What ever happened to the Knuckleball?
The Knuckleball, a pitch which relies on nothing but luck (and the occasional wind movement) has nearly disappeared from the Major League scene. Only former Mets' Cy Young award winner and current Toronto Blue Jays pitcher RA Dickey uses the pitch.
Earlier in the week, Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson (and his beard) threw a Knuckleball during a Spring Training game against the Mariners. It “danced” across the strike zone for a called strike by the home plate umpire. Wilson, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Dodgers for 2014, has reportedly been practicing with his knuckleball during Spring Training.
Can it really be that easy to throw a Knuckleball; so easy that it takes just a single off-season to master the technique? Former Red Sox All-Star and and master “knuckleballer” Tim Wakefield doesn't think so.
“It is not easy, first of all, to be able to have the guile and face the best hitters in the world throwing 65 MPH in hopes of good movement,” Wakefield told Time Magazine in 2012. “R.A. throws a bit harder, and I wish I could throw mine as hard has he does. Today’s game is so radar-oriented — they take guys that throw mid-90s to 100 MPH over us every time. But the assets we bring to a pitching staff are vast. We can pitch on short rest because of the lack of strain on our arms. We can pitch in relief in between starts. We can give valuable innings in any role.”
The knuckleball doesn't rely on speed like that of a fastball. It breaks based on the grip of the pitcher (along with any natural forces at work during the field) and a little luck. An average knuckleball will travel around 65 miles per hours. R.A. Dickey's version of the pitch, which travels around 75-78 MPH, is an exception rather than the rule. It is possible that a 55-year old man could pitch in the Major Leagues with a knuckleball.
Or is it?
"I was actually drafted as a position player and once they put a wood bat in my hand and they were throwing a lot harder than I was used to in college I couldn't hit anymore," said Wakefield to ESPN.com in 2013. "It was by luck that somebody saw me fooling around with a knuckleball and converted me into a knuckleball pitcher."
The truth is that Tim Wakefield is right. It can't be that easy to throw a knuckleball. Think of throwing a knuckleball like earning a million dollars. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. If Wilson is serious in his attempt to add a knuckleball to his arsenal of pitches, then I commend him on his efforts. It would be great to have more Major League pitchers who can master this technique.
If he's not serious about throwing the knuckleball, then Wilson should not be throwing it in Spring Training. Call me old fashioned, but Spring Training for pitchers is about getting their arms ready for the regular season. Wilson could hurt his arm throwing a pitch that he's not used to throwing. For the Dodgers, that's a $10 million arm. I'm all for having fun, but not when the regular season is at stake.
The Knuckleball is a time-honored pitch in Major League Baseball and should be treated as such. Again, if Wilson is serious about throwing the pitch, then I say good for him. If he's just messing around because it's Spring Training, then the Dodgers will pay.
Wilson may as well let his beard throw the pitch. It's going to need a uniform soon anyway.
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