Q.  So you presume that Ryan plays short --- > with a Jack Wilson style?

A.  We infer it, and observe it, not presume it.

Preparing to write up this POTD, we trotted by Lookout Landing, and saw that the very great Jeff Sullivan thought of Ryan as a Wilson comp.  Told you he was very, very intelligent...

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Sully pointed out the fans' scouting report.  Notice that the fans ding Ryan only for two things:  footwork on the throw to first, and accuracy on the throw to first.

There you go.  The man is a miracle worker at SS, with a rocket arm .... but the arm is a bit unpredictable.

That'll happen when you're making up new ways to set your feet every play.  Ryan isn't a polished technical shortstop; he's a great athlete who's at short because he's the most physically-gifted athlete out there.

I love it.  I'll take the throws into the stands, so that I can watch the explosive dives, popups and gunouts.  All day, baby.

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Q.  How about some Editor's Choice vids on the D?

A.  Here is a video that captures all of the above elements of the Wilson / Ryan white boy soccer jones game.

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Here's another one.  You've seen spinning throws, but it's amusing to see how early Ryan starts the spin, and how he hangs in the air like an NBA player to --- > catch sight of 1B, before he lets fly.

Watch it a few times; watch him jump, look over to 1B in the air, get radar lock on the target, and then throw.

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Here's one going the other way, into the hole ... notice on the stop-motion how close Ryan's CG is to the ball, like Wilson's, and how far he sticks his nose into the ball.  Pause the vid at the moment of reception.  ... then notice that he doesn't plant the back foot and fire; he leaps and flips like a 2B turning a DP.  That's an arm.

From an aiki standpoint, we love love love the subtle bringing of the ball in to his CG on the transfer, before throwing.  You don't play sports on the perimeter of your reach; you play it from the one-point.

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You're not supposed to be able to perform well without consistent technique, but Wilson and Ryan do, and I flat enjoy watching 'em.

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