Ryan Madson

Ryan Madson
Cincinnati Reds – No. 46
Relief pitcher
Born: August 28, 1980 (1980-08-28) Long Beach, California
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 27, 2003 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics (through 2011 season)
Win-loss record	47–30
Earned run average	3.60
Strikeouts	547
Saves	52
Teams
Philadelphia Phillies (2003–2011)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2008)

Ryan Michael Madson (born August 28, 1980 in Long Beach, California), nicknamed "Mad Dog", is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. 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.^{[citation needed]}

Education and draft

Madson graduated from Valley View High School (Moreno Valley, California) in 1998 with a 3.5 GPA. His uncle, Steve Barr, was in the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers systems from 1969–1975. Madson was drafted by the Phillies in the 9th round (254th overall) of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.

Philadelphia Phillies

Highly regarded by the Phillies ever since they drafted him, Madson got to the major league level for good in 2004 as a relief pitcher. In 2005, he started out well, but appeared to wear down late in the season, finishing with a 4.14 ERA in 87 innings.

The Phillies had high hopes for Madson in 2006, 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 1 ²⁄₃ innings, striking out one while allowing one hit and one walk.

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. as of August 21, 2011 (2011 -08-21), Madson converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities and 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.

Cincinnati Reds

During the 2011-12 offseason, Madson agreed to a one year $8.5 million dollar contract.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Preceded by N/A

Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher 2004

Succeeded by Billy Wagner