Byrd back, or is he?

The Las Vegas Double Downs welcomed back staff ace, and former #1 overall pick, Francis Byrd, who had been on the DL with a stress fracture in his pitching elbow.

Francis Bird Las Vegas Double Downs Age: 27 B/T: L/L Born: Huntington Beach, CA Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Byrd, a 20-game winner and All-Star last season, has made just 6 starts (2-4) on the season. He's thrown well twice against LA and Nashville since his return, but was bombed by Sioux Falls in between. While team sources deny it, Windy City Musings is reporting that Byrd's injury was the result, not of pitching, but of his voracious craps habit. Pit bosses from unnamed Vegas casinos report that ever since Byrd signed a 4 year, $24.4 dollar deal prior to the season, he's been a regular at high-roller rooms up and down the strip, at times spending 6 hours at the table, and often rolling 300+ times. The photo below shows Byrd. Look closely and you'll notice that he's using his right hand while his left appears to be in a cast.

Recent reports have Bryd changing back to his left (pitching) arm after a run of bad luck cost him nearly $1.5 million over a holiday weekend. If those reports are true, the Double Downs, locked in a heated pennant chase for the first time in recent memory, might be in more trouble than anyone knows.

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