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....