09/08/2006 8:11 AM ET Q&A with the Orioles' Chris Ray MLBPLAYERS.com sits down with Baltimore closer By Jeff Moeller  / MLBPLAYERS.com

Closer Chris Ray's favorite pitcher growing up was Nolan Ryan. (Chris Gardner/AP)

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MLBPLAYERS.com: You were 18 out of 18 in save opportunities to start the season. Is that a statistic that you are very proud of?

Ray: I couldn't ask for anything better than that. Every time I went out there during that stretch, I got the job done. Really, I was just glad to be contributing toward getting this team some wins.

MLBPLAYERS.com: Was your first career Major League save special?

Ray: It was somewhat special. It happened on Opening Day at home. It was a packed house and there was a lot of excitement in the park. It was good to get it out of the way.

MLBPLAYERS.com: How did it compare to your first big-league win last year?

Ray: That first big-league win last year wasn't that big of a thrill for me. I actually gave up a lead, but ended up getting the win. I really wasn't too proud of that one. The saves this year are much more important to me.

MLBPLAYERS.com: Were the Orioles telling you anything in particular during the offseason after last year's closer B.J. Ryan left as a free agent?

Ray: I talked to my agent during the offseason. I didn't know if they were going to bring someone else in. We have a lot of guys who have been closers within the organization. Going into Spring Training, there wasn't a set solution as to who was going to be the closer.

MLBPLAYERS.com: Did you have a good relationship with B.J. last year?

Ray: Oh definitely. We talked about pitching a lot. We hung out quite a bit and talked in the bullpen. I think I gained a lot of valuable knowledge from him.

MLBPLAYERS.com: What do you do to fill the time when you are in the bullpen during the game?

Ray: We tend to talk about the game. We eat a lot of pumpkin seeds there. We try to stay in the game, we talk about the game, try to stay positive. We even joke around a little here and there.

MLBPLAYERS.com: Did you do anything different in the offseason to prepare yourself for this year?

Chris Ray: The only change I made was to start throwing a month earlier. It was my first big-league camp, so I had to get ready earlier than normal. I think it helped because I usually get some minor elbow soreness early on, so I was able to pass through that phase before the season started.

MLBPLAYERS.com: How valuable were the 41 games you spent in the Majors last season?

Ray: Every day you go out there, especially those first few games, it's worthwhile. You start to gain confidence with every outing and you learn something new every time. I try to take full advantage every time I'm given an opportunity to pitch.

MLBPLAYERS.com: Have you always been a closer?

Ray: The first two years at William & Mary I was a closer. During my junior year, I became a starter for a few different reasons. I was a starter my first two season with the Orioles. Last year, in Double-A, I went back to closing.

MLBPLAYERS.com: What is the biggest difference between closing a game out at William & Mary versus Camden Yards?

Ray: It's a world of difference. It's a lot more fun at Camden. The energy is high and you get that adrenaline going. Pitching at each level is just so different. It's very difficult to describe the feeling of closing out a Major League game.

MLBPLAYERS.com: Did you have a favorite closer you followed as a kid?

Ray: No, not really. I had a favorite pitcher in Nolan Ryan. He was someone I've always looked up to.

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