Last of the knuckleballers
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Last of the knuckleballers
Wakefield will retire in 2012, directly replace by a 33-year-old Charlie Zink, who will then play until he is 47. Boston will have a starting knuckler in the rotation for the next bazillion years. And that is excellent!
I like seeing the knuckler in action, and a pitcher living or dying with it. It's good to spice up the game, when so many guys are throwing 99 mph.
I don't understand why more pitchers don't try to learn it. It would certainly extend the careers of some pitchers out there and in this day and age with the amounts of bucks being shelled out to even crappy pitchers, extending your career as long as possible is great for your bank account.
Not only that - but what a change-up!! Imagine a knuckler coming on from Zumaya - from 102mph to 60mph!! now THATS a change-up!
It's worthwhile even as a backup, now-and-then pitch, to catch people totally unaware. And it can save your arm, amke you marketable into your 40's - even get you on the list with Neikros, Wake, and Charlie Hough. I'm glad we have Zink carrying on the tradition.
Wake could pitch for 5 or 6 more years, but he has had shoulder problems the last 2 years, so who know about his health. The knuckler is so much harder to throw than most people realize, at least on a consistent level.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alloutwar
If a player tries to throw it as an "occasional" pitch no one who swing at it, the arm action would be too radically different from a guy throwing 95. Plus as a change up that it too big a difference in speed.
However, the most entertaining thing about watching Wake pitch is when he blow a 74 MPH high fastball by a guy.
there are 2-3 guys out there that thrw it effectivly... some guy nammed Cole :p and that zink guy they mentioned. Smoltz experemented with it but he is done :( I think someone out west throws it too...Quote:
Originally Posted by grasshopper
THis Year
RA Dickey? isnt he a knuckleballer?
I can throw a pretty good knuckleball........ except it only goes about 45 feetQuote:
Originally Posted by JeepGuy63
R.A. Dickey of the Seattle Mariners is the only other knuckleballer in the game. Tim Wakefield is the only other one in the majors.
Dickey isn't in the Majors?
Not anymore - as of yesterday the Red Sox called up minor leaguer Charlie Zink to replace Wakefield. Zink is a 29 year old knuckler, who is 13-4 in AAA this year. He was a minor league FA pickup in '02. As of today, he is on the major league roster.Quote:
Originally Posted by boomboom
So...I guess we're still at 2 in the majors? Whattabout the Tigers, didnt they have one last year?
cole hammels of th ephillies throws it all the time
Uhm, can't confirm that...from his wikipedia page:
Quote:
Hamels throws a standard four-seam fastball, a slow-breaking changeup (his "out" pitch), and a curveball.[1]
Hamels doesn't throw a knuckleball...:confused:
Whatever happened to Charlie Haeger with Chicago? Wasn't he a knuckler?
He's in the minorsQuote:
Originally Posted by EVEN11323
He throws a change up, but no Knuckle
Sadly, I think it comes down to machismo. The knuckler isn't 'cool'...blowing a 99 mph heater past a hitter, or getting him to look ridiculous swinging MILES away from where that nasty slider ends up, that's cool. Knuckleball...that's sort of the last refuge of the nearly finished pitcher who has no other options.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeepGuy63
I would take a top knuckleball thrower w/ an 80mph fastball over most young 99mph flamethrowers today. If you throw over 100mph, you are a guaranteed DL regular.
The problem w/ knucklers is they dont usually learn control till later on in their twenties. So by going to 43 or so, they still have the life span of a guy who starts at 22-23.
2009. :)
Is it too late to go learn a knuckle ball? I could still fashion some sort of career if I can pitch till 50
I could have a 25 year career if I start now lol
There's probably something to that, but you also have to consider that almost all teams and managers (as well as pitching coaches) have an aversion to pitchers who rely on what are perceived as "trick" pitches.Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctic Blast
LOVE THIS THREAD!!
Wakefield is amongst my alltime favorite players and is my favorite Red Sock right now. 2nd alltime behind the great Pedro.
Its not that Wake is the best pitcher, its the team first do whatever asked attitude....and the lesser known fact that there are few better people in all of professional sports. From people I know who have been close to Red Sox players, and from things I've read...Wake does amazing things for children and charities. More so than just money, he spends countless hours on these causes. I believe he's won one Clemente Award and has been in the top 5 or so finalists many times. A real class act.
Wake is awesome, I agree, one of my favorites, and very underrated
Oh yeah, that's likely a big part of it, as well. I also think there's a certain desire for 'control' from pitching coaches, who, more often than not, have absolutely zilch to offer a knuckleballer.Quote:
Originally Posted by dps
Yes, I agree with you on that, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctic Blast