Why Nobody Throws The Best Pitch in Baseball

Summary

The script delves into the enigmatic world of the knuckleball pitch in baseball, a notoriously difficult pitch to master and hit due to its unpredictable movement. It discusses the pitch's history, its rarity with only 70 knuckleballers in MLB's history, and its resurgence with modern pitchers like Matt Waldren. The script highlights the challenges faced by catchers and umpires, the physical demands on pitchers, and the potential for the knuckleball to revolutionize the game once again.

Takeaways

• 🥎 The knuckleball is considered the most unhittable pitch in baseball due to its unpredictable movement caused by zero spin.
• 🎯 Despite being slow and seemingly easy to hit, knuckleballs are notoriously difficult for even the best hitters to make contact with.
• 👨‍🦳 Only around 70 knuckleballers have played in MLB's history, with 12.5% of them being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• 👧 Teenagers and older players alike can throw knuckleballs, and they require minimal arm and lower body strength.
• 🤝 Knuckleball pitchers often have long careers with less risk of injury due to the low stress the pitch puts on their arms.
• 📉 The knuckleball almost went extinct from 2020 to 2023, with only a few pitchers throwing it with limited success.
• 🚀 Matt Waldron is credited with reviving the knuckleball, throwing it in a new way that has caught the attention of the baseball world.
• 🔄 Traditional knuckleballers often struggle with being effective due to the pitch's volatility and the difficulty catchers have in handling it.
• 👶 Many players learn the knuckleball as a last resort to save their careers when they struggle with other pitching roles.
• 🏫 There are specialized facilities and programs dedicated to teaching the knuckleball to aspiring pitchers.
• 📉 The success rate of learning and mastering the knuckleball is very low, despite many attempting to do so.

Q & A

What makes the knuckleball the most unhittable pitch in baseball?

The knuckleball is unhittable due to its zero spin, which causes the ball to move in unpredictable ways, making it difficult for hitters to anticipate its trajectory.

Why are there so few knuckleball pitchers in MLB history?

There have only been around 70 knuckleballers in MLB's history due to the difficulty of learning the pitch and the specific skills required to throw it effectively.

What is unique about the knuckleball's effect on hitters?

Hitters often dodge balls that are right down the middle and swing at pitches that hit them because the knuckleball's unpredictable movement tricks their perception.

How did Josh Booty, a former LSU quarterback, learn to throw a knuckleball?

Josh Booty learned to throw a knuckleball in a few months to compete in a reality TV show, despite not having pitched for 17 years, demonstrating the pitch's accessibility to those without traditional pitching experience.

Why did the knuckleball almost go extinct between 2020 and 2023?

The knuckleball nearly went extinct during this period because there were only three knuckleball pitchers who performed poorly, throwing a combined 15 innings with an ERA over 13.

What is special about Matt Waldren's approach to throwing a knuckleball?

Matt Waldren is bringing back the knuckleball in a new way, with a technique that is nastier and different from traditional knuckleball pitching, which has inspired others to follow suit.

Why do knuckleball pitchers often start as regular pitchers or position players?

Many knuckleball pitchers begin as regular pitchers or position players because they may not initially succeed in those roles, and learning the knuckleball as a last resort can save their careers.

How did the knuckleball help Tim Wakefield extend his MLB career?

Tim Wakefield learned the knuckleball after struggling as a regular pitcher with a career ERA over five, which allowed him to return to MLB and win a Cy Young Award.

What challenges do catchers face when catching a knuckleball?

Catchers face difficulty catching knuckleballs due to their unpredictable movement, often leading to passed balls or wild pitches, and sometimes requiring specialized catchers who can handle the pitch.

Why have teams struggled to develop knuckleball pitchers despite the potential benefits?

Teams have struggled to develop knuckleball pitchers because the pitch is extremely difficult to learn correctly, and even those with the physical capability often fail to master it.

How does the traditional knuckleball differ from the approach used by Matt Waldren?

Matt Waldren's approach to the knuckleball is different in that he throws it less frequently, mixes it with other pitches like sinkers, cutters, and sweepers, and maintains a higher velocity, making it harder for hitters to prepare for.

Outlines

00:00

🥎 The Knuckleball: Baseball's Most Unpredictable Pitch

This paragraph delves into the knuckleball, a unique pitch in baseball with zero spin that moves unpredictably, making it incredibly difficult for hitters to hit. It discusses the rarity of knuckleball pitchers in MLB history and the resurgence of the pitch through Matt Waldren, who is reviving the knuckleball in a new and effective way. The paragraph also highlights the challenges catchers and umpires face with this pitch and the historical significance of knuckleballers in the MLB.

05:01

👴 The Knuckleball's History and Its Pitchers

This section of the script explores the longevity and endurance of knuckleball pitchers, who often play well into their later years due to the pitch's low impact on the arm. It mentions Phil Niekro's exceptional innings and complete games, emphasizing the pitch's potential for longevity. The paragraph also discusses the difficulty of learning the knuckleball, with historical attempts to cultivate knuckleball pitchers often ending in failure, and touches on the unique training facilities and methods dedicated to mastering this elusive pitch.

10:02

🧢 The Challenges and Triumphs of Knuckleball Catching

This paragraph focuses on the challenges that catchers face when working with knuckleball pitchers, including a high rate of wild pitches and passed balls. It recounts specific incidents where catchers struggled, leading to changes in team strategies and even impacting game outcomes. The narrative also highlights the importance of specialized catchers like Doug Mirabelli, who was crucial to Tim Wakefield's success, and the extraordinary measures teams have taken to ensure a catcher's availability for knuckleball games.

15:04

🚀 The Resurgence and Evolution of the Knuckleball

The final paragraph discusses the cyclical nature of the knuckleball's popularity in MLB, noting periods of decline followed by revivals led by innovative pitchers. It introduces Matt Waldren as a new evolution of the knuckleball pitcher, who has adapted the pitch to be less frequent but more effective, combining it with other pitches to keep hitters off balance. The paragraph suggests that Waldren's approach could inspire a new generation of knuckleball pitchers and potentially change the way the pitch is perceived and utilized in baseball.

Keywords

💡Knuckleball

The knuckleball is a type of pitch in baseball that is thrown with minimal spin, causing the ball to move in unpredictable ways. It is considered one of the most difficult pitches to hit due to its erratic movement. In the video, the knuckleball is the central theme, with discussion of its rarity, difficulty to master, and the few pitchers who have successfully used it in MLB history.

💡Unhitable

The term 'unhitable' refers to a pitch that is nearly impossible for a batter to hit. This is often used to describe the knuckleball due to its lack of spin and unpredictable movement. The video emphasizes that even the best hitters in the world struggle against the knuckleball, highlighting its effectiveness as an unhitable pitch.

💡Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame is a prestigious honor in baseball, reserved for players, managers, and others who have made significant contributions to the sport. The video mentions that 12.5% of knuckleball pitchers in MLB history have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, underscoring the impact and success of knuckleballers despite their small numbers.

💡Pitcher

A pitcher in baseball is the player who throws the ball towards the batter. The video discusses various pitchers who have mastered the knuckleball, emphasizing the unique skill set required to throw this pitch effectively. It also touches on the challenges faced by pitchers in learning and perfecting the knuckleball.

💡Major Leagues (MLB)

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada. The video provides historical context about the presence of knuckleball pitchers in MLB, noting the rarity of this pitch and the few individuals who have successfully used it in the league.

💡Minor Leagues

The minor leagues are a hierarchical set of leagues below the level of Major League Baseball, where players develop their skills before potentially advancing to the major leagues. The video mentions the minor leagues in the context of knuckleball pitchers like Cory Lewis, who became a top prospect after mastering the knuckleball in the minor leagues.

💡Wild Pitches and Pass Balls

Wild pitches and pass balls are terms used in baseball to describe pitches that elude the catcher, leading to runners advancing. The video discusses the high likelihood of wild pitches and pass balls when throwing a knuckleball due to its unpredictable movement, which can be challenging even for skilled catchers.

💡Catcher

The catcher is the player who receives the pitch from the pitcher and is responsible for catching it. The video highlights the difficulty catchers face in catching knuckleballs, with anecdotes about specific catchers who became known for their ability to handle the knuckleball, such as Doug Mirabelli for Tim Wakefield.

💡Extinction

In the context of the video, 'extinction' refers to the near disappearance of the knuckleball pitch from baseball. The script mentions periods in MLB history when the knuckleball was considered extinct, only to be revived by a new generation of pitchers who mastered the pitch.

💡Revival

The term 'revival' is used to describe the resurgence of the knuckleball pitch after periods of near extinction. The video discusses how certain pitchers, like Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey, have revitalized the use of the knuckleball, inspiring others to adopt the pitch.

💡Analytics

Analytics in baseball refers to the use of statistical analysis to evaluate and understand players' performances and strategies. The video suggests that the principles of advanced analytics, which often favor high-velocity pitches with more spin, are at odds with the knuckleball's low-velocity and minimal spin characteristics, contributing to its rarity in the modern game.

Highlights

The knuckleball is considered the most unhittable pitch in baseball due to its unpredictable movement caused by zero spin.

Despite being slow, hitters struggle to make contact with the knuckleball, even when expecting it.

Only around 70 knuckleball pitchers have existed in MLB's history, with 12.5% being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Chelsea Baker, a knuckleballer, achieved a record of not losing a game for four years and threw two perfect games.

Josh Booty, a former LSU quarterback, learned the knuckleball in months and earned a minor league contract.

The knuckleball is difficult for catchers to catch and for umpires to make correct calls on.

Between 2020 to 2023, the knuckleball nearly went extinct with only three knuckleballers in MLB.

Matt Waldron is credited with bringing back the knuckleball with a new and effective technique.

Cory Lewis, a ninth-round draft pick, became one of the Twins' top prospects after mastering the knuckleball.

Many knuckleball pitchers started as regular pitchers or position players and transitioned as a last resort.

Tim Wakefield, after a poor start as a regular pitcher, learned the knuckleball and pitched for 19 seasons in MLB.

The knuckleball causes less wear and tear on the arm, allowing pitchers to have long careers without injury.

Efforts to establish a knuckleball school in the 80s by the Rangers failed to produce successful knuckleball pitchers.

Chris Nolan became a full-time knuckleball coach after an independent league career, offering training and a knuckleball academy.

The knuckleball's lack of spin makes it move unpredictably, which can trick the human mind into thinking it defies physics.

A slight mistake in the knuckleball's release can turn it from an effective pitch into an easy target for hitters.

Steven Wright's knuckleball was so difficult to catch that his catcher set an MLB record for missed balls in an inning.

Dutch Leonard had to leave the Dodgers because their catchers refused to catch his knuckleball.

Tim Wakefield had his own personal catcher, Doug Mirabelli, who was the only one who could effectively catch his knuckleball.

The Red Sox made an extreme effort to trade for Mirabelli in time for a game, even delaying other flights.

Knuckleballs are prone to wild pitches and passed balls, making the margin for success very slim for knuckleball pitchers.

Despite periods of being declared extinct, the knuckleball has always reemerged in baseball with new practitioners.

Matt Waldron's knuckleball is a new evolution, thrown at higher speeds and mixed with other pitches for greater effectiveness.

Transcripts

this is the most unhittable pitch in

baseball the ball has zero spin the air

hits it and moves it in unpredictable

ways hitters Dodge balls right down the

middle and swing at pitches that hit

them these pitchers throw the same pitch

over and over again the hitters know

it's coming it's going extremely slow

but they still can't touch it there's

only been around 70 knuckle ballers in

MLB's 100 plus year history 12.5% of

them have been Hall of Fame Chelsea

Baker learned one went four years

straight without losing a game threw two

perfect games and was even invited to

face the Tampa Bay Rays who couldn't

even hit it well she was a

17-year-old girl teenagers can throw

them old men can throw them in the major

leagues it takes no arm strength no

lower body strength it doesn't even take

pitching experience former LSU

quarterback Josh booty learned a knuckle

ball to compete in a reality TV show he

hadn't pitched in 17 years learned the

knuckle ball in only a few months and it

was good enough to earn him a minor

league contract it's so good catchers

can't catch it it's so good umpires

can't make correct calls on it and the

best hitters in the world look idiotic

trying to hit it but nobody throws it

the best pitch in baseball went

completely extinct from 2020 to 2023

there were only three knuckle ballers

they were so bad they only threw a

combined 15 Innings had an erra over 13

now one of them is in Mexico one retired

and the other one got arrested at one

point there were four knuckle ballers on

one team but in 2023 it was a completely

dead pitch until this guy came along

Matt Waldren is bringing back the

knuckle ball and it is nasty I just faed

this man named Waldren I tell you that's

probably the best pitch I've ever seen

in base that way that way that way we

were losing and I came back to D guy I

said bro I can't be mad you got to tip

your cap yeah he got that but he is

bringing back the knuckle ball in a way

we've never seen it thrown before and

others are following him there's knuckle

ballers popping up all over the minor

leagues Cory Lewis was a ninth round

draft pick a complete afterthought in

the eyes of the twins he thought

throwing a knuckle ball was fun so he

did it in college but barely ever threw

it shortly after getting drafted

realized it was unhitable and all of a

sudden he's been terrorizing minor

Leaguers with his knuckle ball he has

become one of the twins top prospects

and is knocking on the doors of MLB

these two guys throw their knuckle balls

in ways we've never seen an MLB in a few

years there could be dozens of pitches

in M Mo throwing knuckle balls in the

exact same way but the traditional

knuckle ball has disappeared in part

because some of the best knuckle ballers

in the world are also some of the worst

pitchers in the world pretty much every

single knuckle baller didn't start as a

knuckle baller they started as a regular

pitcher or position player sucked at it

nobody wanted them on their team so as a

last ditch effort they learned a knuckle

ball and saved their career Tim

Wickfield was drafted as a position

player was terrible in the miners was

told by his own team he'd never make it

above AA so instead he learned a knuckle

ball and ended up pitching 19 seasons in

MLB r dicki started as a regular pitcher

had a career ER over five was one of the

worst starters in the league was

completely out of the league then

learned a knuckle ball returned and won

a Sai Young David Fletcher has played

second base in MLB in parts of Seven

Seasons after several bad years at the

plate no team wants him anymore he is

also facing a lifetime ban for allegedly

gambling on baseball so now even though

he's never been a full fulltime pitcher

in his professional career he's in the

miners trying to learn a knuckle ball as

a last Stitch effort to make it back in

MLB Chris Nolan didn't even play high

school baseball in college he started

throwing a knuckle ball against walls

for fun his friends thought it was a

nasty pitch had him go to a Reds tryy

out a scout at the Reds tryy out decided

to draft him with the team's last pick a

guy who hadn't played baseball since

middle school team teams will do things

like this because the upside for an

elite knuckle baller is insane the pitch

causes so little wear and tear on their

arms they never get hurt and they can

pitch forever Wilbur would through

376 innings in one season the most

Innings by a non- knuckle baller last

year was 216 that's 160 Innings less

most pitchers need 5 days of rest but

Wilbur only rested 3 days between starts

last year the most complete games in a

season was three in 1972 he threw four

of them in the first month of the Season

Bill nro pitched 25 Seasons as a

knuckler but since it doesn't take

athleticism strength or stamina he

pitched until he was an old man he

pitched 210 innings in 1987 that'd be

the second most inning by any player in

20123 and he was

47 years old he pitched 200 and 45

complete games yes he has more complete

games in his career than Jacob deg Grom

has starts in his career they can pitch

way more than a regular pitcher never

get injured the ones who develop a good

one are unhitable basically anyone

regardless of age or athleticism can

become one so why aren't teams

constantly looking and developing

knuckle ball pitchers the truth is

they've been trying and failing four

years in the 80s the Rangers set up

their own knuckle ball school they took

their EXP spendable minor league

pitchers who they thought had little

chance to ever make it to the majors and

made a deal with them if they only

focused on knuckle balls and through

only knuckle balls for an entire season

they were guaranteed to have a job the

next season no matter how bad they did

the Hope was that if they took dozens of

mediocre pitchers taught them a knuckle

ball they could turn at least one of

them into a major leager and none of

them ended up making it as a knuckle

baller because even though almost anyone

has the physical capability to throw it

it's almost impossible for anybody to

learn it Phil Koke Jamie Moyer Brian

Wilson Frank Viola JB marttin Mark lmy

and more all tried to come back as

knuckle ballers after successful MLB

careers and they all failed pitchers are

constantly trying to learn a knuckle

ball but only around 70 have actually

made it in MLB throwing it meaning

there's not many who are actually

qualified to teach it yet there are

thousands actively trying to learn it

which is why we have people like Chris

Nolan who I mentioned earlier after

going to the Reds try out he never

actually ended up getting drafted by the

Reds like he was told the Scout ended up

getting fired instead he pitched

professionally in independent leagues

for 5 years and now he is a full-time

knuckle ball coach he has a knuckle ball

facility where people come exclusively

to learn knuckle balls he even had a

knuckle ball Academy essentially a

knuckle ball Sleepaway Camp where you

stay in hotel style rooms get all meals

provided and for 2 weeks you do nothing

except learn a knuckle ball from the

best knuckle ballers in the world for

only

$4,000 there's also one-on-one trading

virtual training Clinic seminars and

coaching offer year round in hundreds if

not thousands of people trying to become

the next great knuckler go through these

programs every year they are taught a

technique which goes against all logic

when it comes to pitching today pitchers

obsessed over getting as much spin as

possible on all their pitches knuckle

ballers do the opposite they try to get

the least amount of spin as possible

when a ball has zero spin the seams push

the airflow in a way that makes the ball

move in directions the human brain isn't

used to they cut an unpredictable ways

sometimes they float and sometimes they

even flutter seeing a ball with no spin

go through the air is so rare to us it

tricks the mind to make you think it's

defying physics creating some of the

most mind-blowing and unhitable pitches

in history but if you mess up and add a

little bit of spin you get no movement

essentially lobbing up a slow fast ball

to some of the best hitters on the

planet a center metor difference in

release Point turns the best pitch in

baseball into the worst pitch in

baseball nobody could hit Steven Wright

in 2016 he was an Allstar and had the

10th lowest RA in the a L the next year

he had an erra over8 RA Dicky went a Sai

Young Then followed It Up by being one

of the worst qualified starters in

baseball and finished in the bottom 10

in Al tin Wakefield was third in Rookie

of the Year voting with a 214 erra his

first year the next year he had an erra

over five and couldn't even get through

July without getting demoted his rookie

year looked like a complete fluke but

the next season he came back as one of

the best pitchers in the league and

finished third in sa young voting only

to return the very next year and put up

an RA over five again Dicky and

Wakefield are two of the Undisputed best

knuckle ballers in history they also

share the record for most homers given

up in a game both of them gave up six

homers each in one start when a knuckle

ball is bad it is terrible but when

they're amazing

that can also be a problem because

catchers can't catch them in 2016 Steven

Wright was making his first ever Major

League start catcher Ryan larvin way set

an M Mo record by missing four pass

balls in one inning Wright only gave up

one hit but the Red Sox were forced to

take him out of the game after just one

inning just because his catcher couldn't

catch a knuckle ball in the 40s Dutch

leopard had to leave the Dodgers because

their catchers were refused to catch his

knuckle ball forced to just throw

regular pitches he sucked the Dodgers

didn't want him anymore so he went to

Washington and pitched 15 more MLB

Seasons as a knuckle baller Tim

Wakefield is famous for having his own

personal catcher Doug Mirabelli he was a

backup catcher but since he was the only

catcher who could catch wakefield's

knuckle ball he became the starter each

time Tim Wakefield pitched he basically

kept a job in MLB in large part just

because because he was the only one who

could catch wakefield's knuckle ball the

Red Sox thought that this was kind of a

waste so they traded him thinking they

could just teach a different catcher to

learn how to catch a knuckle ball but

the guy who took his place sucked

immediately after getting to Boston he

missed 10 pass balls in seven games

while catching Wakefield nobody on the

team could catch him so without marab

belly Wakefield was useless to make

matters worse first wakefield's next

start was scheduled against the Yankees

on ESPN's Monday night baseball it was

Johnny Damon's first game back in Fenway

after going to New York at the peak of

the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry making

the Red Sox even more desperate 9 hours

before this game the Red Sox finally got

the trade done to get Mirabelli back on

the team a trade their GM later said was

quote the worst trade he's ever been

involved with however at the time they

were just worried about getting him to

Boston in time for the game they ched a

private jet called in a favor and

literally got airspace over Cleveland

and New York City cleared for a more

direct route dozens of planes were

likely delayed and rerouted just so

Mirabelli could get to the game on time

when they landed Mirabelli says there

were at least 20 planes sitting on the

tarmac delayed just so he could land

faster and get to the game on time the

Red Sox organized the Boston police to

outside the plane with Miro Bell's

uniform inside picked him up had him

change in the police car and had a

helicopter fly overhead while the cop

car had its sirens on so it could bypass

traffic to get to the game on time he

arrived at the stadium at 7:02 p.m. the

Red Sox had multiple people throw out

the ceremonial first pitch just to stall

then pretended to accidentally set the

sprinkler system off to delay the game

even further Miro belly had to borrow

catcher equipment cleats and supposedly

accidentally left his cup in the police

car he caught at least one inning

without a cup but the game started at

713 and it all worked out because the

Red Sox ended up winning however in

reality it was a complete disaster the

Red Sox traded a catcher with a 943 Ops

That season and a reliever who ended the

year with a 1.07 erra for a backup

catcher just because he could catch a

knuckle ball close to 1% of all knuckle

balls end up being wild pitches or pass

balls they are four times more likely to

get past a catcher than a regular pitch

the margins to be a successful knuckle

Baller in spite of these inevitable wild

pitches are extremely small and this is

a major reason why the pitch completely

disappeared but history shows you can

never completely kill the knuckler

starting in the 40s MLB always had a

steady stream of knuckle ballers but by

the80s they were gone the New York Times

and LA Times pronounced the pitch dead

then Charlie how came along he became a

starter at 34 years old was successful

and other knuckle ballers followed him

when he retired at 46 once again the

league deemed the pitch extinct in the

9s multiple Publications pronounced the

pitch dead then Tim Wakefield arrived he

pitched in high-profile playoff games as

a rookie and mesmerized baseball with a

beautiful knuckle ball and again more

pitchers followed but after a long

career he retired at 43 once again

people deemed the pitch dead then ra

dicki came along he was born without a

uucl when the Rangers found out he

didn't have a UCL they lowered his

signing bonus from 800k to

75k by 2005 he had a career erra of

555 that's when he learned earned a

knuckle ball to try and save his career

the Rangers let him try it out for a

game he gave up six home runs in his

only game he ever started throwing a

knuckle ball he set an MLB record for

homers given up in a game he got demoted

was cut and they never let him throw it

again but he didn't give up he spent the

next several years not in MLB mastering

the knuckle ball returned became an

All-Star led the league in starts three

years in a row and legitimately became

the best pitcher in the league becoming

the first knuckle Baller in history to

win asai young once again the knuckle

ball was back several other knuckle

ballers popped up but after Dicky's

retirement knuckle balls dropped to a

scary new low from 2008 to 2017 they

were on average

3,486 knuckle balls thring a year the 5

years following that there were only on

average 210 knuckle balls thrown a year

starting in 2020 there were 1199 knuckle

balls thrown in a 3-year period Tim

Wakefield do 170 of them in one game

with the advancements of analytics teams

want pitchers to throw as hard as

possible knuckle ballers do the opposite

since they're susceptible to Wild

pitches they have to be perfect since

they're volatile it's hard to project

how they'll perform game to game and in

terms of value having to find a catcher

just to catch one pitcher seems like a

complete waste to most teams in MLB many

aspects of advanced analytics goes

against knuckle ballers which is why

article after article pronounce the

pitch completely dead then this guy came

along Matt Waldren is the newest

evolution of knuckle baller and is

unlike almost any knuckle baller before

him he only learned it in 2021 while in

the miners it took him from being an

18th round draft pick and complete

afterthought to now being a staple in

the Padre's rotation

hitters are only slugging 387 against it

and when they swing at it they miss it

27.8% of the time instead of lobbing

knuckle ball after knuckle ball like the

traditional knuckle baller he only

throws it 38% of the time 62% of the

time batters facing him are seeing

sinkers Cutters and sweepers meaning

they have to be ready for 90 plus miles

per hour then have to adjust to a slow

knuckle ball that moves in all types of

directions only throwing at 38% of the

time limits past balls which teams today

would see as a massive inefficiency he

also aderes to teams OB session with

velocity at 84 mph it might be the

fastest knuckle ball ever only ra dicki

ever threw a knuckle ball close to that

speed in only a second season Waldron's

stats have improved in almost every

metric if he continues to improve we are

likely to see a similar effect how

Wakefield and Dicky had when they

revived the knuckle ball in their eras

but this time you won't see someone

lobbing up knuckle balls every pitch

teams will Target traditional players

who happen to throw good knuckle balls

they'll throw knuckle balls 30 to 40% of

the time this will cause less pass balls

less pressure on The Catcher And hitters

being completely off balance because

they don't know if they're getting a 95

mph fast ball or a 70 mph knuckle ball

that moves in seven directions at once

and if the knuckle balls look anything

like these they will have no chance