The Corpse of BJ Ryan

Sitting at home tonight watching TV.  I know that both NHL and NBA playoffs are on but instead I am concentrating on the Jays game.  They are playing the Rangers and even though it is somewhat of a meaningless game I am still drawn to it.  Maybe it is because I have Ian Kisnler on my fantasy team or maybe it is because even though I am a Red Sox fan I still love the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Either way I am sitting there watching the game and seeing the Jays build a 7-4 lead heading into the 9th.  David Purcey pitched an alright game and the bullpen was solid.  Some clutch hitting helped the Jays build the lead as did 2 Rod Barajas home runs.  I know that the Jays have this game in the bag.  Then I see BJ Ryan run out and my heart literally skips a beat as I know it is all over.

I am sure it was not just me as Blue Jays fans all over the world were thinking the same thing. Ryan is a liability and when he walks out there fans know that he cannot be trusted to get the job done.  Tonight seems different though and Ryan runs to the mound with confidence and takes his warm up pitches like he knows he is gonna get these guys three in a row.

Then the first batter steps into the box and Ryan looks like a deer in the headlights.  It is as if it is his first game in the majors and he is overwhelmed by everything around him.  He gets this look on his face like Henry Rowengartner in Rookie of the Year when he reinjures his arm and can no longer throw gas.  The look is one of 'oh god they are going to find out I have no business being here.' 

It all happened so quickly.  Chris Davis was hit on the wrist and Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew a four-pitch walk.  All of a sudden Ian Kinsler stepped up as the potential tying run.  Kinsler hit into what should have been a double play but an Aaron Hill throwing error allowed Davis to score and Kinsler to move to second.  From there Kinsler stole 3rd and was eventually driven on a Josh Hamilton grounder.

So the score is now 7-6 Bule Jays with 2 outs and Michael Young coming to the plate.  Ryan proceeds to lob one in which Young quickly and efficiently smashes over the center field wall to tie the game.  The sad part about all of this was that I was not surprised.  BJ Ryan could blow a 15 run lead and I wouldn't be surprised.  He is a terrible pitcher who has no confidence and throws garbage.

The worst part about all of this was the next guy up after Young got struck out on 3 straight pitches as Ryan finally decides to throw strikes.  I don't get it.  How can you strike a guy out on 3 pitches but struggle so mightily against all the other batters.  It was as if he was waiting to blow the save before he threw any real pitches.

This isn't an isolated incident either as Ryan has already blown a 3 run lead this season when on April 11th against the Cleveland Indians BJ had another epic collapse and had to be bailed out by Jason Frasor who once again bailed him out tonight.

At least he knows he sucks as after the game he said, ''I was terrible out there, I was brutal,'' Ryan said. ''Not pitching ahead, not pitching aggressively, making stupid pitches at bad times, just a bad night.''

It is so hard to watch Ryan come out and just ruins games consistently as I can still remember when the Jays first signed him and he used to come into games and just shut the other team down.  He would come out, work quickly, throw only strikes, and throw fast.  Now he tries to be fancy and struggles to hit 90mph on the radar gun. 

So far this season he is 2 of 4 in save opportunities and is sporting an ERA of 11.12.  In his 6 appearances he has given up 7 runs and has 5 walks to only 4 strikeouts.  He is a useless scrub who the Jays need to bench.  I understand that they may have been trotting him out there to increase his trade value but in the end it is only hurting the team.  There are lots of other guys waiting to be the new closer.  League, Carlson, Downs or Frasor could all close for the Jays no problem.

Last year a friend of mine, Draper, tried to defend BJ Ryan saying he was a good closer.  I haven't spoken to Draper in awhile but I doubt he will be defending him anymore.

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