Started By
Message
Does anyone throw a knuckleball anymore?
Posted on 6/5/22 at 12:56 pm
Posted on 6/5/22 at 12:56 pm
I grew up watching Phil Niekro, and Joe, and later Tim Wakefield throwing wicked knuckleballs. I can't remember anyone other than those 3 throwing a decent knuckleball. Playing wiffle ball, little league, etc, it was a standard. What happened? Does anyone throw a decent knuckler anymore? If not, why not? I don't get it. 
With the same delivery as a change up or curve, it seems like adding a good knuckleball would be advantageous and the pitch is not that hard to master. Ideas, anyone? War Eagle.
ETA I don't watch too much volleyball or soccer, but the equivalent of a good knuckler seems to still be effective for any athlete who takes some time to work on it.
With the same delivery as a change up or curve, it seems like adding a good knuckleball would be advantageous and the pitch is not that hard to master. Ideas, anyone? War Eagle.
ETA I don't watch too much volleyball or soccer, but the equivalent of a good knuckler seems to still be effective for any athlete who takes some time to work on it.
This post was edited on 6/5/22 at 1:06 pm
12
Posted on 6/5/22 at 12:59 pm to freemanjiro
quote:
Does anyone throw a knuckleball anymore?
I do, when I'm throwing with my boy. He grins ear to ear every time I throw it to him.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 1:16 pm to freemanjiro
Unfortunately the emphasis for pitchers now is a good fastball and maybe a decent curveball. Also throwing a decent knuckleball is fairly easy to manage but throwing a good one takes a lot of work.
Honestly if you have a decent, but not great, arm, throwing a really good knuckleball could take you places. People don't see it very often and its a pain to hit off of when thrown right. Niekro, as an example, was a nightmare to hit off when his stuff was going right.
Honestly if you have a decent, but not great, arm, throwing a really good knuckleball could take you places. People don't see it very often and its a pain to hit off of when thrown right. Niekro, as an example, was a nightmare to hit off when his stuff was going right.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 1:21 pm to freemanjiro
If you'll remember, the huge majority of a knuckleballer's pitches were...knuckleballs. Firstly, a greatly over-sized mitt is needed to catch it with any regularity. Secondly, you've got to find a catcher who can AND will catch a knuckleballer. Next, with the pitch being thrown with the fingertips, pitchers must have their fingers, and nails in condition to handle the grip. Then there's the problem of keeping a base runner from stealing bases almost at will.
IMO, there's still room for that type of pitcher in today's game for these reasons: A good knuckleball is damned near impossible to hit out of a ballpark, and in late inning relief, I'd have to think that bringing a knuckleballer in to pitch the last 2 or 3 innings would be a great move. Finally, you can pitch the guy just about EVERYDAY, without doing any damage to his arm.
I'd love to see it again...would add some spice to the game!
IMO, there's still room for that type of pitcher in today's game for these reasons: A good knuckleball is damned near impossible to hit out of a ballpark, and in late inning relief, I'd have to think that bringing a knuckleballer in to pitch the last 2 or 3 innings would be a great move. Finally, you can pitch the guy just about EVERYDAY, without doing any damage to his arm.
I'd love to see it again...would add some spice to the game!
Posted on 6/5/22 at 1:26 pm to freemanjiro
R.A. Dickey won the Cy Young in 2012 on his knucleball.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 1:34 pm to freemanjiro
I guess Steven Wright is the last knuckleballer worth mentioning. He won two rings with the Red Sox, but he got busted using PEDs a couple times and arrested for domestic abuse before washing out a couple years ago. In his first appearance, the Sox catcher set the record for passed balls an inning (5). He had a nasty knuckler. Injuries really slowed him (and peds).
Posted on 6/5/22 at 1:40 pm to freemanjiro
Years after he retired as a second baseman, Mark Lemke played in some independent minor league as a knuckleball pitcher
Posted on 6/5/22 at 2:29 pm to freemanjiro
A few pitchers throw a knuckle change. Pretty common.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 2:47 pm to freemanjiro
Back in high school, I threw a modified knuckleball for my change up, it was nasty. Three knuckles on the ball with the pinky extended. Never could get good control of a circle change, so came up with that. It was nasty.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 2:55 pm to freemanjiro
quote:
Does anyone throw a knuckleball anymore?
I do. And no one on this board can hit it.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 3:05 pm to freemanjiro
Long time Sox fan. Wakefield was a work horse. Great when his stuff was on and could always pitch on short relief or put him in as a reliever if the bull pen was chewed up.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 8:19 pm to freemanjiro
No thread about the knuckleball is complete until Charles Oliver Hough is mentioned
Posted on 6/5/22 at 9:56 pm to freemanjiro
Page 1 of 1
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News