B.J. Ryan?

by SuperFan82 on Jul 13, 2008 10:55 PM EDT

I'm wondering if ownership would be willing to take on some extra salary for the last three months of the season by trading for BJ Ryan. I realize he makes $9 million a year, but he only has 2.5 years left on his contract and Isringhausen and his comparable salary go off the books forever next season. For this season, Ryan closes down the stretch and gives the pen a LHP they could call upon for tough spots vs lefties even before the 9th if need be. For next year and beyond, he serves as the much needed veteran competition for Chris Perez to beat out for the closer's job, a role he's much more suited for than Ryan Franklin...Jesse Todd and Nick Stavinoha for BJ Ryan in a salary dump for Toronto that nets them two mid-level prospects...what do you say?

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Better idea than most that are posted....

Although I think if you go after Ryan, it is to be the closer, not to make him a LHP for tough situations.

While the “relief ace” idea makes more sense, and I’d rather see La Russa utilize the Bill James ideology on bullpens rather than making your best pitcher your 9th inning guy, regardless of situation, Ryan should be put in that most prestigious job in the bullpen, simply because he’d be the best reliever we’d have, and I don’t think you hope for Izzy or Perez to close for you this year when you have a better option.

I also like it simply because while I like Perez’s fastball, and he certainly could end up being a very good closer, I’d MUCH rather see him as an 8th inning guy for at least another year, rather than being the closer.

by mtalken on Jul 13, 2008 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

Ryan

The thing I worry about w/ Ryan is that one of his greatest strengths is also his greatest liability. His funky delivery adds a lot of deception, however it’s also the likely cause of his elbow issues. I worry that he’s going to have his elbow blow up again, costing the Cardinals both wasted money (to pay him) and prospects (to acquire him). However, there is no doubt he is one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball when he’s capable of pitching.

"Your Holiness, I'm Joseph Medwick. I, too, used to be a Cardinal."-Joe Medwick, to Pope Pius XII.

by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 13, 2008 11:43 PM EDT reply actions

A Disaster

Acquiring BJ Ryan would be a disaster.

He has the worst timing I’ve ever seen, even worse than Mark Prior, and it’s just a matter of time before his shoulder or elbow gives out again.

See this…

http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Pitching/ProfessionalPitcherAnalyses/BJRyan.html

by thepainguy on Jul 14, 2008 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

but werent we told for the longest time that Prior had perfect mechanics?

also I just wanted to say, it was nice seeing Carpenter pitching again if just for that tiny clip

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by jealousblues on Jul 15, 2008 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Mark Prior - Perfect Mechanics?

The person who told everyone that Mark Prior had perfect mechanics was the guy who designed his mechanics.

His name is Tom House, and he’s not exactly and uninterested, impartial observer.

by thepainguy on Jul 15, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

House

Just to get this out of the way, I think Prior’s mechanics stink and have somehow gotten worse throughout his career.

That said, House was hardly the only guy saying that Prior had perfect mechanics. This isn’t some one-man conspiracy that you always try to make it seem to be. Remember all the so-called analysts gushing over his delivery when he was first in the league? I do! I’m sure many of them have no idea who Tom House is, and based their conclusions on the fact that it was an aesthetically pleasing delivery, with flaws be damned.

You bring this up every time Prior is mentioned around here, and quite frankly it may have something to do with it, but it’s hardly the only logical answer.

"Your Holiness, I'm Joseph Medwick. I, too, used to be a Cardinal."-Joe Medwick, to Pope Pius XII.

by redbirdnation8206 on Jul 15, 2008 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

His contract...

would be awful tough to take on - he’d be the second highest paid pitcher on the team after Carpenter and he’s coming off TJ surgery and hasn’t adjusted his mechanics. If it’s a straight salary dump, send them Cody Haerther and make them assume $5 million of his contract. That’s about the only way I’d want him - he’s too big an injury risk to trade any type of good prospects, like Todd.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Jul 14, 2008 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

Interesting

but I wouldn’t call Todd a mid-level prospect. Guy is nails, and a lot of people (me included) think he has a phenomenal future. I’d really like to hang on to him, but I could maybe be convinced to lose him for Ryan.

"The Mollusk" makes me want to rail LSD crystals off my friends' sternum. Rage."

by ICEYhawtSTUNNAZ on Jul 14, 2008 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

BJ Ryan

is an injury waiting to happen. Maybe we could try to get Burnett and Ryan and try to get a full season out of the two combined?

by stlfan on Jul 14, 2008 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

BJ Ryan

has a contract that I don’t think anyone would want, not to mention the fact that he is an injury prone pitcher. And his mechanics are risky although it makes his stuff great, is a reason why he is injury-prone. Basically, I don’t know how and why it would be done.

"I wish I had a dollar for every time I spent a dollar, because then I'd have all my money back."
-Jack Handey

by deepthoughtsbyjackhandey on Jul 15, 2008 3:01 PM EDT reply actions