Ryan Madson
Encyclopedia
Ryan Michael Madson nicknamed "Mad Dog", is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
, who is a currently a free agent. Madson throws a four-seam fastball
that ranges from 94 to 99 mph, a cutter
that ranges from 86 to 92 mph, and a circle changeup
that ranges from 76 to 84 mph.
in 1998 with a 3.5 GPA. His uncle, Steve Barr
, was in the Boston Red Sox
and Texas Rangers
systems from –. Madson was drafted by the Phillies in the 9th round (254th overall) of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
.
in 87 innings.
The Phillies had high hopes for Madson in , when they converted him back to a starter
, the role he held throughout his minor league career. But after struggling as a starter, he was returned to the bullpen
to make room for Cole Hamels
.
By 2008 Madson had become part of the "bridge to Lidge (closer
Brad Lidge
)", developing into an outstanding set-up man. With a devastating changeup
, Madson found increased velocity, hitting as high as 97 miles per hour in the NLCS
.
Madson earned his first playoff victory
when the Philles defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers
in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS. He pitched innings, striking out
one while allowing one hit
and one walk
.
On January 19, 2009, Ryan Madson agreed to a 3-year, $12 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
When Brad Lidge
was placed on the disabled list
on June 9, 2009, Ryan Madson was chosen to be the Phillies' choice for interim closer. Madson got his first save in his new role on June 10, 2009 against the New York Mets
.
In Game 6 of the 2010 National League Championship Series
, Madson was the losing pitcher when he gave up a solo home run to Juan Uribe
in the eighth inning of a 3–2 loss to the San Francisco Giants
.
Madson began the 2011 season once again as the Phillies' main set-up reliever. However, with Lidge and Jose Contreras
on the disabled list in May 2011, Madson was chosen to close for the Phillies. , Madson has converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities and has retained the closer role even after Lidge returned from the DL in July.
Madson finished 2011 with 32 saves, 62 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.37.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, who is a currently a free agent. Madson throws a four-seam fastball
Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
that ranges from 94 to 99 mph, a cutter
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
that ranges from 86 to 92 mph, and a circle changeup
Circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
that ranges from 76 to 84 mph.
Education and draft
Madson graduated from Valley View High School (Moreno Valley, California)Valley View High School (Moreno Valley, California)
Valley View High School is a high school located in Moreno Valley, California and is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District. The official school colors are red, white, and black. The school's mascot name is the eagles....
in 1998 with a 3.5 GPA. His uncle, Steve Barr
Steve Barr
Steven Charles Barr is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers . Barr batted and threw left-handed...
, was in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
systems from –. Madson was drafted by the Phillies in the 9th round (254th overall) of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
.
Philadelphia Phillies
Highly regarded by the Phillies ever since they drafted him, Madson got to the major league level for good in as a relief pitcher. In , he started out well, but appeared to wear down late in the season, finishing with a 4.14 ERAEarned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 87 innings.
The Phillies had high hopes for Madson in , when they converted him back to a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, the role he held throughout his minor league career. But after struggling as a starter, he was returned to the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
to make room for Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels
Colbert Michael "Cole" Hamels is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels throws a four-seam fastball, a circle changeup, a curveball, and a cut fastball, which he added in 2010...
.
By 2008 Madson had become part of the "bridge to Lidge (closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
)", developing into an outstanding set-up man. With a devastating changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, Madson found increased velocity, hitting as high as 97 miles per hour in the NLCS
2008 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 9, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDerek Lowe and Cole Hamels faced each other at Citizens Bank Park for Game 1. In the first inning, Manny Ramírez missed a home run by mere feet to center field and settled for an RBI double to give LA a 1–0 lead,...
.
Madson earned his first playoff victory
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
when the Philles defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS. He pitched innings, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
one while allowing one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and one walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
.
On January 19, 2009, Ryan Madson agreed to a 3-year, $12 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
When Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
on June 9, 2009, Ryan Madson was chosen to be the Phillies' choice for interim closer. Madson got his first save in his new role on June 10, 2009 against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
In Game 6 of the 2010 National League Championship Series
2010 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaIn one of the most touted postseason pitching matchups in recent history, two former Cy Young Award winners faced off: Roy Halladay for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants...
, Madson was the losing pitcher when he gave up a solo home run to Juan Uribe
Juan Uribe
Juan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
in the eighth inning of a 3–2 loss to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Madson began the 2011 season once again as the Phillies' main set-up reliever. However, with Lidge and Jose Contreras
José Contreras
José Ariel Contreras Camejo is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently with the Philadelphia Phillies...
on the disabled list in May 2011, Madson was chosen to close for the Phillies. , Madson has converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities and has retained the closer role even after Lidge returned from the DL in July.
Madson finished 2011 with 32 saves, 62 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.37.