B.J. Ryan was one of the very few young hopefuls for the 2000 Orioles. Pitching well in his limited exposure since his acquisition from the Reds the previous year, Ryan was counted on as a left-handed short man for the 2000 pen, taking the spot vacated by now-Mariner Arthur Rhodes.

Ryan had troubles in the spring of 2000, but his performance in 1999 had enamored the team, who was also desperate for some younger success stories. The brass seemed to be right when Ryan turned in one excellent performance out of the pen after another in April of 2000. Ryan was the only pitcher in the bullpen throwing effectively in April.

Then he caught whatever everyone else had.

Over the next six weeks he became totally lost.

He was placed in save situations, as Mike Hargrove was desperate for someone who could close a game, as both Timlin and Trombley had failed to get the job done. In a fateful game against the Yankees, the already faltering Ryan was crushed in a game when he walked a couple of batters and then gave up a grand slam homer. Ryan blew his other save chance, too, and suddenly, he couldn’t get anyone out. Every batter either hit him hard, or worked him for a walk.

At the end of the six weeks, his numbers looked like this: 19 innings pitched, 22 hits, 17 earned runs, 22 walks, 21 strikeouts.

Mercifully, he was sent out to Rochester to work himself out of it. Upon his return in August, however, he didn’t pitch much better. Finally, in September, he began pitching freely, much as he had in his initial bright beginning with the Orioles (13 app., 13 innings, 4 hits, 2.03 ERA).

So, is Ryan a young pitcher who only throws well when he’s facing rookies and second stringers, or when there is no real pressure, or is he a young pitcher who has found himself after being lost as so many of his brethren were before him? Ryan will certainly have every opportunity to win a bullpen slot in 2001.

TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE 2001 ORIOLES, RYAN MUST:

1.Keep his mechanics in place. His front shoulder was flying open in 2000, altering the trajectory of his fastball and making his otherwise effective curveball flat.

2.Keep the ball over the plate. A reliever simply can’t walk 31 batters in 41 innings.

3.Pitch better on the road. Ryan seemed to tighten more away from The Yard.

NOTES: gave up three of his seven homers on the first pitch…held lefties to a .171 BA, but walked way too many of them (.351 OPB)…righties hit him hard (six of his seven homers, to the tune of a .476 slugging percentage.)