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Live Chat With Former MLB Catcher Ryan Lavarnway
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Ryan Lavarnway
10:00
Hey guys, thanks for having me on here. Looking forward to chatting with you.
Kory
10:00
Ryan thanks for chatting with us! Who was your favorite pitcher to catch in your career?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:01
I have a lot of favorites over the years. This is a loaded question for me because I never know if I say, "most successful pitcher", because that is Jon Lester for sure. But a pitcher that became my best friend? Josh Zeid
Pop
10:01
Are you an autograph guy? Do fans ask for your autograph a lot even now?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:01
I do sign autographs when asked, yes. Get asked for them now, also yes.
Pai
10:02
Do people talk trash about you in every visiting city? What are some things they say?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:02
I love it when people get creative with trash talk. "You suck" is so unoriginal. My favorite is when they can make me laugh. Have you ever tried to hit when you're laughing? It's impossible.
Ewdr
10:02
What is the best MiLB city/stadium and best MLB city/stadium?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:03
100% Columbus. I love that stadium and I love that city. Portland, ME is also amazing. So is Nashville
John
10:03
Do you read some of the comments posted on this site or do you avoid them?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:03
I typically try to avoid any news or rumors about my career. It's been good for mental health :)
Nic
10:03
Some players strongly dislike Rob Manfred. Are you one or are you the opposite?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:04
Rob Manfred is just trying to do his job. Ideally, he is trying to grow baseball and that is good for everyone.
John
10:04
Hey Ryan, congrats on a solid career. I respect the grind. I do however have a question about September 28, 2011 (Andino game). I was at that game as an Orioles fan and remember the talk of the next morning was Tito’s decision to hit you behind Adrian Gonzalez. He got intentionally walked 3x to face you. I always felt for you because of that moment and followed your career. What was it like being in the clubhouse after that game? We’re you all aware the rays came back to beat the Yankees? Was anything special said? Thanks
Ryan Lavarnway
10:04
G-d I wish we had won that game!
Bobby Lee
10:04
Hey Ryan, do you have any interest in joining MLBTR full time? The owner Tim Dierkes doesn’t pay his “writing” team fair wages, but NONE OF THEM have any baseball experience whatsoever — either playing, scouting, or working in the front office. It would be GREAT to have an actual former player give fans some actual insights, instead of the glorified “guessing team” MLBTR currently has. They usually just refresh Twitter for somebody else’s rumors and post an article for a few cents in ad click revenue. Save the site Ryan!
Ryan Lavarnway
10:04
Give these guys a break, man. When I do actually see stuff on here, I always like it.
Big Lar
10:04
You played with the Braves in 2015, what was it like to watch Andrelton Simmons play SS in his prime?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:06
Andrelton Simmons is like watching poetry in motion. It was like when I got to play with Manny Machado and Matt Chapman. Those three are the best I've ever seen do it. They make impossible plays look routine. And routine plays look boring.
MLP
10:06
That was really some farewell article.  What's your next "why not me?" goal?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:06
Thank you. I'm still trying to figure that out. I still love the game, and I'd love to make a positive impact. Stay tuned
UConn Do It
10:07
Hi Ryan, I'm a big fan of yours and was lucky enough to be seated right behind the dugout in Toronto for your huge 3-run blast in 2012. That Red Sox season was brutal, worst record since 1965. Do you believe Bobby V was the main reason, or was there some other fatal flaw with that team that people don't know about?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:07
It's easy to blame Bobby V, but there definitely had to be more to it than that. I wish I had a secret sauce or one single thing to point to that happened that year, but we just didn't play well as a group.
Danny Donovan
10:08
Ryan-this is a question with you now retired will you follow the footsteps of many former mlb players and start playing softball? Would love to have you on our team from boston for a tournament or two!
Ryan Lavarnway
10:08
Hahahaha. Maybe. I still love the game! I used to play with my dad's unlimited arc team in some games in LA, its fun!
Altuve’s Buzzer
10:09
Hey Ryan! Congrats on a great career! Because you played in the MLB in ‘17, ‘18 and ‘19, can you tell us if the Astros were using buzzers during that time? I know MLB said that it was only in ‘17, but former players have come out and talked
Ryan Lavarnway
10:10
There were all types of rumors going around about the Astros for years. There were also rumors going around about the Blue Jays having a system, and other teams trying to figure out pitches too. It wasn't just an Astros thing. Everyone is always trying to find an edge. As far as buzzers, I don't have any insider info on that, no
Bleacher Bum
10:10
Which are the most important qualities of an MLB manager?  And where does in-game decision making rank?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:13
That's a good question. How and when managers use the bullpen is something that effects every game. Pinch hitting, hit and run, bunting, a lot of the other old school managerial decisions happen less and less in the modern era. But there is a huge part of being a manger that has to do with dealing with media, and another huge piece of the pie that has to do with communication, managing people, coaching staff, setting an expectation and a tone. There's a lot to do!
John alexander
10:13
I’ve been following you on LinkedIn for awhile now, so I was surprised when I saw former mlb player pop up on my newsfeed. Best of luck in your post playing career
Ryan Lavarnway
10:13
Thank you!
GoRaysGo!
10:13
September 27th, 2011 was your first ever start as a MLB catcher. Can you describe the feeling you felt that day, and how you felt after the game?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:14
I was NOT expecting to get the start at catcher at that point. WIth Tek and Salty both ahead of me. For them BOTH to get hurt in the same game to give me that opportunity, I was caught off guard. I borrowed Tek's notebook with his scouting report and stayed up all night studying it. I was nervous as hell
Jorge78
10:14
Hi Ryan!  Thanks for doing this!  I'm sorry but hard question: why didn't your bat come around?  Not playing regularly?  The stress of catching?  Injuries?  You were so highly touted.  Again, I apologize for the brutal question.....
Ryan Lavarnway
10:17
Fair question. I never got regular at bats in the big leagues. Almost every one of my call-ups, I came up as a back-up catcher and got at bats one or two days a week. Doing that is a totally different skill and takes a maturity level that I didn't have in my early twenties. But I learned to do it later in my career.
Jorge78
10:17
Ryan!  What was Yale like?  Did you get into Skull and Bones?  Can you even answer that?  I hope not too many Red Sox fans give you a hard time here.  There are many die hard ones on this site.  Prepare yourself!
Ryan Lavarnway
10:17
Hahahahaha, I was not in Skull and Bones. But even if I was, I wouldn't be able to tell you!
Justin David Kish
10:17
What would say is the biggest takeaway from your professional career?
Ryan Lavarnway
10:18
Biggest takeaway, treat people the right way.
Jewish fan
10:18
you were a tremendous inspiration for millions of Jewish baseball fans highlighted by your pool play in the 2017 wbc where you were the pool mvp for Israel.  what role do you see the wbc playing in spreading the game to new communities both here in the USA and internationally?
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