A Byrd of a Different Feather for Indians

Paul Byrd started Thursday against the White Sox, so he won’t face his former teammates in this series, which may be for the best.

“I would probably overthrow trying to impress everybody,” Byrd said.

It has been that kind of season for Byrd, who spurned a last-minute offer from the Angels to sign a two-year, $14.25-million contract with the Indians.

Byrd, who went 12-11 with a 3.74 earned-run average for the Angels last season, is 4-4 with a 5.43 ERA in 11 games, though he seems to have recovered from his rocky start. After going 3-2 with an 8.03 ERA in April, Byrd went 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in May.

“The first three weeks were disastrous,” Byrd said. “I struggled with my control. I was not throwing quality strikes and was walking guys. I was not myself. But I’ve done better the last month and a half.”

Byrd wanted to remain an Angel, but General Manager Bill Stoneman did not boost the original one-year, $5-million offer he made in early November to two years until Dec. 1.

And Byrd was given only a few hours to accept or reject because the team had made another offer to Hector Carrasco, who would commit to the Angels only if they would make him a starter.

Byrd, feeling pressured, turned down the Angels and eventually signed with Cleveland. Carrasco became an Angel but lost his rotation spot when the team signed Jeff Weaver in mid-February.

“The whole thing was a little unusual,” Byrd said, “but I guess that’s the way it goes.”

The transition from Anaheim, where the average attendance is 41,492 a game, to Cleveland, where the Indians average 24,153 fans, has been tough.

“I really enjoy my teammates, but I really miss Southern California,” Byrd said. “I made some good friends there, and I miss the fans.”

Especially the ones who dressed in feathers and bird beaks and called themselves the “Byrd’s Nest.” There have been no such sightings at Jacobs Field.

“They got lost in the migration,” Byrd said. “I guess my ERA is too high.”

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After hitting .409 with two home runs and six runs batted in during his first five games, first baseman Kendry Morales returned to earth, going hitless in 15 at-bats before his sixth-inning single Friday night. Pitchers seemed to have success against Morales by throwing hard stuff inside and soft stuff away.

“It’s a game of adjustments,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “The reports in the big leagues become more specific. As the league sees if you can handle stuff, you have to make adjustments, to learn pitchers and hitting backgrounds. It’s a lot to absorb.”

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The Angels wore out Indians catcher Tim Laker on Friday night, stealing six bases, including three by Chone Figgins, one shy of the team record.... Vladimir Guerrero’s first-inning homer was his first against Cleveland. He has now homered against every big league club except the Angels.... Kelvim Escobar’s three-year, $28.5-million contract extension includes a $1-million bonus if he finishes among the top three Cy Young Award vote-getters.