Before we look ahead at this weekend, there are a few stories still lingering.
One is Tim Wakefield. The guy simply won’t go away. I have story in today’s Eagle-Tribune on ex-knuckleballer Charlie Hough, who I found in a minor league clubhouse in San Bernadino, Ca. Hough is the most recent “old fogie” pitcher to have back-to-back complete games.
Hough did it in 1992, losing 2-1 to Seattle before beating Cleveland, 7-1, on June 17 and 22 respectively. Hough was 44 years, 169 days old. Wakefield’s consecutive gems were April 15 and yesterday, but the difference was he won both of his tilts, relatively easily.
What struck me about Wakefield, though, was his performance on April 15 when the Sox were really reeling. He had a no-hitter through seven innings before finishing with an 8-2 win.
Anyway, I spoke to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and DH Jason Kubel about Wakefield and his performance yesterday.
“Wakefield just takes the ball and keeps on going,” said Gardenhire. “And he’s knows what he’s doing with it … It just seems like when things fail, they turn to Wakefield and he comes through.”
Gardenhire said it is virtually impossible to prepare for the Red Sox knuckleballer.
“On the one hand, you go up there knowing he’s not going to throw the ball by you,” said Gardenhire. “The only thing you can hope for is a flat ball. He doesn’t throw too many of them. Everything he threw (yesterday) was dancing.”
Gardenhire says there is also a thing called the “Wakefield Effect.” It’s when the Red Sox sandwich Wakefield in between Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.
“Beckett throws it about 8,000 miles per hour and then Wakefield’s up there with 64 mile per hour junk,” said Gardenhire. “Then they have Lester who’s bringing it in the mid-90s. It really is tough on hitters.”
Kubel concurs.
Kubel got his second hit off Wakefield in eight career at bats versus the knuckleballer. His first hit was a homer in 2006.
“That was a fastball,” said Kubel. “I don’t like hitting against him. You are never comfortable. I always take the first pitch just to get a look at him. Unfortunately, that is the best pitch you see sometimes.”
Kubel said while Wakefield’s fastball and curveball aren’t anywhere the major league average in speed, he says miles per hour are deceiving.
“His fastball looks 98 (mph) because you’re looking for the knuckleball,” said Kubel. “And you know what, his curveball is pretty good. He’s a smart pitcher.”
The most interesting comment about Wakefield came from Hough, who had a career record of 216-216.
He said it always seems that Wakefield is at the bottom of the pitching pile at the beginning of each year, but it always happens. The Sox “studs” go down and guess who saves the day.
