Well the Orioles are attempting to dip into the Ripken well again today as they drafted Cal Ripkens son Ryan Ripken in the 20th round of today’s MLB draft. I know what most people are thinking: 1.We have the next Cal Ripken! 2. 20th round? How my rounds is that thing? Both legitimate thoughts. Unfortunately from what I hear from my sources Ryan Ripken isn’t nearly the player his dad was or really much of a prospect at all. (And by sources I mean some kid that I talked to today at work that went to a rival high school with him and said that he wasn’t even that good at baseball so he was “shocked” and a guy who commented on some local website that said he saw him play multiple times and he wasn’t much of a player. Obviously very reliable sources.) Either way Ripken did go to school in Baltimore at Gilman High School and committed to South Carolina University. Apparently he measures at 6’6, 205 LBS and plays first base. My opinion on this is that its kind of cool the O’s draft Ripken’s son even if it is just for nostalgic’s stake (might be a better way of phrasing that). But from what I hear there is little to no chance of him ever playing for the O’s and I wouldn’t be shocked if he passed on the offer and went to South Carolina because obviously money is not a burden in the Ripken household. Either way I doubt it will affect the O’s much baseball wise. I don’t want to rain on the kid’s parade because it’s really cool to get drafted (especially for the team that your father is a legend for) and he is going to get a free education from a solid school, I just don’t want O’s fans thinking that we have the 2nd coming of Cal and put a ton of pressure on this kid. Overall though good for Ryan and the Ripken family and I will certainly be rooting for him to succeed.  Read more...