D-Backs' Byrnes working through hitting slump

Eric Byrnes had only to look to the Diamondbacks' last two opponents to put his last two weeks in perspective.

Friend and former UCLA teammate Chase Utley of Philadelphia is in a groove.

The Cubs' Alfonso Soriano is not, hitting .191 until a four-hit game Saturday.

The yin and yang helps soothe Byrnes' attitude during a recent offensive grind, which was triggered by spring training hamstring issues that eventually forced him out of the lineup for several games.

Coming off a career year and a $30 million contract extension, Byrnes has six hits in his last 54 at-bats, dropping his batting average from .306 on April 19, when he doubled for the ninth time in 14 games, to .219.

"It's funny, because on every team we play, you see a guy on the other side ... look at Soriano," Byrnes said.

"Turnarounds can happen, and he'll have a great year like he always does. Those things happen, especially in my career."

Byrnes makes an up-and-down motion with his right hand.

"When I get hot, I can be as good as almost anyone in baseball," he said.

"Now, it's pretty bad. But the good thing is, we've been winning. I think when I finally do get hot I can help this team."

Even the elements seemed to conspire against Byrnes on Sunday in Chicago, when a ball that appeared to be hit well enough to be a home run to left field was knocked down by an 18 mph wind and hit the wall for a double.

The D-Backs are not concerned, noting Byrnes' history.

"It's not the first time he struggled. It's not the last time. He'll be able to work his way through it," said manager Bob Melvin, who has hit Byrnes first, second, third and fourth to find a fit.

In 2007, Byrnes became the 11th player in major league history to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases with 21 and 50 while hitting .286 with 83 RBIs and 103 runs, playing his way to an August contract extension.

The man college scouts knew as "max effort" for his unrelenting drive and determination may have prepared too hard for an encore.

His hamstring woes finally forced him to miss three starts in six games the last week of April.

Byrnes still arrives at the park five or six hours before game time to get treatment, and he appears to be nearing full health.

"I haven't worked this hard in my career to get on the field. Now my legs are getting better and hopefully the results are going to follow," Byrnes said.

Byrnes has spent extra time in the batting cage and going over video with hitting coach Rick Schu.

"Part of my fault sometimes is I care too much," Byrnes said.

"I'll overanalyze things. Think too much about different things. What to do at the plate, things like that.

"You don't want to make the game too complicated. 'See the ball, hit the ball.' It's really not that difficult, but when it's not clicking ... that makes it tough.

"I'm not worried about whether or not it is going to come back. I would like to see it come back sooner rather than later."