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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Mike Ryan happy to be with Isotopes after going without calls

By Glen Rosales
For theJournal
          Mike Ryan hit the American League in 2003 like the second coming of Babe Ruth.
        In Ryan's 61 at-bats that season, he hit .393 with five homers and 13 RBI. Half his 24 hits were for extra bases.
        Projected to a full season, those are MVP-type numbers — and the Albuquerque Isotopes hope to see similar production from their newest outfielder, who signed with them Thursday.
        The problem is, he never got that full season. Nowhere close. And his numbers never again approached those 2003 levels. Nowhere close.
        "I had a chance to play regularly and I got a lot of at bats," Ryan said of his early success. "I really got into a groove. But the next season, I was coming off the bench. That's hard for a batter to do. Being a pinch hitter in the American League isn't the funnest thing."
        Especially when struggling to do it well, although in a pinch-hit appearance Saturday, he tripled to left-center for his first hit as an Isotope. He ended up playing parts of four seasons in the major leagues, but his career spiraled downward as he started to bounce from organization to organization. And when spring training rolled around this season, his phone was decidedly quiet.
        He finally signed with an independent Atlantic Coast League team in Somerset, N.J. Once there, however, he made the most of the opportunity, hitting .282 with 15 homers with the Patriots. It was enough to attract the attention of the Florida Marlins, who knew they had a hole to fill in Albuquerque with John Gall joining the Olympic team.
        "I knew him when he was in Edmonton and I was in Calgary," said Isotopes manager Dean Treanor. "He was a good ballplayer. A lot of power. He went 31-for-101 and he was batting leadoff."
        So Treanor was quite happy to bring in the lefty veteran, particularly since the Atlantic League is known for producing some pitchers who have made it to the bigs leagues, so Ryan's numbers there have to be considered fairly legitimate.
        "I like to have outfielders with some experience," he said. "Losing Gall, we needed somebody like him. He's a lefty with power and he'll be able to go the other way with it. This ballpark is made for somebody like him."
        For his part, Ryan said he enjoyed his time in the Atlantic League, but he's happy to be back with a major league organization.
        "I'm glad to be here," the 30-year-old said. "I had a good time there and I met a lot of great people."
        Still, now he's back one step from the majors.
        "I wouldn't say I'm looking at this as my last chance," Ryan said. "I'm just thankful I'm here and I have a chance to show people what I can do. I just wanted to continue to play."
        His manager isn't looking at it that way, either.
        "This is another chance," Treanor said. "He came over from indy ball so I'm sure he's happy to be back with an organization again."
        For a hitter trying to make impression, Ryan couldn't have picked a better place to try to revive a career.
        "I see the ball carrying a little bit better than normal here," he said. "But that can be tough, too, because you start trying to hit it out."
        At this point in the season, he just wants to make an impression any way he can.
        "I want to go out there and do the things I always do," Ryan said. "Play hard and help the team win some games."