A chat with Scott Boras cleared Ryan Madson's mind
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- When the Phillies went to Los Angeles last August, Ryan Madson had pitched to a 1.95 ERA in 28 games since returning from an embarrassing broken toe injury that kept him out for two months.
A chat with Scott Boras cleared Ryan Madson's mind
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- When the Phillies went to Los Angeles last August, Ryan Madson had pitched to a 1.95 ERA in 28 games since returning from an embarrassing broken toe injury that kept him out for two months.
But he still sought advice from a close friend, his agent Scott Boras. They met and Boras asked Madson why he had been so unsuccessful in closing opportunities before and what had prompted him to kick the chair. He wanted to know Madson's mental state.
Following the hour-long chat, Madson said he had a clearer mind. He didn't need to consult anyone else.
"After I was done talking to him, I was like 'Where's the pitching mound? Let me try this,'" Madson said. "It was like a salesman talking you into a better car."
Who knew Boras had those powers?
In all seriousness, Madson is convinced he's in a better mental state and if the chance to close in Brad Lidge's absence arises, he says he is ready. The Phillies will decide between Madson and Jose Contreras to close -- or use both.
The chat with Boras still resonates for Madson.
"He said, 'Tell me what your mentality was when you were closing,'" Madson recalled. "I was like, I thought I was going to be perfect. I really thought I was going to be perfect and not blow one save. That was my mentality going out there. That's what I was like in the minor-leagues, so I stuck with it. Well it doesn't work that way. You're putting too much emphasis on every pitch. It has to be perfect. Then when you blow a save, it carries on and little things happen. It's so finicky of an inning you can't be finicky with your mind. You have to be solid and just know, 'This is going to happen. Tomorrow it's not.'"
Madson, by the way, is a free agent after this season. With Boras as his agent, he signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Phillies before the 2009 season.
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So "Boras is the enemy" - "Boras is a dirtbag" - "Boras is Mother Teresa"! Interesting assessments of a person no one making those statements really knows anything about. If anyone who think about Boras negatively had the talent of any of his clients, they'd be stupid not to speak with Boras and find out what he thought he could do for them. He's the player's representative with management, just as any of you who are union members have shop stewards and union negotiation people to represent your interests with management. If I, or my son, or my grandson had the talent to play MLB, I guarantee you that we'd sit down with Boras to find out what he thought he should and could do for us. All of us want to maximum our earnings. Boras helps players do that. It also looks like, from Madson's accounting, that he goes beyond that and probes the player's psych to help the player's performance on the field. Exactly what is wrong with that? I hope Madson takes Lidge's job. He's younger, throws harder and has a longer future in the game than Lidge. And I hope Boras gets him all the money he can pry from RAJ.— philasportsfan- Boras is really good at what he does. There is always a bit of salesmanship in everything, and the person who's being sold first is the salesperson. Meaning, you have to sell yourself on the idea that you can get it done. No sale ever has to be perfect, but you need to do whatever is necessary to make sure it gets done. Meaning, not every pitch has to be a strike, not every batter needs to be struck out. If he's past that thinking, then he's ready.— beegal99
- That hall of fame bound guy that pitches for the Yankees, what's his name. Seems to do okay with JUST two pitches.— Ron
- A closer's mentality? Madsen has NO mentality.— orange rhino
If you are paying any attention at all, you have to KNOW Madson's problems are all between his ears... The man can flat-out pitch the baseball... What would it cost to get the best shrink/hypnotist involved in the case? Spend the money...- I want Cholly to use Madson as the closer. He's got to see if he can do it, because if he can, we have our future closer.— OBLawyer
Better add some youth. Starting to look like "Wheeze Kids Part Deux" around here.— pigday31- Contreras is mentally tougher...keep Madson where he doesn;t have to think.....— Wheel
- this is madson's history: come into a tight game (normally the 8th), blow away the first two batters, get two strikes on the third, lose him (walk or cheap hit), give up a homer. he is not a closer. but charlie (being charlie) will use him, again and again and again. my heart goes out to the starters.— bubba church & granny hamner
- I know we all hate Boras, but he does more than just get them big money. He's no weasel like Ro$enhau$.— COskier
