B.J. Ryan: A View From the Grassy Knoll

After watching closely and paying attention to the whole afternoon and evening as it unfolded at the Rogers Centre tonight, it seems like there is more than meets the eye surrounding the disablement of closer B.J. Ryan. There is a distinct feeling that the Jays are more comfortable with Ryan out of the closer's role the way he is currently throwing and, at the same time, Ryan would not be happy pitching middle relief, which the Jays likely suggested to him in a closed door meeting this afternoon.

The move that needed to be made right now was to get Ryan off the firing line until he returns to throwing at least 89-91 m.p.h on his fastball. At spring training he was 83-86. In April he has been 84-88. This has led to trying to overthrow, which has produced a lack of command, leading to the ratio of 14 baserunners and 17 outs. The amazing thing is the Jays had won all six games in which he had appeared. It was time to stop pressing their luck and they knew it. They are styarting to believe they might actually contend this season. Giving him 16 games to prove himself was the next step once they had decided not to place him on the DL at spring training and leave him in Florida to work out his problems which was suggested here.

Here are some reasons for thinking there may have been a puff of smoke from behind the Jays' fence.

1-The Ricky Romero DL and the Ryan DL were announced completely separate from one another when the easiest thing is always to announce them at the same time.

2-Cito Gaston insisted he heard about the Ryan injury after Wednesday's game; Ricciardi said he heard about it a few days ago. Maybe the truth is they both heard about it Thursday after they told B.J. in a meeting he would be giving way as closer to Scott Downs.

3-Both Cito and J.P. claimed they didn't know when the injury happened. Wouldn't it be logical to have asked B.J. when it did to see if that could explain his loss of spring training velocity.

4-After the Romero DL news was already out, Ricciardi was seen on the field talking with Brad Arnsberg on an empty field out near the bullpen while Roy Halladay threw his side session. Shortly after that, Ryan and Arnsberg huddled in a hallway in the clubhouse talking animatedly. Shortly after that Ryan was announced as on the DL. There was no e-mail or press release. It was clearly not expected because the official lineup cards handed out in the pressbox included Ryan on the active roster. 

The, Jays with an unexpected hold on first place in the AL East, really dodged a bullet while Ryan was active, because Gaston, as he always has been, was loyal to his veteran closer. But enough was enough. This may be one of those injuries of convenience. Besides, who goes on the DL with a knot in the back of your shoulder if it just occured and without confirmation of an MRI?

We patiently await the findings of the Warren (Cromartie) Commission.

R-Griff 

   

Comments

[gargalen]

Who cares about all these speculations? All it serves to do is give meaningless spin to a open-and-shut situation.

B.J. Ryan wasn't performing. It was clear a decision had to be made. A lingering or sudden injury is used to buy time to see if he can be righted. He gets tests, rehabs and possibly comes back healthy.

Move on. Enjoy the baseball on the field rather than focus on these surronding issues.

[REAN]

Griff-- good points, and thanks for the on-the-scene insight.
You take a lot of crapola, but this is some solid reporting/blogging. I was wondering myself why they didn't announce the two injuries together. Also - there's no way we would have heard about the BJ & Arnsberg 'animated' discussion without you. (I haven't heard this anywhere else yet).

Once again - solid work, and thanks.

REAN

[doug]

these aren't speculations they are facts or rather conjecture behind B.J.Ryan being placed on the D.L., and that is Griffin's job to report. And to me the point I found most interesting in that whole thing was that J.P. was seen talking to Arnsberg then Arnsberg animatedly to Ryan...why was it left up to Arnsberg to pass on the news?, it should have been J.P. the lack of class he exhibits astounds me at times. He must be a smooth talker in the boardroom as he has pulled the wool over Godfrey's eyes and now Beeston's he is a classless, smug individual.

[Richard Spackman]

Arnsberg has input into pitching decisions, while Cito has input into batting and most other decisions. Beeston made sure of that. J.P. does nothing independently anymore.
Ryan's choices were demotion or D.L. Ryan respects Arnsberg, so it's logical ALL of Ryan's options were explained by him

[Darryl]

What is it with this organization that they can't come out and say the dude is not performing and needs to work things out? Pro athletes are always susceptable to physical problems and no more so than pitchers who do things with their arms what God never intended. This double talk, secretive horse hooey is insulting and demeaning to everyone who follows this team. If they're trying to have Ryan save face I'm sorry. He's getting an obscene amount of money to do a job he obviously isn't capable of doing so swallow your pride and accept your demotion to work things out. This just dampens the suprising joy we have right now for a very surprising season.

[Marino]

who cares about all these speculations?

gargalen, my friend, cnnsi.com, espn.com, yahoo sports, and these great blogs that we have here would be non-existent if all fans wanted to know was that a player on their team was injured. That's what the associated press is for...hard line facts. pieces such as this one, give fans access to knowledge that they wouldn't normally get by watching the game...if you care, read the story and be entertained by it. If not, move along without posting negativity just for the sake of it!

[Toma]

Gargalen must be a new pen name for Mike Wilner. It doesn't surprise me that Ryan didn't infomr JP or Gaston of this "injury"; remember it is not a lie as long as he knows the truth.

[Milton Red]

I was at the Sunday win over oakland, and despite a reasonable outing from Ryan, it was quite clear he had lost velocity. That being the case, I wonder why Ricciardi and particularly Gaston continued to use him? After all whether he is in the bullpen or not Gaston could simply have put Downs in to close, if Ryan was not forthcoming with his injury. Either way Downs is a very effective closer and will be every bit as effective as Ryan was when he was fit. The hope must be that Ryan comes back with his pace restored and they can trade him. We have Janssen still to comeback too, so Ryan is really no longer needed, and thats a hefty paycheck he picks up.