008 the year of the mustache," said Byrnes, who wore the growth during his 14-game hitting streak but shaved immediately after going 0-for-4 Sunday.

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"It was a good run. You guys have not seen the last of the 'stache. I'm going with the 'stache all year. I actually was starting to like it. It was starting to grow on me."

Byrnes was 21-for-62 (.339) with eight doubles during his streak, which began April 4 in Colorado. It is the fourth-longest streak of his career.

Byrnes extended it as the eighth batter in a six-run eighth inning Saturday, but was denied a chance Sunday when Augie Ojeda was called out at first base to end the game on his grounder to short. Replays showed Ojeda was safe.

"It would have been nice to get that last at-bat. Questionable call at first base," Byrnes said.

Others were not as generous.

"We love that a human is there" making the calls. "You'd wish he'd get it right every time, though," one player said.

"Numbers are such a big deal in this game. That cost Augie a hit and Byrnes a chance to bat."

JOSH BYRNES PROPS

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who traded Randy Johnson to the D-Backs two winters ago, told the New York Post he believes D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes is doing a "fantastic job."

"What I respect most about him is that he has a grasp on what I call the tortoise and hare," Cashman said in a Post column Sunday.

"He is willing to be patient like a tortoise and develop his system to excellence. But when he sees unique opportunity, he jumps out like a hare as he did with Oakland for (Dan) Haren. His ultimate goal is a championship, and when he sees an opportunity, he acts."

Byrnes and Cashman grew up in Washington, D.C., and were high school rivals of a sort. Cashman was a senior at Georgetown Prep when Byrnes was a freshman at St. Albans.

A ROTATION TO ENVY

Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Micah Owings are a combined 10-0 with a 1.96 ERA entering the Giants series today.

"I'm envious. One is 4-0 (Webb) and two are 3-0 and I'm the weak link," said Randy Johnson, whose ERA is 3.38.

"It's fun watching the young kids pitch, especially the one I've been around for a while, in Brandon. Micah is coming into his own. Dan, I've pitched against him, so I know what he's capable of doing. Top to bottom, it's pretty good."

Owings is to start today with Webb scheduled Tuesday.

SHORT HOPS

Chris Young was a late scratch because of the upper respiratory infection that worked its way through the clubhouse. It was his second nonstart and the first game in which he did not play at all. Alex Romero made his first start of the season in center field.

Miguel Montero (finger) could join the D-Backs as early as their next road trip that begins Wednesday in Los Angeles, manager Bob Melvin said. Montero has been expanding his workload for the Triple-A Sidewinders in recent days, and Melvin said he would like Montero to catch two nine-inning games before he is activated.