Comments on: Saving B.J. Ryan http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/ Covering the MLB with a focus on the Toronto Blue Jays Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:15:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24535 TheSunkenZealot Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:44:08 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24535 for you,if overbay leads off vs righties, who leads off vs. left-handed pitching? MW: Probably Hill. for you,if overbay leads off vs righties, who leads off vs. left-handed pitching?

MW: Probably Hill.

]]> By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24392 TheSunkenZealot Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:33:37 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24392 overbay does have an excellent ability to get on base, but then why wouldnt you put the 50 HR, .400 OPS, 350 lbs. batter lead-off? because you need speed at the lead-off position and a guy like overbay who hits doubles should be used to bring people home, not to get on base. There's plenty of other guys (Hill, Scutaro, Rios) who can get on base about the same as Overbay, but hit less extra-base hits, and they have more speed. MW: No, because you don't want the 50-homer guy guaranteed at least one at-bat a game with no one on base. None of those other guys come close to getting on base about the same as Overbay against right-handers. overbay does have an excellent ability to get on base, but then why wouldnt you put the 50 HR, .400 OPS, 350 lbs. batter lead-off? because you need speed at the lead-off position and a guy like overbay who hits doubles should be used to bring people home, not to get on base.
There’s plenty of other guys (Hill, Scutaro, Rios) who can get on base about the same as Overbay, but hit less extra-base hits, and they have more speed.

MW: No, because you don’t want the 50-homer guy guaranteed at least one at-bat a game with no one on base. None of those other guys come close to getting on base about the same as Overbay against right-handers.

]]> By: isabella reyes http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24327 isabella reyes Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:44:08 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24327 MW: Don’t you think they had “a word with him to make sure it doesn’t happen again” after the B.J. Ryan thing? As for Rios, he has made a rather significant contribution to the team winning over the last three years, just not making the playoffs and, of course, that’s all on him. What BJ Ryan thing? I go away a lot in the summer and I must have missed that. As for Rios, of course the team isn't all on him. But his contract is. And maybe that's the problem, since he hasn't played as well since he got it. Look, I said above I have no problem with him if he plays well. But last year he had too many mental lapses and I'm hoping that doesn't happen again this year. It's possible that another part of the problem is the team's expectation of him as a power hitter. I honestly don't think that's what he is. Yes, he's got the height and the potential, but apart from that one wonder season, he's a singles/doubles/occasional triple hitter. He's really fast. I wish they'd let him hit lead-off. I think you'd see a terrific season out of him once the power pressure came off. But they don't seem to want to do that. If they could lead with Rios and have Wells 3rd and Lind 4th with Rolen after Lind and then Overbay and Barajas, Scutaro would move way down in the lineup but would be a mini-lead-off for Snider who has real power to get over. That's probably a dumb suggestion, which you will ridicule for hours. But Rios batting lead-off makes a ton of sense to me. And I think he'd get more than the occasional home run at that position. In other news, it was nice to see BJ get the save. MW: The Ryan thing with the lying about his elbow and everything. We've talked a lot here about Rios leading off, see above, for example. MW: Don’t you think they had “a word with him to make sure it doesn’t happen again” after the B.J. Ryan thing? As for Rios, he has made a rather significant contribution to the team winning over the last three years, just not making the playoffs and, of course, that’s all on him.

What BJ Ryan thing? I go away a lot in the summer and I must have missed that.

As for Rios, of course the team isn’t all on him. But his contract is. And maybe that’s the problem, since he hasn’t played as well since he got it.

Look, I said above I have no problem with him if he plays well. But last year he had too many mental lapses and I’m hoping that doesn’t happen again this year. It’s possible that another part of the problem is the team’s expectation of him as a power hitter. I honestly don’t think that’s what he is. Yes, he’s got the height and the potential, but apart from that one wonder season, he’s a singles/doubles/occasional triple hitter. He’s really fast. I wish they’d let him hit lead-off. I think you’d see a terrific season out of him once the power pressure came off. But they don’t seem to want to do that. If they could lead with Rios and have Wells 3rd and Lind 4th with Rolen after Lind and then Overbay and Barajas, Scutaro would move way down in the lineup but would be a mini-lead-off for Snider who has real power to get over. That’s probably a dumb suggestion, which you will ridicule for hours. But Rios batting lead-off makes a ton of sense to me. And I think he’d get more than the occasional home run at that position.

In other news, it was nice to see BJ get the save.

MW: The Ryan thing with the lying about his elbow and everything. We’ve talked a lot here about Rios leading off, see above, for example.

]]> By: isabella reyes http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24285 isabella reyes Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:15:21 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24285 MW: And you’re being awfully harsh on a guy who has been to two all-star games I don't think I'm being awfully harsh on a guy that is earning $5.9M this year, $9+M next year and then a few years of $12M. I'm expecting a little bit more on the club's huge investment than a couple of All Star appearances, I"m expecting a contribution to the team winning. Tonight he has hit well, but so far all singles. I'm not entirely convinced he's a power hitter, even though the club certainly is. He's had one good season of power hitting. The rest of the time he's generally hit singles and doubles. I don't have a problem with that as long as he keeps it up. To me, if tonight means he's found his rhythm, he's an ideal lead-off, and that's where I'd like to see him bat. As for the Adam Dunn thing, if they'd yanked him off the show there and then, it would have moved from a storm in a tea-cup to (even ore of) a Ricciardi Death Watch. Have a word with him to make sure it doesn't happen again during the season, and tell him he's going to decide he's not going on the show the next season. That way Adam Dunn gets forgotten fairly quickly and everyone moves on. Management 101. MW: Don't you think they had "a word with him to make sure it doesn't happen again" after the B.J. Ryan thing? As for Rios, he has made a rather significant contribution to the team winning over the last three years, just not making the playoffs and, of course, that's all on him. MW: And you’re being awfully harsh on a guy who has been to two all-star games

I don’t think I’m being awfully harsh on a guy that is earning $5.9M this year, $9+M next year and then a few years of $12M. I’m expecting a little bit more on the club’s huge investment than a couple of All Star appearances, I”m expecting a contribution to the team winning. Tonight he has hit well, but so far all singles. I’m not entirely convinced he’s a power hitter, even though the club certainly is. He’s had one good season of power hitting. The rest of the time he’s generally hit singles and doubles. I don’t have a problem with that as long as he keeps it up. To me, if tonight means he’s found his rhythm, he’s an ideal lead-off, and that’s where I’d like to see him bat.

As for the Adam Dunn thing, if they’d yanked him off the show there and then, it would have moved from a storm in a tea-cup to (even ore of) a Ricciardi Death Watch. Have a word with him to make sure it doesn’t happen again during the season, and tell him he’s going to decide he’s not going on the show the next season. That way Adam Dunn gets forgotten fairly quickly and everyone moves on. Management 101.

MW: Don’t you think they had “a word with him to make sure it doesn’t happen again” after the B.J. Ryan thing? As for Rios, he has made a rather significant contribution to the team winning over the last three years, just not making the playoffs and, of course, that’s all on him.

]]> By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24278 TheSunkenZealot Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:20:25 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24278 overbay hitting first? whyy? i dont he has the speed to be a lead-off hitter. he's better in the 'middle' pack, where he can bring home guys with his doubles MW: He has the ability to get on base, which is far more important than speed. overbay hitting first?
whyy?
i dont he has the speed to be a lead-off hitter.
he’s better in the ‘middle’ pack, where he can bring home guys with his doubles

MW: He has the ability to get on base, which is far more important than speed.

]]> By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24276 TheSunkenZealot Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:09:52 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24276 what exactly is the 'slurve'? ive heard many analysts and commentators and experts, and a lot have different opionions. please tell me yours MW: It's kind of a combination slider/curveball. what exactly is the ‘slurve’?
ive heard many analysts and commentators and experts, and a lot have different opionions.
please tell me yours

MW: It’s kind of a combination slider/curveball.

]]> By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24252 TheSunkenZealot Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:39:55 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24252 Mike, Please explain the fans' overreactions to ONE blown save, after YEARS of dominant closing. MW: That's why they're called fans. There were only two years of dominant closing, though. Mike,

Please explain the fans’ overreactions to ONE blown save, after YEARS of dominant closing.

MW: That’s why they’re called fans. There were only two years of dominant closing, though.

]]> By: Raps Fan http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24220 Raps Fan Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:52:14 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24220 Hey Mike how do have alot of time to respond to all these people!!!! GOOD JOB! MW: Thanks Hey Mike how do have alot of time to respond to all these people!!!!

GOOD JOB!

MW: Thanks

]]> By: James http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24219 James Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:20:15 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24219 Hey mike Can you please tell me the difference between a slider and a cut fastball and which one does halladay throw because I've heard different broadcasters say different things. MW: Halladay throws a cut fastball, but it's kind of a mini-slider. The grip is similar, but a slider breaks more. Hey mike
Can you please tell me the difference between a slider and a cut fastball and which one does halladay throw because I’ve heard different broadcasters say different things.

MW: Halladay throws a cut fastball, but it’s kind of a mini-slider. The grip is similar, but a slider breaks more.

]]> By: Weezy http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24218 Weezy Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:59:39 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/04/11/saving-bj-ryan/#comment-24218 Wow, what a bunch of negativity from fans of a team who are off to a 5-2 start. Give B.J. a break, it's the first week of the year, he may simply not have his "stuff" together and be pitching through "dead-arm". He has had bad outings before, altough rare. Wow, what a bunch of negativity from fans of a team who are off to a 5-2 start. Give B.J. a break, it’s the first week of the year, he may simply not have his “stuff” together and be pitching through “dead-arm”. He has had bad outings before, altough rare.

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