 R.A. Dickey tosses his befuddling knuckleball during a Mets game last year. The pitch gets little respect around the major leagues. (Reuters) |
TORONT(O - As a knuckleball pitcher, R. A. Dickey is a breed apart.
In the world of baseball, he remains a stranger in a strange land.
Prior to every series, the starters and the pitching coach and catchers go over the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. Then, based on their individual strengths and weaknesses, a plan of attack is formed.
With Dickey, though, the planning is not complicated at all. In fact, there’s just one plan: Take the ball and throw it.
When you throw a knuckleball more than 90% of the time, what’s to plan?
It’s a trick pitch and is commonly referred to as the pitch of last resort.
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Every reliever is a failed starter and every starter who tosses a knuckleball is a guy who couldn’t get the opposition out with his regular stuff.
