So, think you could hit a knuckleball?

[fordman84]

The batters eyes and the catchers glove say all you need to know.

 

[fordman84]

The longer I watch that, the more I laugh.

 

[powerchord86]

That's ridiculous. It doesn't even go one revolution. Just kind of spirals.

Dickey I assume?

 

[Upstater]

I got to see one of Dickey's starts this year against the Cardinals. He was making them look silly up there. You could see the ball move so much. There is no way I would be able to hit one of those. He will be missed.

 

[HammerDown]

That's amazing. On Sunday Night Baseball I remember Orel Hershiser talking about thinking he could catch a knuckleballer and he had a chance to do so with Tim Wakefield. He said he got hit in the knee, thigh, chest, balls five straight times and gave up. He couldn't even get a glove on it. If that's the case, when a knuckleballer is on, how can a batter ever even foul it off?

 

[Smoke]

Hell no. But I'd love to try. I've seent that gif before and I am mesmerized by it every time.

 

[bone3421]

yes i could.......but since i can never get a mlb player to come pitch to me i will just keep sitting on the couch

 

[Shanemansj13]

So around a 60 mph pitch, that moves in uncontrollable ways....NO!

I played baseball for 10 years or so, haven't had a try to hit one but I can't imagine.

 

[calsnowskier]

I love how the catcher closes his eyes and just hopes for the best

 

[General Lotso]

I think I could hit a slow knuckler. But, a hard one (the type Dickey throws) would be impossible.

 

[fordman84]

I say if you give me 10 swings I could get lucky on at least one. Not saying it would be a fair ball, but I could make some contact at least.

I think I'd fair better at a 60mph knuckleball than a 97 MPH Verlander "guess what this is going to be". I've wondered why a team wouldn't try to get a knuckleballer in the bullpen. Imagine you are facing some guy for 7 innings who is throwing regular stuff between 80 and 100 mph. Then all of a sudden you are facing something 30mph slower and dancing all over for just one at bat, then right back to a 100+ closer.

 

[powerchord86]

I say if you give me 10 swings I could get lucky on at least one. Not saying it would be a fair ball, but I could make some contact at least.

I think I'd fair better at a 60mph knuckleball than a 97 MPH Verlander "guess what this is going to be". I've wondered why a team wouldn't try to get a knuckleballer in the bullpen. Imagine you are facing some guy for 7 innings who is throwing regular stuff between 80 and 100 mph. Then all of a sudden you are facing something 30mph slower and dancing all over for just one at bat, then right back to a 100+ closer.

Yeah, 10 swings and I would feel great just to foul one off!

The Twins used to have Dickey in their bullpen a few years back and I thought it was awesome. Their starting pitching always sucks so it was nice to have him there because he could come in to eat up innings for days at a time because of the lack of fatigue of throwing the knuckler. I was pissed when they sent him down and then traded him. Well, look at him now...

 

[General Lotso]

I say if you give me 10 swings I could get lucky on at least one. Not saying it would be a fair ball, but I could make some contact at least.

I think I'd fair better at a 60mph knuckleball than a 97 MPH Verlander "guess what this is going to be". I've wondered why a team wouldn't try to get a knuckleballer in the bullpen. Imagine you are facing some guy for 7 innings who is throwing regular stuff between 80 and 100 mph. Then all of a sudden you are facing something 30mph slower and dancing all over for just one at bat, then right back to a 100+ closer.

I'd imagine because it's a pitch really hard to master, hence why you don't see many of them. But, I get your point.

 

[fordman84]

I'd imagine because it's a pitch really hard to master, hence why you don't see many of them. But, I get your point.

Yeah, that is my thinking as well. First it is hard to find a good knuckleballer. Then second, it is a pitch that even a good guy can have trouble with on any given night. If you are only facing 3-5 batters and it is an off night for you, you could give up some runs quickly and not have a chance to settle into a groove.

 

[General Lotso]

Yeah, that is my thinking as well. First it is hard to find a good knuckleballer. Then second, it is a pitch that even a good guy can have trouble with on any given night. If you are only facing 3-5 batters and it is an off night for you, you could give up some runs quickly and not have a chance to settle into a groove.

Exactly.

 

[uncfan103]

My brother is a high schooler who throws a knuckleball just for fun. He isn't a pitcher and doesn't throw nearly as hard as Wakefield or dickey and his is difficult to catch sometimes. I'd just swing hard and hope to get lucky against dickey.

 

[calsnowskier]

I say if you give me 10 swings I could get lucky on at least one. Not saying it would be a fair ball, but I could make some contact at least.

I think I'd fair better at a 60mph knuckleball than a 97 MPH Verlander "guess what this is going to be". I've wondered why a team wouldn't try to get a knuckleballer in the bullpen. Imagine you are facing some guy for 7 innings who is throwing regular stuff between 80 and 100 mph. Then all of a sudden you are facing something 30mph slower and dancing all over for just one at bat, then right back to a 100+ closer.

I think a big problem with this is the catcher. A lot of time, you need a specific catcher in the game for a knuckle-baller. Makes having them come out of the pen a bit more tricky.

 

[romeo212000]

So around a 60 mph pitch, that moves in uncontrollable ways....NO!

I played baseball for 10 years or so, haven't had a try to hit one but I can't imagine.

Actually dickey throws his in the 80's.

 

[fordman84]

I think a big problem with this is the catcher. A lot of time, you need a specific catcher in the game for a knuckle-baller. Makes having them come out of the pen a bit more tricky.

Also a good point. Guess youneed a spry youngster back there that can bob and weave and get into the dirt with a knuckler on the mound.