What's He Doing Here?

When I shot this picture on May 16th, 2013, Brendan Ryan was the Mariners' shortstop as they visited the Yankees in the Bronx. Then batting .149, Ryan was struggling to remain in the Seattle lineup.
What a difference four months make: the defensively gifted Ryan couldn't hold onto his job. Forgotten by the Mariners, he's sent to the Yanks in a waiver deal to bolster New York's bench after Derek Jeter goes back on the disabled list. Guess who's playing shortstop for the Yankees Thursday night? Yep, the newly pinstriped Mr. Ryan.
Following a painful bottom of the 8th when the usually dependable David Robertson gives up Danny Valencia's game-tying home run, Ryan, hitless as a Yankee, has to lead off the top of the 9th. He singles, and later comes around on Jim Johnson's wild pitch for the go-ahead run.
While Mariano Rivera is quickly disposing of Baltimore in the bottom of the 9th, I'm trying to remember if Ryan played the night I last saw Seattle play in New York. Fortunately, I found this image during the final at-bat of the game, to Manny Machado. There is no way I could have imagined that Brendan Ryan would be a Yankee later that season or he'd be the pivotal player in a crucial 9th inning rally as the club tries to stay alive in the Wild Card chase.
So, call me the photographic equivalent of a packrat, but sometimes, it's just wise to hold onto a picture of every player you see.

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