Year of the Mad Dog

Ryan “Mad Dog” Madson’s 2006 baseball season started out with great promise. Mad Dog arrived at spring training in Clear Water and pitched so well the Phillies gave him a spot in the starting rotation. At spring training Madson started 5 games throwing 24 innings with a slim 1.50 ERA and 18 Ks to only 5 BBs. The regular season was nothing like Clearwater. Madson stunk up the 17 games he started, throwing up an awful 6.28 ERA. Madson started to overthrow his pitches in his zeal to dazzle fans. He lost his control and started to give up more hits and walk to batters than in past seasons.

Before 2006 Madson had shown great potential in previous campaigns. Over the course of his first two seasons several important pitching indicators trended in a positive direction for Madson. His K/B ratio and K/9 both improved. Another positive sign was the dip of pitches per innings in Madson’s performance as a reliever this past season.

I predict 2007 will be the year of the Mad Dog. Madson has the benefit of knowing he his role on the team as one of the Phillies primary relievers. That will allow him to focus his attention on preparing as a reliever and not worry about pitching as a starter. Madson is also reportedly adding a “slurve” or sweeping curve to his pitching repertoire. 2007 will be the year Mad Dog shakes off his slump and lives up to his potential as an ace reliever.

Sources:
Phillies Team Report
By Ken Mandel / Sporting News

Picture of Ryan Madson from washingtonpost.com