Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

[catcatch22]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

Mike Mussina supposedly throws this mythical Knuckle Curve, when in reality all it is is a slow curve. There are alot lot of pitchers who supposedly throw alot of different pitches when they are really variations on regular pitches.

[catcatch22]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

Mike Mussina supposedly throws this mythical Knuckle Curve, when in reality all it is is a slow curve. There are alot lot of pitchers who supposedly throw alot of different pitches when they are really variations on regular pitches.

[Klownpoet]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

Mike Mussina supposedly throws this mythical Knuckle Curve, when in reality all it is is a slow curve. There are alot lot of pitchers who supposedly throw alot of different pitches when they are really variations on regular pitches.

Smoltz threw one a good bit when he first came back from the DL and started to close. He has the pitch avaiable to him, but does not throw it anymore, thus it probably shouldnt be in the game.. Who knows though maybe he will bring it back this year to help save his arm again.

[Klownpoet]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

Mike Mussina supposedly throws this mythical Knuckle Curve, when in reality all it is is a slow curve. There are alot lot of pitchers who supposedly throw alot of different pitches when they are really variations on regular pitches.

Smoltz threw one a good bit when he first came back from the DL and started to close. He has the pitch avaiable to him, but does not throw it anymore, thus it probably shouldnt be in the game.. Who knows though maybe he will bring it back this year to help save his arm again.

[Klownpoet]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

No he doesn't. I have been following the Mets and hence the NL East since the mid 80s and I have never seen John Smoltz ever throw a knuckleball. Hell any pitcher could throw one, but it doesn't mean that they do.

Wow a misterknowitall here. You watch the Mets, not the Braves. Just because Smoltz didnt throw a knuckle ball against your team when you happend to watch him, doesn't mean he has never thrown one, or will never throw one again.

[Klownpoet]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

No he doesn't. I have been following the Mets and hence the NL East since the mid 80s and I have never seen John Smoltz ever throw a knuckleball. Hell any pitcher could throw one, but it doesn't mean that they do.

Wow a misterknowitall here. You watch the Mets, not the Braves. Just because Smoltz didnt throw a knuckle ball against your team when you happend to watch him, doesn't mean he has never thrown one, or will never throw one again.

[NickPapagiorgio]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

Wow a misterknowitall here. You watch the Mets, not the Braves. Just because Smoltz didnt throw a knuckle ball against your team when you happend to watch him, doesn't mean he has never thrown one, or will never throw one again.

It also doesn't mean that he should have it in the game. And if it is rated even half way decently that is even a bigger joke. Any pitcher can in theory throw any pitch, doesn't mean that they should have it in the game.

[NickPapagiorgio]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

Wow a misterknowitall here. You watch the Mets, not the Braves. Just because Smoltz didnt throw a knuckle ball against your team when you happend to watch him, doesn't mean he has never thrown one, or will never throw one again.

It also doesn't mean that he should have it in the game. And if it is rated even half way decently that is even a bigger joke. Any pitcher can in theory throw any pitch, doesn't mean that they should have it in the game.

[tc23]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

hmmm 54 mph pitch followed by a 95 mph pitch. At least w/Wakefield, we know his fastball is like 70 lol. I'm sure we'll see a bunch of Braves users online trying to exploit this. Ive only come across one in 5 games and didnt have too much a prob w/it

[tc23]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

hmmm 54 mph pitch followed by a 95 mph pitch. At least w/Wakefield, we know his fastball is like 70 lol. I'm sure we'll see a bunch of Braves users online trying to exploit this. Ive only come across one in 5 games and didnt have too much a prob w/it

[Heelfan71]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

I've been following the Braves since the 70's and I know Smoltz throws a knuckle ball .

Smoltz throws a four-seam fastball that tops out at 99MPH, a 91MPH slider that has long been considered one of the best in the league, and a 92MPH spilt-finger fastball that he uses as a strikeout pitch. He'll mix in a knuckleball on occasion as well.

http://www.answers.com/topic/john-smoltz

he doesn't throw it often but he does throw it.

[Heelfan71]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

I've been following the Braves since the 70's and I know Smoltz throws a knuckle ball .

Smoltz throws a four-seam fastball that tops out at 99MPH, a 91MPH slider that has long been considered one of the best in the league, and a 92MPH spilt-finger fastball that he uses as a strikeout pitch. He'll mix in a knuckleball on occasion as well.

http://www.answers.com/topic/john-smoltz

he doesn't throw it often but he does throw it.

[bravosfan]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

To my knowledge, Smoltz has not thrown a knuckleball in a game since Spring Training 2000, just before having Tommy John surgery. He only began throwing it in 1999, to try and save his ailing elbow.


Article from 2000:

The knuckleball may save Smoltz's elbow and his career. He's hopeful the pitch will eliminate the need to stress his elbow by throwing sliders, a pitch which is largely responsible for two surgeries on his elbow in the last five and a half years.

``Obviously, throwing 20 knuckleballs versus throwing 20 sliders will have a different effect on my elbow,´´ he said. ``This will allow me to take some stress off. I need to find out if I can do this on a regular basis.´´


Also from 2000:

Smoltz had two stints on the disabled list last season and was ultimately diagnosed with a sprained right elbow. But with the Braves, as usual, in the thick of a pennant race, Smoltz opted to pitch through the pain the last two months of the season.

By the playoffs, he had gone to a three-quarters delivery rather than straight overhand in an attempt to minimize the discomfort. He also experimented with a knuckleball, a pitch that puts less strain on the arm.

Smoltz reported to spring training determined to go back to his normal delivery, although he did stick with the knuckleball. The result wasn't good. In his first outing of the spring, he gave up three runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay. An MRI on Wednesday revealed the worst possible scenario.


Article from 2001:

Mixing fastballs, curves, sliders and changeups, Smoltz threw 25 pitches and struck out two. Smoltz said he even surprised himself with how good one of the fastballs felt, and joked that catcher Javy Lopez wouldn't let him try out a knuckleball.

[bravosfan]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

To my knowledge, Smoltz has not thrown a knuckleball in a game since Spring Training 2000, just before having Tommy John surgery. He only began throwing it in 1999, to try and save his ailing elbow.


Article from 2000:

The knuckleball may save Smoltz's elbow and his career. He's hopeful the pitch will eliminate the need to stress his elbow by throwing sliders, a pitch which is largely responsible for two surgeries on his elbow in the last five and a half years.

``Obviously, throwing 20 knuckleballs versus throwing 20 sliders will have a different effect on my elbow,´´ he said. ``This will allow me to take some stress off. I need to find out if I can do this on a regular basis.´´


Also from 2000:

Smoltz had two stints on the disabled list last season and was ultimately diagnosed with a sprained right elbow. But with the Braves, as usual, in the thick of a pennant race, Smoltz opted to pitch through the pain the last two months of the season.

By the playoffs, he had gone to a three-quarters delivery rather than straight overhand in an attempt to minimize the discomfort. He also experimented with a knuckleball, a pitch that puts less strain on the arm.

Smoltz reported to spring training determined to go back to his normal delivery, although he did stick with the knuckleball. The result wasn't good. In his first outing of the spring, he gave up three runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay. An MRI on Wednesday revealed the worst possible scenario.


Article from 2001:

Mixing fastballs, curves, sliders and changeups, Smoltz threw 25 pitches and struck out two. Smoltz said he even surprised himself with how good one of the fastballs felt, and joked that catcher Javy Lopez wouldn't let him try out a knuckleball.

[Klownpoet]

Re: Why does Smoltz have a knuckleball?

To my knowledge, Smoltz has not thrown a knuckleball in a game since Spring Training 2000, just before having Tommy John surgery. He only began throwing it in 1999, to try and save his ailing elbow.


Article from 2000:

The knuckleball may save Smoltz's elbow and his career. He's hopeful the pitch will eliminate the need to stress his elbow by throwing sliders, a pitch which is largely responsible for two surgeries on his elbow in the last five and a half years.

``Obviously, throwing 20 knuckleballs versus throwing 20 sliders will have a different effect on my elbow,´´ he said. ``This will allow me to take some stress off. I need to find out if I can do this on a regular basis.´´


Also from 2000:

Smoltz had two stints on the disabled list last season and was ultimately diagnosed with a sprained right elbow. But with the Braves, as usual, in the thick of a pennant race, Smoltz opted to pitch through the pain the last two months of the season.

By the playoffs, he had gone to a three-quarters delivery rather than straight overhand in an attempt to minimize the discomfort. He also experimented with a knuckleball, a pitch that puts less strain on the arm.

Smoltz reported to spring training determined to go back to his normal delivery, although he did stick with the knuckleball. The result wasn't good. In his first outing of the spring, he gave up three runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay. An MRI on Wednesday revealed the worst possible scenario.


Article from 2001:

Mixing fastballs, curves, sliders and changeups, Smoltz threw 25 pitches and struck out two. Smoltz said he even surprised himself with how good one of the fastballs felt, and joked that catcher Javy Lopez wouldn't let him try out a knuckleball.

I do not think Smoltz should have a knuckleball in this game, but I think the fact that Dan Kolb sucks on this game and doesnt have a sinker makes up for it.