THIS TIME, IT'S FOR REAL BYRNES EMERGIN WITH DIAMONDBACKS.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writer

Regardless of what the name on the back of the uniform and on the rosters read, that wasn't the real Eric Byrnes playing for the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles last season. At least that's what he'd like you to believe.

``That wasn't me,'' said the former UCLA standout.

When Byrnes was traded from the Oakland A's near the middle of last season, the worst offensive showing of his career ensued. He has been busy since trying to prove he is more like the player who set career highs in nearly every offensive category in 2004 rather than the one who hit less than .200 after the All-Star break last season and finished in a 4-for-55 skid.

``I had a lot to prove,'' said Byrnes, 30, who had spent his entire professional career in the Oakland organization until being traded twice last July. ``I had a rough second half last year and I just wanted to come out here and pretty much prove that the second half of last year was an aberration.''

As the anniversary of his first trade nears, Byrnes seems to be on the right track in getting his message across. He entered this weekend's series against Colorado batting .294 with 32 RBIs and tied for the team lead with 12 home runs. He already has surpassed his season total of a year ago in home runs and stolen bases, and entered the weekend just 10 hits and eight RBIs shy of last year's total.

He was coming off a series against the Dodgers in which he had six hits, including threedoubles, in three games, giving him 13 hits in a span of eight games.

``He's been a nice fit,'' Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. ``He's a guy who brings a lot to the table for us.''

Byrnes' all-out play and abundance of energy make him a fan favorite and kept several teams interested in him despite his offensive struggles last year. He signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks in December.

``I needed to find a team that believed in me half as much as I believed in myself,'' Byrnes said. ``I never doubted myself. But at the same time, I needed to go out and prove Arizona right for giving me the opportunity to come in here and play center field. I truly believe the second half last year was an aberration.

``It was tough, I played on three different teams last year. I never really got settled in. At the same time, I don't want to make any excuses. The bottom line is I just didn't play very well. I didn't hit very well. I wanted to show I'm a lot better player than I showed during that period. I've always been a guy that had a lot of hot and cold streaks. But the bottom line is the cold time lasted the entire second half of last season.''

Just a year after hitting .283 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs in his second full season in the majors, Byrnes finished last season hitting a combined .226 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs.

Instead of making his usual trip to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball, Byrnes spent the offseason at home in the Bay Area for the first time to work on his hitting, making a few mechanical changes.

``I think that's it's helped out a lot so far,'' said Byrnes, who also enjoyed getting to work on his swing with his childhood idol Will Clark, who was a guest hitting instructor with the Diamondbacks during the spring.

Byrnes started slow this season, batting .237 in April, but hit .364 in May with a .717 slugging percentage. He had a 15-game hitting streak May 14-June 1, including a stretch in which he homered in three consecutive games.

``Things are going good,'' Byrnes said. ``I like the team, there's some great guys here. I'm happy to be contributing and hopefully showing that the second half last year wasn't who I am.''

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

UCLA alumnus Eric Byrnes is hitting .294 with 12 homers and 32 RBIs with Arizona.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) LOCALS IN THE MAJORS

(2) LOCALS IN THE MINORS