Joe Ryan Feat. Ryan Helsley

I was sure I had found my MLBoyfriend of the week on Tuesday, September 13. I went to Target Field that night and saw Twins rookie, Joe Ryan, give a masterful performance on the mound.

Ryan had a no-hitter going through 7 complete innings with 9 strikeouts and only 2 walks. I was one of the crowd booing the decision to send in a relief pitcher at the start of the 8th inning--even though, in retrospect, the call makes sense.

#MNTwins fans aren’t too happy about Joe Ryan being pulled… 😬 pic.twitter.com/a03isNMSuf

— SKOR North (@SKORNorth) September 14, 2022

Ryan ended the day with a 0.00 ERA (obviously), a 0.29 WHIP, a win, a quality start, and an adorably awkward interview.

Joe Ryan became the first rookie in @Twins history to complete seven innings without allowing a hit. @KatieStorm spoke with Joe after the impressive performance against the Royals. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/49ycfz8pnd

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) September 14, 2022

Here's the pic I took with my phone of Ryan fumbling with his answer to that last "good question".

So, case closed, right? Joe Ryan will be my MLBoyfriend. Not so fast. On Saturday, I get a message from friend of the blog, friend IRL, and lifelong Cardinals fan Seán with a nomination for the week. Former MLBoyfriend Ryan Helsley pitched an immaculate inning on Friday, September 16.

That's right. Helsley went into the game in the 9th inning and threw just 9 pitches--everyone of them a strike. It is a very rare feat in baseball. Helsley is only the third pitcher in the history of the Cardinals organization to achieve it.

The #STLCards immaculate inning club:

Gibson in '69
Isringhausen in '02
Helsley '22 pic.twitter.com/cBX0jU7BK4

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 17, 2022

Helsley finished the week strong with 3.0 innings pitched giving up just 2 hits and 0 walks with 6 strikeout, a 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 2 save/holds. He was definitely giving Joe Ryan a run for his money.

Then, on Sunday, September 18, Ryan pitched another humdinger. 

He went 7.2 innings, giving up 3 hits, 2 walks, and no earned runs, with 5 strikeouts--giving him a second win and quality start for the week.

For the week, Ryan's stats are very impressive. Pitching 14.2 innings, he had a 0.00 ERA and 0.48 WHIP with 2 wins and 2 quality starts. Plus, it's always nice to have a fresh face on the blog. So....

Congratulations, Joe Ryan! You are my MLBoyfriend of the week.

Postseason, Week 1: Ryan Helsley

Ryan Helsley is my MLBoyfriend of the week because he had the courage to speak out against racism. I worked on this post for about half an hour, and realized I was going to bury the lede way too deeply.* So, let me put this upfront, Ryan Helsley, a member of the Cherokee Nation, got my attention and won my heart when he had this to say about the Atlanta Braves' horrible "Tomhawk Chop":

“I think it’s a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general. [It] just depicts them in this kind of caveman-type people way who aren’t intellectual. They are a lot more than that. It’s not me being offended by the whole mascot thing. It’s not. It’s about the misconception of us, the Native Americans, and it devalues us and how we’re perceived in that way, or used as mascots. The Redskins and stuff like that. ...That’s the disappointing part. That stuff like this still goes on. It’s just disrespectful, I think.”

Ryan Helsley is a rookie who just played his first postseason game. He showed a lot of strength and civility in what has to be a both a very exciting and stressful time. That makes his stand all the more impressive.

Congratulations, Ryan Helsey! You are my MLBoyfriend.  Before this season began, I said I would keep an eye out for "My Ethical MLBoyfriend", and you definitely fit the bill. Plus, you're super cute.

UPDATED 10/9: I didn't include the Atlanta team's official response to Ryan Helsley's comments in this post. I was skeptical, to say the least, that they "appreciate and take seriously Mr. Helsley's concerns". I was equally leery of MLB Commisioner Rob Manfred saying that the ball team has "taken steps to take out" the Tomahawk Chop chant. The headline of Deadspin's post on Sunday about the chant and Helsley's response to it summed up my feelings: "Braves Give Lie To Rob Manfield's Insistence That The 'Tomahawk Chop' Is Being Discouraged". In short, I didn't think Helsley's comments would have any effect.

I am happy to report that I was wrong. Ryan Helsey's criticism has actually caused the Atlanta organization to make some positive changes.