Friday, January 13, 2012

Happy Trails Ryan Madson

Ryan Madson is leaving the only organization he has been associated with for his entire professional career.  Madson will be going to the Cincinnati Reds as a Free Agent - He will open the season as the Reds closer and likely hope that he can use 2012 as a springboard to a big payout contract for 2013 (as if $8.5 MM isn't enough)

2010 Phungo #46 Ryan Madson 
 
Madson was mixed as the Phils interim closer over the last few campaigns, yet I have a great degree of fondness for Madson. 
 
Obviously, I am a fan of any member of the 08 World Championship team - but it was the Madson games that I was fortunate enough to see that really made me a fan.  During the 08 championship runa and the 09 World Series I was was able to go to 5 playoff games.  The Phils won all 5 and Madson participated in all 5 - I have seen the Phils on the Winning end of two world series games Madson pitched in both and saved one (he did blow a hold in game 5 of the 08 World Series but the Phils came back).  And way back in 2006 when Madson was still a starter we got to seem him shutout the Orioles in an interleague contest. 
 
In 2004 when Madson first came up he was a big unknown form the Phils minor league system.  He wasn't a huge prospect (9th round pick) that we had heard about for years.  But he pitched very well and would become a critical pitcher in there bullpen, but....
 
Late in 04 Madson got one of his two freak injuries.  He injured his pitching hand when he ran into a wall chasing a ball in BP.  Then in 2010 Madson broke his toe kicking a chair in the locker room following a blown save in San Francisco.  So Madson is known as a bit of an idiot around Phungo HQ as well.  
 
The above Phungo Card is from the 2010 set, stay awake, I heard a rumour that the 2012 cards are lurking....
 
 
 

1 comment:

Jim said...

Bring on the 2012 Phungo cards!

a thousand words

a thousand words
2008 World Champions