Ryan started his career as a left-handed specialist. His inability to command his pitches, combined with a history of difficulty facing right-handed batters, prevented him from acquiring a larger role in the bullpen. However, his eccentric, three-quarter, slingshot-like delivery made him a dominant force against left-handed batters.\n', '

On May 1, 2003, Ryan logged an unusual accomplishment: he won a game without throwing a pitch. Ryan\'s first throw was to first base where he picked off Detroit Tigers\' Omar Infante to end the inning. The Orioles took the lead in the next half-inning and Ryan was relieved to begin the half-inning after that.\n', '

During his prime, Ryan was able to not only control his pitches, but also add tailing movement to his low-90s fastball. This movement, combined with his devastating slider, helped his success rate against right-handed batters. During his years with Baltimore, he translated this success into a larger role in the Orioles\' bullpen. By the middle of 2004, he secured the primary setup role. By the end of the year, he took Jorge Julio\'s job as the closer.\n', '

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