Comments on: Ryan Minor, Back With the O’s http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:53:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: mitch http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-2601 mitch Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:44:54 +0000 http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-2601 Couldn't agree more with Nate and DG...one, Ryan Minor had his growth stunted by factors that were more timing related than anything else. Two, the dude was a PHENOMENOL basketball player. That really puts him in an elite class of all-around athletes, and God only knows it could have been easier to earn minutes on the hardwood right off the bat. If you watched him in hoops, you could tell he just had a feel for the game, and you gotta get reps in any sport to get feel going. I'm hoping he gets back to Camden one way or another, because it's obvious to me he must love the game, and that he's proud to be a Bird. Couldn’t agree more with Nate and DG…one, Ryan Minor had his growth stunted by factors that were more timing related than anything else. Two, the dude was a PHENOMENOL basketball player. That really puts him in an elite class of all-around athletes, and God only knows it could have been easier to earn minutes on the hardwood right off the bat. If you watched him in hoops, you could tell he just had a feel for the game, and you gotta get reps in any sport to get feel going. I’m hoping he gets back to Camden one way or another, because it’s obvious to me he must love the game, and that he’s proud to be a Bird.

]]> By: Paul http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1865 Paul Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:21:17 +0000 http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1865 I remember Ryan Minor for when I came here from the UK and started going to see the Bowie Baysox; I felt like it would be a good idea to pick a player to follow and learn about the sport through him, and Ryan Minor's 'star quality' made him an easy choice. I'm glad he's still involved with the game, that his exerptise won't be lost to young players, and that he can be an inspiration to encourage persistence and style still. Thanks for highlighting him. I remember Ryan Minor for when I came here from the UK and started going to see the Bowie Baysox; I felt like it would be a good idea to pick a player to follow and learn about the sport through him, and Ryan Minor’s ’star quality’ made him an easy choice. I’m glad he’s still involved with the game, that his exerptise won’t be lost to young players, and that he can be an inspiration to encourage persistence and style still. Thanks for highlighting him.

]]> By: DG http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1631 DG Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:53:58 +0000 http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1631 I'm sitting here trying to think of exactly why Ryan's name popped into my head...and I can't. It's funny how turning 30 last month made me nostalgic all the sudden. Maybe that explains the sudden urge to Google Ryan Minor, and why I'm on this site. I guess I didn't realize his legacy was so deeply rooted as the guy who ended Ripken's streak, and as the prospect who never panned out. Growing up in western Missouri, on the fringes of Jayhawk Country, his legacy is basketball. Plain and simple. I loved Kansas basketball, but in my Jr. and Sr. years of high school, I had a brief affair with OU. And I blame Ryan Minor (as do others). I count myself among those who spent countless hours perfecting Jordan's right-to-left hand mid-air switch from the NBA finals (or was it left to right? What year was that?). But, we also spent a fair amount of time mimicking a couple of Ryan's white-guys-aren't-supposed-to-that moves. Like the classic where he shakes a defender at the arc, drives baseline into a triple team just under the basket, elevates, spins 180, and delivers a no-look, over the shoulder, perfectly banked layup. Bottom line: the man was an athlete. Not just a shooter, but a guy who was a threat every time he touched the ball. Capable of acrobatic, circus quality moves and finishes. To me, that's Ryan Minor. I have now spent my entire lunch doing my best Joe Posnanski imitiation, trying to capture Minor's collegiate basketball essence. I'm very hungry. It's cool to hear he was, and is, such a class act for the O's organization. But I hope people remember him as a stud basketball player, and not the guy who came up short in Baltimore. For those of us who grew up in Big 8 (now 12) country, he'll always be a basketball cult hero. I’m sitting here trying to think of exactly why Ryan’s name popped into my head…and I can’t. It’s funny how turning 30 last month made me nostalgic all the sudden. Maybe that explains the sudden urge to Google Ryan Minor, and why I’m on this site. I guess I didn’t realize his legacy was so deeply rooted as the guy who ended Ripken’s streak, and as the prospect who never panned out. Growing up in western Missouri, on the fringes of Jayhawk Country, his legacy is basketball. Plain and simple. I loved Kansas basketball, but in my Jr. and Sr. years of high school, I had a brief affair with OU. And I blame Ryan Minor (as do others). I count myself among those who spent countless hours perfecting Jordan’s right-to-left hand mid-air switch from the NBA finals (or was it left to right? What year was that?). But, we also spent a fair amount of time mimicking a couple of Ryan’s white-guys-aren’t-supposed-to-that moves. Like the classic where he shakes a defender at the arc, drives baseline into a triple team just under the basket, elevates, spins 180, and delivers a no-look, over the shoulder, perfectly banked layup. Bottom line: the man was an athlete. Not just a shooter, but a guy who was a threat every time he touched the ball. Capable of acrobatic, circus quality moves and finishes. To me, that’s Ryan Minor. I have now spent my entire lunch doing my best Joe Posnanski imitiation, trying to capture Minor’s collegiate basketball essence. I’m very hungry. It’s cool to hear he was, and is, such a class act for the O’s organization. But I hope people remember him as a stud basketball player, and not the guy who came up short in Baltimore. For those of us who grew up in Big 8 (now 12) country, he’ll always be a basketball cult hero.

]]> By: Nate Hays http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1597 Nate Hays Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:33:38 +0000 http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1597 I love Ryan Minor. Not because he did anything special for the O's, but because he's a great guy. I know for a fact that he makes his home in Salisbury, where the Delmarva franchise resides, so I'm sure he's happy to be working for his old pals. While he played at Delmarva, he was a terrific local hero. I've had several long conversations with him before, during, and since, his days as an Oriole. He's always been the same friendly guy who'll gladly share a moment with a fan. The second baseman on my college baseball team (UMES) lived next door to Ryan, and Ryan used to give him some pro gear every once in a while. He was a class act. Good luck to him, and I hope he can help set the home team right. By the way, Cal Ripken's refusal to get out of the way pretty much killed Minor's chances of ever making it in the big leagues. Ryan never said that to me, that's just my opinion. Think about it like this: You've got a 25 year old prospect who's ready to contribute, who's hitting 25-35 homers a year in the minors. You bring him up, but you only let him play once a week or so. Instead of getting regular playing time and learning the speed of the bigs, he's wasting away on the bench getting cold. You've just taken a player you spent 3 years shaping into an every day third baseman, and now you've got him pinch hitting in the 8th inning every once in a while, and starting every time Randy Johnson takes the mound. How do you think he's going to respond to that? Pile on top the pressure of replacing Cal Ripken! Image the 12 year old kid that goes to Camden yards to see Cal play, only to find that Ryan Minor happens to be taking his place that day. Imagine the extra negative attention this guy got just for being put in the lineup! You can't blame the O's for letting Ripken play, you can't blame Ripken for wanting to play, and you can't blame Minor for not playing regularly. That's just the way it panned out for that poor guy. The only criticism I've got for Minor is that he wasn't the best fielder. I imagine it's tough to play infield when you're 6'9". If every ball was hit to the shortstop hole, he would have been something special. One or two strides that direction, and he's suddenly 90 feet from first base. Thanks for a fun blog! I just discovered it today. I'm going to add it to my favorites on my blog. Check out one of my latest blog postings. As an Orioles fan, I'm interested in what you think about this: http://fantasticset.blogspot.com/2008/02/youve-got-to-be-kidding-me.html I love Ryan Minor. Not because he did anything special for the O’s, but because he’s a great guy. I know for a fact that he makes his home in Salisbury, where the Delmarva franchise resides, so I’m sure he’s happy to be working for his old pals. While he played at Delmarva, he was a terrific local hero. I’ve had several long conversations with him before, during, and since, his days as an Oriole. He’s always been the same friendly guy who’ll gladly share a moment with a fan.

The second baseman on my college baseball team (UMES) lived next door to Ryan, and Ryan used to give him some pro gear every once in a while. He was a class act. Good luck to him, and I hope he can help set the home team right.

By the way, Cal Ripken’s refusal to get out of the way pretty much killed Minor’s chances of ever making it in the big leagues. Ryan never said that to me, that’s just my opinion. Think about it like this: You’ve got a 25 year old prospect who’s ready to contribute, who’s hitting 25-35 homers a year in the minors. You bring him up, but you only let him play once a week or so. Instead of getting regular playing time and learning the speed of the bigs, he’s wasting away on the bench getting cold. You’ve just taken a player you spent 3 years shaping into an every day third baseman, and now you’ve got him pinch hitting in the 8th inning every once in a while, and starting every time Randy Johnson takes the mound. How do you think he’s going to respond to that? Pile on top the pressure of replacing Cal Ripken! Image the 12 year old kid that goes to Camden yards to see Cal play, only to find that Ryan Minor happens to be taking his place that day. Imagine the extra negative attention this guy got just for being put in the lineup!

You can’t blame the O’s for letting Ripken play, you can’t blame Ripken for wanting to play, and you can’t blame Minor for not playing regularly. That’s just the way it panned out for that poor guy.

The only criticism I’ve got for Minor is that he wasn’t the best fielder. I imagine it’s tough to play infield when you’re 6′9″. If every ball was hit to the shortstop hole, he would have been something special. One or two strides that direction, and he’s suddenly 90 feet from first base.

Thanks for a fun blog! I just discovered it today. I’m going to add it to my favorites on my blog.

Check out one of my latest blog postings. As an Orioles fan, I’m interested in what you think about this:
http://fantasticset.blogspot.com/2008/02/youve-got-to-be-kidding-me.html

]]> By: basmati http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1542 basmati Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:36:01 +0000 http://shakedownsports.com/2008/01/28/ryan-minor-back-with-the-os/#comment-1542 The Pirates did something similar. They hired Sid Bream as some kind of minor league instructor. As you well know, it was Bream's slide barely ahead of Barry Bonds' substantard throw that marked the beginning of the Pirates' descent towards what will likely become a record for consecutive losing seasons. The Pirates did something similar. They hired Sid Bream as some kind of minor league instructor. As you well know, it was Bream’s slide barely ahead of Barry Bonds’ substantard throw that marked the beginning of the Pirates’ descent towards what will likely become a record for consecutive losing seasons.

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