Post by elon_phan on May 19, 2007 20:30:00 GMT -5
Armed and dangerous
By Bob Sutton / Times-News
May 18, 2007 3:00 AM
ELON — Ryan Addison can sound almost conflicted about his identity on Elon University’s baseball team.
He covets those stolen bases. He thinks it’s pretty cool to hit home runs.
Others marvel about his defense — robbing an opponent of a home run, making a diving catch in the gap. And then there’s that arm.
“Whenever a ball goes to right field, I always expect something,” said Elon first baseman Chris Vasami, who has had Addison’s throws whiz past his head on the way toward home plate. “You sit there and think, ‘That’s awesome.’ ”
Vasami has company in that assessment.
Addison, 22, might be best positioned among Elon’s players to play professionally later this year, possessing many of the tools on scouts’ checklists.
“He has got a ton of tools,” Elon coach Mike Kennedy said. “It’s a matter of putting it all together.”
Pinpointing Addison’s most compelling attributes can be tricky, particularly because his off-field pursuits command as much attention as he might create on the base paths for opposing pitchers. It’s versatility that extends from the diamond to the classroom.
So where do you start?
Consider this combination: Addison hit home runs in three consecutive games in March. The next game, he stole home.
“Stealing bases, that’s my favorite,” Addison said. “That’s what I love to do. But I’d have to say the home runs make me the most excited. Until I got here, it’s something I wasn’t able to do.”
Now, he does quite a bit of everything for the Phoenix, and yet he wonders about his baseball future. He arrived at Elon on a two-year mission after playing for Young Harris (Ga.) College.
It would be hard to find someone as grateful for the opportunity, as appreciative of his surroundings. And you don’t have to ask specifically because he’ll volunteer it, giving the coaching staff an endorsement that no public relations campaign could conceive.
“I told them my long-term goal and they made a commitment to me and they’ve worked with me,” he said. “They’ve exhausted everything possible to allow me to meet those goals. They’ve always been so positive with me.
“I finally bought into it. Every time I go bad, they’re so supportive. They keep my confidence up. They’re really positive.”
Addison’s outlook makes that a relatively easy coaching endeavor.
“I remember when Addison signed with us, he said the junior college never worked with him,” Elon assistant coach Greg Starbuck said. “He gets a chance to do a lot of extra work. He likes to work.”
Baseball and books
Don’t be misguided by the senior right fielder’s athleticism. Addison is as attuned to discussing books as he is baseball.
He’ll graduate this weekend with a grade point average around 3.5, a point of pride equal or above any line on a baseball statistics sheet.
While an inefficient at-bat irritates him, imagine how he might fidget about a fraction involving his GPA. He said he became so consumed with course work — and he’s bound to mention academics in what’s otherwise a conversation about baseball — that he should concentrate better on the field with classes complete.
“Spring break was the best week I’ve had in baseball,” he said. “Maybe I’m guilty of placing my priorities a little too much on school.
“I’m really proud when I get a test back and have good grades. That makes me feel so good.”
The passion to pursue a baseball career can be balanced because of his degree in international business. A baseball job would be nice, but a paycheck from Liberty Mutual, Marriott or insight.com could offer something as intriguing as a pay stub with a major league logo.
He studies baseball, too.
Want postgame details, he’ll have processed those. He might gush about a teammate’s mammoth home run or lament the hard-luck outing of a teammate who smashed numerous hard-hit balls right at fielders.
Run if you dare
Shortstop Jordy Snyder and Addison visited Elon the same weekend that their junior college teams met in a game. The respect ran in both directions then, with Snyder screeching to a halt after rounding first base and ditching the idea of trying to stretch a single into a double because Addison had retrieved the ball in right field.
They became roommates at Elon, and they can laugh about that sequence now.
Addison has nine outfield assists this year, but Snyder figures that there’s no way he should notch another.
“I don’t expect that people are going to run on him,” Snyder said. “You’ve got guts if you do.”
An arm injury at age 14 meant Addison went about six months without throwing. A few years later with a travel team, his right arm became one of his main assets.
“Every time there’s a runner on second, I’m just hoping the ball comes to me,” Addison said.
Addison’s goal of playing for the University of Georgia was dashed, so he went to Young Harris.
After his freshman season, he took the summer off from baseball. He worked up to 80 hours per week at a combination of jobs. He takes that work ethic to the field or the batting cage.
And eventually, it came to Elon.
Visiting family in Madison, Wis., he learned of the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League, a summer college circuit. That led to a connection to Elon assistant coach Robbie Huffstetler, who was coaching the league’s Mankato, Minn., team. Addison played two summers in Mankato.
Despite ups and downs at the plate this season, Addison said he’s particularly pleased with an increase in walks from last year.
“One of the hardest things for me is when you are trying to meet your baseball goals, you want to do too much,” he said. “You try to do everything on one pitch. You want to utilize your talent.
“The inconsistency is because of the pressure. Instead of letting it happen, sometimes I try to make it happen.”
Numbers game
Addison wore No. 16 during his first Elon season. No. 25 became available with pitcher Lance Cole’s graduation, so Addison took it because the number is worn by Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones.
Addison, from Marietta, Ga., has taken a particular interest in Jones’ talents.
“I go to the Braves games and I only watch him,” he said. “He looks like he has way more fun and has way less stress.”
That level of relaxation is something Addison would embrace. He said he has cut down on overthinking on the field because he became so cerebral that it carved into acting instinctively.
“Sometimes he doesn’t allow himself to stay in a good groove,” said Starbuck, who has helped the outfielder quench his thirst for regular feedback. “That’s exactly what it is. He has to hit before practice, after practice. He needs a lot of constant re-enforcement. He’ll call me.”
Soon, he’ll be waiting for another call, hoping to extend a baseball career.
“I’ve worked so hard so I think it will work out some way, some how,” Addison said. “The thing is, I do have what it takes.”
In his case, there’s plenty to choose from.
By Bob Sutton / Times-News
May 18, 2007 3:00 AM
ELON — Ryan Addison can sound almost conflicted about his identity on Elon University’s baseball team.
He covets those stolen bases. He thinks it’s pretty cool to hit home runs.
Others marvel about his defense — robbing an opponent of a home run, making a diving catch in the gap. And then there’s that arm.
“Whenever a ball goes to right field, I always expect something,” said Elon first baseman Chris Vasami, who has had Addison’s throws whiz past his head on the way toward home plate. “You sit there and think, ‘That’s awesome.’ ”
Vasami has company in that assessment.
Addison, 22, might be best positioned among Elon’s players to play professionally later this year, possessing many of the tools on scouts’ checklists.
“He has got a ton of tools,” Elon coach Mike Kennedy said. “It’s a matter of putting it all together.”
Pinpointing Addison’s most compelling attributes can be tricky, particularly because his off-field pursuits command as much attention as he might create on the base paths for opposing pitchers. It’s versatility that extends from the diamond to the classroom.
So where do you start?
Consider this combination: Addison hit home runs in three consecutive games in March. The next game, he stole home.
“Stealing bases, that’s my favorite,” Addison said. “That’s what I love to do. But I’d have to say the home runs make me the most excited. Until I got here, it’s something I wasn’t able to do.”
Now, he does quite a bit of everything for the Phoenix, and yet he wonders about his baseball future. He arrived at Elon on a two-year mission after playing for Young Harris (Ga.) College.
It would be hard to find someone as grateful for the opportunity, as appreciative of his surroundings. And you don’t have to ask specifically because he’ll volunteer it, giving the coaching staff an endorsement that no public relations campaign could conceive.
“I told them my long-term goal and they made a commitment to me and they’ve worked with me,” he said. “They’ve exhausted everything possible to allow me to meet those goals. They’ve always been so positive with me.
“I finally bought into it. Every time I go bad, they’re so supportive. They keep my confidence up. They’re really positive.”
Addison’s outlook makes that a relatively easy coaching endeavor.
“I remember when Addison signed with us, he said the junior college never worked with him,” Elon assistant coach Greg Starbuck said. “He gets a chance to do a lot of extra work. He likes to work.”
Baseball and books
Don’t be misguided by the senior right fielder’s athleticism. Addison is as attuned to discussing books as he is baseball.
He’ll graduate this weekend with a grade point average around 3.5, a point of pride equal or above any line on a baseball statistics sheet.
While an inefficient at-bat irritates him, imagine how he might fidget about a fraction involving his GPA. He said he became so consumed with course work — and he’s bound to mention academics in what’s otherwise a conversation about baseball — that he should concentrate better on the field with classes complete.
“Spring break was the best week I’ve had in baseball,” he said. “Maybe I’m guilty of placing my priorities a little too much on school.
“I’m really proud when I get a test back and have good grades. That makes me feel so good.”
The passion to pursue a baseball career can be balanced because of his degree in international business. A baseball job would be nice, but a paycheck from Liberty Mutual, Marriott or insight.com could offer something as intriguing as a pay stub with a major league logo.
He studies baseball, too.
Want postgame details, he’ll have processed those. He might gush about a teammate’s mammoth home run or lament the hard-luck outing of a teammate who smashed numerous hard-hit balls right at fielders.
Run if you dare
Shortstop Jordy Snyder and Addison visited Elon the same weekend that their junior college teams met in a game. The respect ran in both directions then, with Snyder screeching to a halt after rounding first base and ditching the idea of trying to stretch a single into a double because Addison had retrieved the ball in right field.
They became roommates at Elon, and they can laugh about that sequence now.
Addison has nine outfield assists this year, but Snyder figures that there’s no way he should notch another.
“I don’t expect that people are going to run on him,” Snyder said. “You’ve got guts if you do.”
An arm injury at age 14 meant Addison went about six months without throwing. A few years later with a travel team, his right arm became one of his main assets.
“Every time there’s a runner on second, I’m just hoping the ball comes to me,” Addison said.
Addison’s goal of playing for the University of Georgia was dashed, so he went to Young Harris.
After his freshman season, he took the summer off from baseball. He worked up to 80 hours per week at a combination of jobs. He takes that work ethic to the field or the batting cage.
And eventually, it came to Elon.
Visiting family in Madison, Wis., he learned of the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League, a summer college circuit. That led to a connection to Elon assistant coach Robbie Huffstetler, who was coaching the league’s Mankato, Minn., team. Addison played two summers in Mankato.
Despite ups and downs at the plate this season, Addison said he’s particularly pleased with an increase in walks from last year.
“One of the hardest things for me is when you are trying to meet your baseball goals, you want to do too much,” he said. “You try to do everything on one pitch. You want to utilize your talent.
“The inconsistency is because of the pressure. Instead of letting it happen, sometimes I try to make it happen.”
Numbers game
Addison wore No. 16 during his first Elon season. No. 25 became available with pitcher Lance Cole’s graduation, so Addison took it because the number is worn by Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones.
Addison, from Marietta, Ga., has taken a particular interest in Jones’ talents.
“I go to the Braves games and I only watch him,” he said. “He looks like he has way more fun and has way less stress.”
That level of relaxation is something Addison would embrace. He said he has cut down on overthinking on the field because he became so cerebral that it carved into acting instinctively.
“Sometimes he doesn’t allow himself to stay in a good groove,” said Starbuck, who has helped the outfielder quench his thirst for regular feedback. “That’s exactly what it is. He has to hit before practice, after practice. He needs a lot of constant re-enforcement. He’ll call me.”
Soon, he’ll be waiting for another call, hoping to extend a baseball career.
“I’ve worked so hard so I think it will work out some way, some how,” Addison said. “The thing is, I do have what it takes.”
In his case, there’s plenty to choose from.