SURPRISE, Ariz. – When it comes to defensive mistakes, Texas Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd has a near photographic memory.

He can't tell you much about the good plays he made roving the outfield for the Rangers last season. And he made a bunch of them. But he has no trouble rattling off what he thought were glaring errors in judgment.

"Two sun balls in particular still bother me, one in Anaheim and one in Seattle," Byrd said. "I lost those balls, and it cost us. The sun is no excuse. You have to make the play. I don't like it, because I try to be a perfectionist in the field. I don't think you can be perfect at the plate, but you can be perfect in the field."

Byrd noticed last season that he wasn't as smooth as he wants to be going to his left for a fly ball. He's more comfortable racing after balls to his right, probably, he said, because that's also how the bases are run.

"I'm not as steady when I break left," Byrd said. "I make the play, but it could be better."

It's why Byrd, playing right field in Saturday's 9-5 loss to San Diego, chased after balls that were clearly foul down the line. He wanted to practice turning his hips and taking four or five steps as if to make the play to his left.

"That's how Marlon is," first base and outfield coach Gary Pettis said. "He's quick to be the first one to jump in line, and he lends advice to the younger players. He likes to do it right. If he doesn't make a perfect throw or make a perfect play, he's not happy with it. He takes pride in what he does."

Byrd desperately wants to show that last season, the best of his career, is only the beginning. He batted .307 with 10 homers and 70 RBIs while making only three errors in 103 starts playing all three outfield spots.

All of that happened after Byrd was called up in late May. He did the math in spring training and knew where he stood.

"I had a feeling I was the 26th man," Byrd said.

Byrd worked with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo in January and through spring training and found a swing that worked. He started the season in Triple-A and immediately made an impression.

"From the first day on, he was mad because he didn't make the club," Oklahoma manager Bobby Jones said. "From the get-go, it was, 'I'm going to show them I belong there.' He did that."

Byrd kept hitting after his arrival in Arlington, getting off to a hot start. He cooled off as the season progressed, but consistently produced runs and played solid defense. Byrd batted .297 as a cleanup hitter, providing protection for Michael Young, who hit third much of the season.

"He showed he could hit top starters, top setup men and top closers, so that was a sign that he was a complete player," Jaramillo said. "He used the whole field and had leadership and energy. You couldn't ask for more."

Byrd's name was circulated in trade discussions with the Chicago Cubs during the off-season. General manager Jon Daniels said there are no current trade discussions involving Byrd. He added that Byrd's value is high on the field and in the clubhouse.

"I want to know that I did everything I could to help this team win," Byrd said. "That means taking care off all the details in my game. I have the confidence that I can play even better this season. That's what I'm going to do."