R.A. Dickey was Really Smart!
"Really stupid?"
Heck of an assertion for me to make, so Lucy, let me ‘splain.
Todays pitchers? They all throw 99, get Tommy John Surgery, rehab for 2 years. Sound familiar?
Well, the Mets just picked up a dude named William Woods, and it caused me (being an old guy who sometimes remembers things) to think of Wilbur Wood.
The knuckleballer.
Who from 1971-74 averaged 340 innings and averaged 23-17 in those seasons, with an ERA approximating 2.90, with 85 complete games in those 4 years. 164 career wins.
In those 4 seasons, The Double W compiled more innings and wins than "pay me big" deGrom has in his 9 seasons. Almost 37 when Wood retired.
Phil Niekro?
Knuckleballer. 318 career wins. 245 complete games. Hall of Fame. Retired at 48.
Joe Niekro.
Knuckleballer. 221 wins, two 20 win seasons, and his 22 year career fell two short of his brother’s.
Hoyt Wilhelm?
Knuckleballer.
Retired days short of age 50. 143 wins, 228 saves, 1,070 career appearances, 2.52 ERA, Hall of Fame.
RA Dickey?
Knuckleballer.
Mets Cy Young winner. Joined Mets as he was perfecting his knuckleball at age 35. Before that, he was a failing, marginal, conventional pitcher. Made lots of $$ after age 34. Retired days before turning 43.
That’s just 5 knuckleballers. Note how incredibly well they pitched, and how late in life they were able to do so.
If Wood or Wilhelm or the 2 Niekro boys had played today, each would have made $100 million to $400 million in their careers.
But each would have been lucky to have marginal MLB careers without their knuckleball.
Yet…so many young, and in-my-opinion stupid, pitchers today don’t quite make it to the lucrative majors, but never earnestly try to detour and learn and master the dancing, dipping knuckleball in the hopes that they too could earn $100 million to $400 million instead of never even earning $1 million in their baseball careers.
Why?
They’re stupid, that’s why. Really stupid. I'm too dumb to think of an intelligent reason for it.
Today's pitchers do not control their game.
ReplyDeleteBob Gibson controlled his game. Sandy Koufax controlled his game. Juan Marichal... well, you catch my drift.
Pitchers today are controlled by their pitcher coaches. Period. They tell them what to throw and how many.
BTW... you can't hurt your arm by throwing a knuckler, as long as you throw it correcting and your arm motion doesn't change. Do not shot put it. Use the same delivery as you use for your fastball.
Good point but I doubt anyone is teaching the pitch anymore which is you guessed it stupid. I wonder if Bellinger is worth a one year deal? I wonder as we ponder (I love that word) Trea Turner why we in 2014 picked Conforto over him as both were paid the almost the same amount but of course TT is a SS with speed ( I love that word too) and we were so "short" at the position at the time hmmmm. I do remember Mack loving the guy but they didn't listen. Hey Mookie Betts lasted till the 5th round now how did that happen.
ReplyDeleteMack, i hear you. Mets just released Yamamoto, G Bryant, etc. If I am these guys, as soon as the prior season ended, I am working on a knuckles. If necessary, pitch Indy ball after being released. Not for everyone, but guys who have succeeded at it have hugely succeeded. And these days, huge means $$$$.
ReplyDeleteGary, many smart points. With all the video out there, Dickey's book, etc. it is possible to self-teach the knuckler. Mickey Jannis tried it and failed recently, but a released Garrison Bryant has already 100% failed, so why not give it a real try? Thise 4 guys and RA Dickey show it is possible to be hugely successful as a knuckleball pitcher. If your career is otherwise ending and your arm is healthy....
ReplyDeleteBellinger was pretty awful the last two seasons. And yes, we should have picked Trea Turner, a Mack favorite that draft year.
Gary
ReplyDeleteTT played excellent short when he was in grade school.
I always wanted him to be a Met.
Most years, the teams pick back up many of the people they released.
ReplyDeleteWeird
We have a kid that will play center for Bingham this year (Alex Ramirez) that will be ready to play CitiField centerfield in 2024. He will be a Golden Glover candidate with great speed and decent pop.
ReplyDeleteHe is part of the future.
Don't tie up center with a lengthy contract.
Agree it would be a mistake to overpay Nimmo when you have a Ramirez possibility ready in 2024.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that throwing a knuckleball is the only way to stay away from TJS. I think that trying to throw 98 without the right mechanics or without the physical tools capable of throwing 98 is a recipe for TJS. There are just too many athletes that are getting poor guidance and they make poor decisions chasing the dream. That's not stupid, it's just irrational or misinformed.
ReplyDeleteMy granddaughters boyfriend is the Friday starter for his high school game.
DeleteLast game of the season to make the playoffs: 131 pitches.
Ramirez yet another future starter, Alvarez,Baty,Vientos,Mauricio,Oc Mangum, the future is looking good.
ReplyDeleteHey a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, Nimmo in 2024 over Ramirez…..
ReplyDeletePaul, an educated hurler is a healthier hurler.
ReplyDeleteKeep Nimmo, it will all work out in outfield.
ReplyDelete