Cubs Sign BJ Ryan (P. 3); Cubs Release Ryan (P. 6)

[jersey cubs fan]

You don't think there's a chance he can continue to be effective against lefties?

 

There's always a chance. I don't see why his chance is any different than dozens of other washed up pitchers floating around the majors and minors.

 

Because he's got a little more track record of success than most washed up pitchers?

[SouthSideRyan]

I like the signing but 250/.378/.389 for a strong platoon split isn't really good.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

That he's been effective to this point this season would be one reason.

 

This is what I posted earlier: .250/.378/.389/.767

 

7 walks in 45 PAs while allowing just 9 hits

 

Again, too many walks for sure, but guys aren't hitting him all that well.

 

So if we ignore the stat that he sucks at, which is the most important offensive stat in the game, his numbers in a 45-PA sample size against lefties are good?

 

He did the same thing last year, walking 11 lefties in 76 PAs.

 

I see no reason to presume it won't continue, and combined with the clear loss of velocity, he's just another washed-up, hurt arm.

[dew1679666265]

I like the signing but 250/.378/.389 for a strong platoon split isn't really good.

 

The worse part is the OBP. If he can keep the walks under control the numbers will improve.

 

He's not likely to be a shutdown guy even against lefties, but he has a chance to be effective.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

You don't think there's a chance he can continue to be effective against lefties?

 

There's always a chance. I don't see why his chance is any different than dozens of other washed up pitchers floating around the majors and minors.

 

Because he's got a little more track record of success than most washed up pitchers?

 

When your arm is fundamentally different from when you put up those numbers, you can throw the track record out the window.

When a 33-year-old pitcher is almost two years removed from major arm problems and has shown no signs of regaining his stuff, it's safe to assume that his arm is shot.

[dew1679666265]

 

That he's been effective to this point this season would be one reason.

 

This is what I posted earlier: .250/.378/.389/.767

 

7 walks in 45 PAs while allowing just 9 hits

 

Again, too many walks for sure, but guys aren't hitting him all that well.

 

So if we ignore the stat that he sucks at, which is the most important offensive stat in the game, his numbers in a 45-PA sample size against lefties are good?

 

He did the same thing last year, walking 11 lefties in 76 PAs.

 

I see no reason to presume it won't continue, and combined with the clear loss of velocity, he's just another washed-up, hurt arm.

 

I never said to ignore it. That's why I pointed it out.

 

But that's why he's got a stint in the minors, to see if he can work out some of the issues.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I never said to ignore it. That's why I pointed it out.

 

But that's why he's got a stint in the minors, to see if he can work out some of the issues.

 

Lefties who don't get hit hard by other lefties but can't throw strikes are a dime a dozen.

 

The only difference between this one and the dozens is that he's got a 'proven major league track record,' which is just going to tempt them into using him in the majors the first time he puts up five innings of balls hit right at guys in Iowa.

[dew1679666265]

I never said to ignore it. That's why I pointed it out.

 

But that's why he's got a stint in the minors, to see if he can work out some of the issues.

 

Lefties who don't get hit hard by other lefties but can't throw strikes are a dime a dozen.

 

The only difference between this one and the dozens is that he's got a 'proven major league track record,' which is just going to tempt them into using him in the majors the first time he puts up five innings of balls hit right at guys in Iowa.

 

So he's not been getting hit hard by lefties to this point, but he'll start getting hit hard by lefties in Iowa?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I never said to ignore it. That's why I pointed it out.

 

But that's why he's got a stint in the minors, to see if he can work out some of the issues.

 

Lefties who don't get hit hard by other lefties but can't throw strikes are a dime a dozen.

 

The only difference between this one and the dozens is that he's got a 'proven major league track record,' which is just going to tempt them into using him in the majors the first time he puts up five innings of balls hit right at guys in Iowa.

 

So he's not been getting hit hard by lefties to this point, but he'll start getting hit hard by lefties in Iowa?

 

I didn't say that. Every pitcher has stretches where they put up good ERAs for a few innings because balls go right at guys, hard-hit or not. It's part of the ebb and flow of a baseball season.

 

The moment Ryan has his, he'll be in the majors because he's a proven vet, regardless of whether he's still walking almost a guy an inning and throwing up 87 mph meatballs.

[dew1679666265]

I didn't say that. Every pitcher has stretches where they put up good ERAs for a few innings because balls go right at guys, hard-hit or not. It's part of the ebb and flow of a baseball season.

 

The moment Ryan has his, he'll be in the majors because he's a proven vet, regardless of whether he's still walking almost a guy an inning and throwing up 87 mph meatballs.

 

Here's a question that I honestly don't know: What does LD% mean for a pitcher?

 

The reason I ask is that Ryan's LD% this season is lower than his career LD% (14.7% vs 20.7%). That would tell me that he's not getting hit as hard and the main problem has been walks. Am I wrong?

[Vanilla Ice]

Chad Fox is on the 40 man roster also as a favor. It helps him get towards the 10 year mark for his pension, IIRC.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I would assume if a pitcher could control his LD ratio, he could control his BABIP. I was thinking that pitchers control GB/FB, batters control LD/FB.

 

But that could very well be wildly, wildly wrong.

[dew1679666265]

I would assume if a pitcher could control his LD ratio, he could control his BABIP. I was thinking that pitchers control GB/FB, batters control LD/FB.

 

But that could very well be wildly, wildly wrong.

 

It would seem that if hitters are making good contact, they'd be hitting more line drives. He is allowing more flyballs than usual (50.8% this year vs 41% career) though, so that may override the lowered LD%.

 

Just going by those numbers, it seems like control is more of a problem than him getting hit hard. But I could be way off too.

[SouthSideRyan]

I would assume if a pitcher could control his LD ratio, he could control his BABIP. I was thinking that pitchers control GB/FB, batters control LD/FB.

 

But that could very well be wildly, wildly wrong.

 

It would seem that if hitters are making good contact, they'd be hitting more line drives. He is allowing more flyballs than usual (50.8% this year vs 41% career) though, so that may override the lowered LD%.

 

Just going by those numbers, it seems like control is more of a problem than him getting hit hard. But I could be way off too.

 

I think the general thinking behind the belief that pitchers can't control LD% is that those pitchers who were serving up enough meatballs to give up nothing but line drives had been weeded out. Not to say I definitely buy it, (and even the firmest believers agree to exceptions, such as knuckleballers) but just wanted to clarify the logic.

[dew1679666265]

I think the general thinking behind the belief that pitchers can't control LD% is that those pitchers who were serving up enough meatballs to give up nothing but line drives had been weeded out. Not to say I definitely buy it, (and even the firmest believers agree to exceptions, such as knuckleballers) but just wanted to clarify the logic.

 

But why is his LD% lower this year than normally? Is it just a fluke?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I think the general thinking behind the belief that pitchers can't control LD% is that those pitchers who were serving up enough meatballs to give up nothing but line drives had been weeded out. Not to say I definitely buy it, (and even the firmest believers agree to exceptions, such as knuckleballers) but just wanted to clarify the logic.

 

But why is his LD% lower this year than normally? Is it just a fluke?

 

Just a WAG, but look at both the velocity and the pitch selection, I'd say he's nibbling. His fastball is show (87.3 MPH average), and he's gone from throwing his slider 20% of the time to 40% of the time, causing both the high walk rate and the lower contact rate.

[dew1679666265]

I think the general thinking behind the belief that pitchers can't control LD% is that those pitchers who were serving up enough meatballs to give up nothing but line drives had been weeded out. Not to say I definitely buy it, (and even the firmest believers agree to exceptions, such as knuckleballers) but just wanted to clarify the logic.

 

But why is his LD% lower this year than normally? Is it just a fluke?

 

Just a WAG, but look at both the velocity and the pitch selection, I'd say he's nibbling. His fastball is show (87.3 MPH average), and he's gone from throwing his slider 20% of the time to 40% of the time, causing both the high walk rate and the lower contact rate.

 

So you're saying he doesn't have the stuff to challenge hitters anymore (or at least doesn't think he does) so he's nibbling.

 

I can see that.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So you're saying he doesn't have the stuff to challenge hitters anymore (or at least doesn't think he does) so he's nibbling.

 

I can see that.

 

Yes, but that's just one WAG interpretation of the data, of which I am wary of stating with too much faith.

[dew1679666265]

So you're saying he doesn't have the stuff to challenge hitters anymore (or at least doesn't think he does) so he's nibbling.

 

I can see that.

 

Yes, but that's just one WAG interpretation of the data, of which I am wary of stating with too much faith.

 

Whether it's accurate or not I'm not sure, but it does make some sense.

 

I still think it's worth seeing if he can be respectable in the pen against lefties for us.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

There was an article I read within the last 2 weeks showing that Harden wasn't varying velocities on his fastball as much as years past, possibly explaining the HR. Makes sense, since he essentially throws the same pitch anywhere from 80 to 97 mph, so if he's grouping them too close together velocity-wise, then some of them would get smoked.

[dew1679666265]

Is there any way to know where Ryan's fastball tops out at now? He could be varying his pitch speeds, but not being accurate enough with them - explaining why he's not getting hit hard, but is putting guys on base.

 

Just a thought.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is there any way to know where Ryan's fastball tops out at now? He could be varying his pitch speeds, but not being accurate enough with them - explaining why he's not getting hit hard, but is putting guys on base.

 

Just a thought.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=168&position=P&pitch=FA

 

He hasn't hit 90 yet this year.

[dew1679666265]

Is there any way to know where Ryan's fastball tops out at now? He could be varying his pitch speeds, but not being accurate enough with them - explaining why he's not getting hit hard, but is putting guys on base.

 

Just a thought.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=168&position=P&pitch=FA

 

He hasn't hit 90 yet this year.

 

Yep, he's been very consistently in the 85-88 range the whole year.

 

Thanks.

[Cubbie Swagger]

I'm so glad to hear that this is official.

 

All the scouts said Edmonds was washed up last year, that his swing had slowed down, he couldn't get around on a good fastball, his knees would never hold up, etc.

 

I like this move alot. It has "Edmonds reincarnated as a pitcher" written all over it.

[Joe_Cub]

All the scouts said Edmonds was washed up last year, that his swing had slowed down, he couldn't get around on a good fastball, his knees would never hold up, etc.

 

hendry said the main reason they signed edmonds was because they scouted him.