Comments on: Cards extend invite to a knuckler http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/ Baseball's Future in the Gateway City Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:30:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Liam http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/#comment-14970 Liam Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:40:47 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=979#comment-14970 I was surprised to see that Joe Rogers is a *lefty* knuckleballer, too. I don't know that I've ever heard of a lefthander throwing the knuckler. The first time I ever saw one, I was playing catch with my high school team's closer. He'd been whipping four seamers for twenty minutes when this thing comes dancing my way. I swear it leapt two feet towards my face over its last five feet of travel. Lucky I kept all my teeth that afternoon. I was surprised to see that Joe Rogers is a *lefty* knuckleballer, too. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of a lefthander throwing the knuckler.

The first time I ever saw one, I was playing catch with my high school team’s closer. He’d been whipping four seamers for twenty minutes when this thing comes dancing my way. I swear it leapt two feet towards my face over its last five feet of travel. Lucky I kept all my teeth that afternoon.

]]> By: roarke http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/#comment-14969 roarke Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:17:52 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=979#comment-14969 The longest ball I ever hit in high school was on a knuckler (it went foul). The guy had me 0-2 and was blowing my team away and so (I assume) he thought he could get away with throwing it as a goof. It had zero spin, but it didn't move at all. I absolutely crushed it, but it was foul down the left field line by about ten feet. I'm pretty sure I struck out on the next pitch. The longest ball I ever hit in high school was on a knuckler (it went foul). The guy had me 0-2 and was blowing my team away and so (I assume) he thought he could get away with throwing it as a goof. It had zero spin, but it didn’t move at all. I absolutely crushed it, but it was foul down the left field line by about ten feet. I’m pretty sure I struck out on the next pitch.

]]> By: BigJawnMize http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/#comment-14967 BigJawnMize Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:06:23 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=979#comment-14967 I am with Forsch on this one. This is a really tough pitch to throw. I screw around with it when I throwing batting practice and I get about one out of ten to do anything. It takes a lot of touch and I think it helps to have porportionally long fingers (kinda true for any pitcher). So start pulling on your kids fingers and see if they will grow a little longer... I am with Forsch on this one. This is a really tough pitch to throw. I screw around with it when I throwing batting practice and I get about one out of ten to do anything. It takes a lot of touch and I think it helps to have porportionally long fingers (kinda true for any pitcher). So start pulling on your kids fingers and see if they will grow a little longer…

]]> By: Forsch31 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/#comment-14966 Forsch31 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:28:11 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=979#comment-14966 I tried to learn it once; it's a damned hard pitch to throw. Even Wakefield, who's extended his career by a decade with it, has trouble with the knuckler at times. I tried to learn it once; it’s a damned hard pitch to throw. Even Wakefield, who’s extended his career by a decade with it, has trouble with the knuckler at times.

]]> By: Forsch31 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/#comment-14965 Forsch31 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:25:22 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=979#comment-14965 I tried to learn it once; it's a damned hard pitch to throw. Even Wakefield, who's pretty much extended his career by a decade with the knuckler, has trouble with it at times. I tried to learn it once; it’s a damned hard pitch to throw. Even Wakefield, who’s pretty much extended his career by a decade with the knuckler, has trouble with it at times.

]]> By: the red baron http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/#comment-14964 the red baron Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:04:17 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=979#comment-14964 I wish their were more knuckleballers in the game. GO JOE! I wish their were more knuckleballers in the game.

GO JOE!

]]> By: Bill http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/07/cards-extend-invite-to-a-knuckler/#comment-14961 Bill Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:17:11 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=979#comment-14961 I'm with you: knuckleballers are fun to watch. They ain't easy to hit, either. You wonder why more marginal minor league pitchers, whose careers look doomed to end at the A-ball level, don't fool around with the knuckler as a last resort before giving up the dream. Sure, it's a long shot, but if you've just gone 4-7 at low A with a 5+ ERA and a WHIP approaching 2, what's the harm in trying? That said, is there anybody in the Cardinals' minor-league coaching staffs that can actually help the kid learn to throw the thing? I’m with you: knuckleballers are fun to watch. They ain’t easy to hit, either. You wonder why more marginal minor league pitchers, whose careers look doomed to end at the A-ball level, don’t fool around with the knuckler as a last resort before giving up the dream. Sure, it’s a long shot, but if you’ve just gone 4-7 at low A with a 5+ ERA and a WHIP approaching 2, what’s the harm in trying?

That said, is there anybody in the Cardinals’ minor-league coaching staffs that can actually help the kid learn to throw the thing?

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