Comments on: Niekro Knuckles Under the Pressure http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:07:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gary http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83833 Gary Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:34:51 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83833 I was at the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium the night Phil Niekro threw a no hitter. One of the advantages of the pitch is that the pitcher can throw more pitches in a game before the arm tires. The knuckler is one of those things that are great as long as not many people are doing it. The pitch messes up a player's timing at bat. I was at the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium the night Phil Niekro threw a no hitter. One of the advantages of the pitch is that the pitcher can throw more pitches in a game before the arm tires. The knuckler is one of those things that are great as long as not many people are doing it. The pitch messes up a player’s timing at bat.

]]> By: Alex http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83822 Alex Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:14:18 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83822 Best of luck to this guy. I fear the day when the majors are devoid of at least one knuckleball pitcher. Best of luck to this guy. I fear the day when the majors are devoid of at least one knuckleball pitcher.

]]> By: B http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83766 B Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:45:35 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83766 And by WAR I mean something more along the lines of wins above a normal hitting pitcher... And by WAR I mean something more along the lines of wins above a normal hitting pitcher…

]]> By: B http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83765 B Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:44:39 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83765 If I'm not mistaken, I believe I've read this issue discussed, with the conclusion that a good hitting starting NL pitcher can add ~.5 WAR for a season. If I’m not mistaken, I believe I’ve read this issue discussed, with the conclusion that a good hitting starting NL pitcher can add ~.5 WAR for a season.

]]> By: Davidceisen http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83676 Davidceisen Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:06:57 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83676 He'll get 70 PA a year at the most if he can pitch decently. His bat is hardly going to add any wins. He’ll get 70 PA a year at the most if he can pitch decently. His bat is hardly going to add any wins.

]]> By: R Y http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83672 R Y Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:03:57 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83672 This New York Times article explains more about Lance Niekro's journey into becoming a knuckleballer. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/sports/baseball/22niekro.html?pagewanted=all In summary, he didn't take his father's passing well and decided to quite baseball but eventually come back around to give it another try. This New York Times article explains more about Lance Niekro’s journey into becoming a knuckleballer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/sports/baseball/22niekro.html?pagewanted=all

In summary, he didn’t take his father’s passing well and decided to quite baseball but eventually come back around to give it another try.

]]> By: obsessivegiantscompulsive http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83670 obsessivegiantscompulsive Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:58:59 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83670 Yeah, Niekro always had that in his back pocket (or was that Don Sutton's son? :^) that he had learned and practiced the family knuckler, and could always fall back on that if the position playing never worked out for him. I'm surprised it took him this long to finally get to pitching, but maybe he wanted some time off before heading into the next phase of his career, or maybe he needed to work on the pitch before trying to do it professionally. If he can pitch decently as a starter, he could win a lot of games because if he can hit as well now as a pitcher as he did before as a 1B, he could probably add 1-2 wins per season to his overall record just because of his hitting. Yeah, Niekro always had that in his back pocket (or was that Don Sutton’s son? :^) that he had learned and practiced the family knuckler, and could always fall back on that if the position playing never worked out for him. I’m surprised it took him this long to finally get to pitching, but maybe he wanted some time off before heading into the next phase of his career, or maybe he needed to work on the pitch before trying to do it professionally.

If he can pitch decently as a starter, he could win a lot of games because if he can hit as well now as a pitcher as he did before as a 1B, he could probably add 1-2 wins per season to his overall record just because of his hitting.

]]> By: PhDBrian http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83657 PhDBrian Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:57:38 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83657 I always root for Knucklers! Go Neikro I always root for Knucklers! Go Neikro

]]> By: Kincaid http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83652 Kincaid Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:44:39 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83652 Heck, his uncle was just getting on track for his HOF career at that age. Knuckleballers don't need no 20's. Heck, his uncle was just getting on track for his HOF career at that age. Knuckleballers don’t need no 20′s.

]]> By: tom s. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/niekro-knuckles-under-the-pressure/#comment-83633 tom s. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:08:14 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=6283#comment-83633 The good news is that, starting at 30, that still leaves him about a 15-20 year career as a knuckleballer. The good news is that, starting at 30, that still leaves him about a 15-20 year career as a knuckleballer.

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