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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
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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 1:43 pm to SlicedBread
quote:great story. I believe injuries kept him from continuing to be a big time MLB pitcher unless/until he resorted to the knuckleball. Then he goes out and wins the Cy Young. Talk about adapting and persevering...
R.A. Dickey
Posted on 6/5/22 at 2:15 pm to clamdip
R.A. does not have an ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm. Cost him millions. Upon discovery his signing bonus went from 1.25 to $75k.
His biography book is a great read.
"Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball"
His biography book is a great read.
"Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball"
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 2:58 pm to Jumpinjack
It's a lost art. Now days, most kids fall in love with either gas or a curve. Problem is they throws too many breaking pitches at a young age so they blow put their elbows and need TJ surgery. I've coached hs ball for 20 years and the number of kids that want to throw the curve before they are ready is staggering.
Secondly, it's an extremely hard pitch to catch. Especially if you can really get it to dance. Over the years, I've had a few kids that had good knuckle balls. I only let them throw it with no one on and less than 2 strikes.
Secondly, it's an extremely hard pitch to catch. Especially if you can really get it to dance. Over the years, I've had a few kids that had good knuckle balls. I only let them throw it with no one on and less than 2 strikes.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 3:02 pm to BrotherDawg84
Played in a fast pitch softball league years ago. Quite a few teams had a knuckleball pitcher including ours. We could only laugh at trying to catch him in warmups before the game. Usually ended up catching one in the thigh.
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 3:44 pm to BrotherDawg84
quote:
I do. And no one on this board can hit it
Meet me in the open field behind Sonic
Posted on 6/5/22 at 3:45 pm to LSUTYGA
quote:Same here! Interesting story!
Played in a fast pitch softball league years ago. Quite a few teams had a knuckleball pitcher including ours. We could only laugh at trying to catch him in warmups before the game. Usually ended up catching one in the thigh.
I played for a fast pitch team that traveled around the Southeast playing (after I got too old for baseball.lol:). We had a doubleheader in Birmingham one Saturday, and on the way there one of the cars we were in was involved in an accident, and our catcher messed his knee up. Well we get to the field and the coach comes up to me and tells me that I've got to catch(probably because I used a 1st baseman's pad)lol! Hell! I'm a left-handed 1st baseman and never caught in my life.
Our pitcher that day was a guy who had one of the nastiest knuckleballs in that part of the country. Just before the game starts, we got together to get our signs straight. He had a good fastball, rise ball, curve, and that elite knuckleball.
At the end of the 2nd inning we got to the dugout and he came over to me and said, "Damn man, you're not calling my best pitch. What's going on?" I looked him right in the eye and said, "I came up here today not expecting to have to catch, so I just got my skivvies on, and I'm damn sure not gonna call that pitch without a cup!" He started laughing and said, "I don't blame you!", and walked away. True story!
Posted on 6/5/22 at 7:10 pm to Gimme Vaughn
I coached about 12 in 30 years that threw knuckle change. Caught a kid in the 70s with a knuckle curve, one of six curves he threw.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 7:35 pm to Jumpinjack
I occasionally threw a knuckleball in an industrial league (slow pitch softball). It usually just made the batter laugh and take the pitch.
Posted on 6/5/22 at 7:35 pm to RoscoeHarper
I could never throw one. Perhaps that is why my baseball career ended after Little League. I could hit anything near the plate. But I couldn’t throw worth a dang.
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