Tracking the Preaux Career of B.J. Ryan

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B.J. Ryan once described himself as a redneck. But it's a term that fits the Jays' new closer rather loosely. By all accounts, Ryan never assumed the stereotype profile. According to critics and handlers, he's carved a reputation as a very big lefty, one with a great wit and sense of humour, one who's a bit of a card in the clubhouse, but who keeps his opinions out of the public domain. "He's the kind of guy players enjoy having in the clubhouse. He was an instigator but it was always good fun with him," said University of Louisiana baseball coach Tony Robichaux, who had Ryan in 1997 and 1998, when his team won the Sun Belt Conference championship. "He never gave us any problems. He had the size and talent, and he was a good person. He's one of those people who you'd be disappointed about if they didn't go on to a great career." Ryan arrived with the Blue Jays yesterday after a tumultuous season in Baltimore with the Orioles, and back home in Bossier City, La., which is a six-hour drive northwest of flood-ravaged New Orleans. Ryan was often approached by reporters as the Orioles fell from first place to a distant fourth in the American League East. Players — including several relievers — confided in off-the-record reports that manager Lee Mazzilli had lost the confidence of his clubhouse, and was mishandling his bullpen. Mazzilli was fired Aug. 4, but Ryan never uttered a word to the media about the manager. Many reporters expected he had a strong opinion on the steroid disgrace that surrounded Rafael Palmeiro, and ultimately pulled the O's further into oblivion. Ryan, though, remained tight-lipped. "Those were tough times and some players put their team in tough," Ryan said. "They were isolated incidents and not something you pin on the organization." Ryan acknowledged his willingness to face critics after a blown save, but said after a win, he's just as comfortable hanging out in a corner of the dressing room with his buddies. The rest of the story MARK ZWOLINSKI

[CajunProud]

What a first class guy. Somebody who typifies what it means to be a Ragin Cajun. Congrats to him and his family. Once a Ragin Cajun, always a Ragin Cajun.

[CAJUNJUDO]

Nice fat ||| contract...just sucks that he sign with a ||||ty team...none the less congrats to BJ...

I was hoping he would re-sign with the Orioles, especially since Leo Mazzone was named pitching coach....

3 years, $18 million offer from the O's.....
or 5 years, $47 million from the Blue Jays

....I guess I would sign with a ||||ty team too!

....only to make more money to donate to UL of course!!!!!!

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In November 2001, J.P. Ricciardi returned to home base in Worcester, Mass., after being named general manager of the Blue Jays. Greeted by more than 300 phone messages, Ricciardi said he felt like Tom Hanks in the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. "Things were going on all around me," Ricciardi said. "I thought if I could ever get off the beach I'd be fine." Off the beach, Ricciardi has found his own Ryan. This one is named Robert Victor and nicknamed B. J. And he's here to save games. When B.J. Ryan was introduced yesterday at Rogers headquarters, no one mentioned Ryan's rank, but with a five-year, $47-million US deal, Ryan can call himself whatever he wants. The Jays outbid the the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees for Ryan's services -- much like in 1996 when then-president Paul Beeston brought Roger Clemens to town, giving him a three-year, $24.75-million deal. And now Ricciardi is looking for another high-ranking officer/free-agent, making a five-year, $55-million offer to outfielder Brian Giles. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter batted .301 this season with 15 homers and 83 RBIs in 158 games for the San Diego Padres. Ryan, meanwhile, has been on the job for just one full season, saving 36 of 41 attempts for the Baltimore Orioles. Now he has a five-year deal. The rest of the story By BOB ELLIOTT -- Toronto Sun

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DUNEDIN, Fla. -- B.J. Ryan has always been in a hurry. The Blue Jays' new closer's routine of coming to the mound from the bullpen is much like his ascent through the minor leagues -- a quick sprint. Ryan's rise up the ladder went like this: He was quick to sign out of college after leaving the Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns. He sped through the Cincinnati Reds organization so fast that it's hard to believe his change of address notices had any affect. He disposed of hitters toute suite closing for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005, his first year as a closer. And in November he was the first of five key additions to join the Jays when he signed a five-year, $47 million US deal. In 2005, Ryan chalked up some impressive numbers: l A total of 22 appearances where he faced the minimum three batters. l He struck out the side eight times. l Ryan picked up a win against New York Yankees June 28, working two innings and facing the minimum six hitters without allowing a hit or a walk. l In 69 games, covering 701/3 innings, Ryan walked 26 and struck out 100, averaging 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Like most good closers, Ryan grew into the role. First, though, he had to grow into a pitcher. He was a position player and pitched for the Centenary College Gents before transferring to the University of Louisiana. And his discovery was not one a scout a MoneyBall number cruncher would have made -- there were not any numbers to crunch. "A good coaching friend of mine who had been at Centenary told me how live his arm was," Reds scout Johnny Almaraz said. "I watched him taking infield at first and asked his coach if the game got one sided either way, if he could (let Ryan) pitch." Sure enough the game turned lopsided and coach Tony Robichaux brought Ryan on in relief. "He had arm strength, he was rolling out fastballs at 91-to-93 m.p.h.," Almaraz said of his first sighting of Ryan. "I knew what type of pick he was, I never asked again to see him pitch." Almaraz drafted Ryan in the 17th round of the 1998 round. However, the scout was a tad busy on draft day and for the next five days. "B.J. kept calling me, almost every day asking 'when are you coming to Shreveport to sign me, when are you coming?' " Almaraz recalled. The rest of the story BOB ELLIOTT TORONTO SUN

[BabbForHeisman]

Rajin' Cajuns? First time I've ever seen that.

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In the bullpen, closer B.J. Ryan has been outstanding (according to Baseball Prospectus's Relievers Expected Wins Added, only Jon Papelbon has been the better AL pen man this season), but the middle-relief corps leaves much to be desired. Remove Ryan's numbers from the mix, and the Toronto bullpen ERA climbs to 5.64, clearly indicating a weak spot. The source of the story

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TORONTO -- Blue Jays reliever Justin Speier was prepared to answer some questions during the postgame media scrum, when closer B.J. Ryan entered the Toronto clubhouse. The reporters and cameramen immediately headed in Ryan's direction, leaving Speier with a smile on his face. "I don't have to answer any questions this year because B.J.'s in town," joked Speier. Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the Orioles at the Rogers Centre, however, was a game where almost every member of the much-maligned Jays relief corps was a star. Six Toronto pitchers combined for a victory-by-committee over Baltimore, and the bullpen threw seven scoreless innings in relief of spot starter Scott Downs, who allowed two earned runs in two-plus frames. The rest of the story By Mark Polishuk / MLB.com

[lxa656]

He is living up to that big ole lobster sized crawfish contract!

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BJ Ryan pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 18 tries. The rest of the story