Tracking the Preaux Career of B.J. Ryan

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PITTSBURGH-For the second year in a row, B.J. Ryan, a former member of Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team, has excelled at Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. The southpaw for the Toronto Blue Jays earned the win in the Mid-Summer Classic tossing a scoreless inning for the American League. Ryan entered the game with the AL trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning. He retired all three batters he faced, fanning one batter. The hurler threw 10 pitches, all of which were strikes. The American league scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning to take the lead, setting Ryan up to earn the win. Ryan was selected to the 2006 All-Star Game after having a stellar first half of the season. Entering the midway point of the MLB season, he has 24 saves to his credit, which currently ranks in the top-5 in both the American League and entire Major League. Ryan boasts a 0.84 earned run average and has fanned 54 batters in just 39 appearances. Opponents are batting just .148 against the lefty. The appearance in the All-Star Game was the second of Ryan’s career. The former Cajun was selected in 2005 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. Ryan earned a hold for the AL in that game. “We are really proud of B.J.,” Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Tony Robichaux stated. “It is a great thing for him, our baseball program and the university. “To me, there are three stages of being a baseball player,” Robichaux added. “There is participator, contributor and difference maker. B.J. has moved through each stage in dominating fashion. To see him play in consecutive All-Star Games and be successful, as a coach, I am so proud of him.” LOUISIANA SI

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It's still hard to fathom that pitching was almost an afterthought for B. J. Ryan when he was a part of the UL baseball program in 1997-98. First base, and power hitting from the left side, were his forte'. He was the MVP in the Sun Belt Tournament because of that. Now, the Toronto Blue Jays wouldn't think of taking a chance on him at first base, or sending him to the plate. He's much too valuable as one of the best closers in major league baseball. Ryan picked up the win Tuesday night at the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, working the eighth inning and retiring the National League lineup in order on only 10 pitches - every one of them strikes. It was quick - ground ball to shortstop, strikeout, line out to third base. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

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TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays placed closer B.J. Ryan on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a sprained elbow elbow, a day after he blew his second save in his last four chances. Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Sunday that he doesn't necessarily believe Ryan blew out his elbow. The Blue Jays medical staff is "leaning more toward a strained tendon," Ricciardi said. "He's just been sore for a couple of weeks. Our trainers have been watching and monitoring it. We just want to get it checked out." The worst-case scenario, Ricciardi said, is that Ryan blew out his elbow. "And if that's the case, then we'll adjust." Ryan, whose latest blown save came in Saturday's 10-7 loss to Detroit, is to be examined by Dr. James Andrews in Alabama on Monday. The left-hander has two blown saves in five chances this year, after he blew only four saves in 42 opportunities last season. The rest of the story Buster Olney ESPN

[Clutch0364]

Just heard on ESPN he is out for the season...he is having Tommy John surgery.

I wish him the best and hope he comes back stronger next year!

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DUNEDIN, Fla. — Closer B.J. Ryan, a former Airline High School and ULL star, said he expects to be ready for opening day after having Tommy John elbow surgery last May. “It’s what I shot for all winter,” Ryan said. “You bust your tail the whole time and put myself in a situation where you can break with the team.” Ryan said he thinks his elbow is nearly as good as it was before the season-ending surgery nine months ago. “I’m probably a couple of bullpen (sessions) short of where I would have been if I didn’t have the surgery,” Ryan said. “It feels good right now, I am where I need to be.” The rest of the story

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On Sunday, the Toronto Blue Jays activated former Cajun pitcher B.J. Ryan, who underwent ligament-replacement surgery on his left elbow last May. The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com

[CajunCherokee]

Yeah, and he recorded a 5-4 save against my Rangers after giving up a leadoff triple to Marlon Byrd.

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TORONTO -- A balk, or not a balk - that is the issue now dogging B.J. Ryan as he continues his comeback from serious elbow surgery a year ago. A notoriously fast worker from the mound during his 10-year major-league career, getting called for making a balk has been an unusual occurrence for the 32-year-old Toronto Blue Jays closer. He made one back in 2000, his second season in the majors, while he was a member of the Baltimore Orioles, playing in a game against the Kansas City Royals. Ryan somehow managed to go another eight years or so before he committed his second balk last Thursday in Boston during the Jays' 3-0 triumph against the Red Sox. The rest of the story ROBERT MACLEOD

[Rebel02]

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Someone needs to fix the link posted above. The link leads me to that misleading DA article about the APR.

[DieHard1280]

Here is a link I googled. Maybe not the same one, but works anyway.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/s...l_gam_mostview

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 ARLINGTON -- Even on a team that boasts the best overall bullpen statistics in all of baseball, there is nothing so jarring as a lead that disappears in the ninth inning.

In those moments, those shiny numbers mean nothing. It is why the bullpen closer often makes more than the rest of the relief corps combined, as is the case on the Blue Jays.

Nobody on the staff can instill the same measure of confidence as a stud closer. Conversely, no other player can deflate an entire team as a closer who fails.

For the most part this season, B.J. Ryan has bounced back reasonably well after Tommy John elbow surgery early in 2007. He recovered faster than most and has blown only three saves in 23 opportunities while trying to resume his swashbuckling style after a full year away. He has a decent strikeout to walks ratio (35/20) and a 3.41 ERA.

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By KEN FIDLIN, TORONTO SUN

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  Shreveport, La. – Independence Bowl officials announced on Monday that B.J. Ryan has been named the bowl’s “2008 Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year.”

Ryan, 32, is a Bossier City native and is currently the closer for the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan just completed his tenth major league season and ranked sixth in the American League with 32 saves while finishing with a 2.95 ERA.

"I am honored to be named the recipient of this great award from the Independence Bowl, said Ryan. "As a Bossier City native I know how important this bowl game is to entire community and I look forward to being in Shreveport on Dec. 28."

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