Fellow flutterballer Wakefield, like Hough, says to trust the pitch
ARLINGTON ? Boston's Tim Wakefield, the senior member of the Fraternal Order of Knuckleballers, had this to offer to new initiate R.A. Dickey:
Listen to what Charlie Hough said.
Dickey, who makes his first start of the season tonight against Detroit, has spent lots of time since September with Hough, a knuckleball master. Wakefield also learned at Hough's fingertips when he was trying to unravel the secrets of baseball's unpredictable pitch.
"Just have confidence in the pitch and don't be afraid to throw it at any point," Wakefield said. "That's what Charlie told me. That's what I would tell anybody who throws this pitch. It's your best pitch. If you are going to get beat, get beat with your best pitch."
Hough told Dickey the same thing in September. And he repeated it during the eight days the duo spent together over the winter.
Tonight, Dickey gets his first chance to practice what the other knuckleballers have preached. And Dickey may have to make the most of limited chances. With Robinson Tejeda and his 94 mph fastball eligible to be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma next week, Dickey or lefty John Koronka, who starts Friday, may not get much of an audition.
Tejeda can be recalled from option Wednesday, which falls on the same day as Koronka's scheduled second start. Tejeda could be recalled earlier if a player goes on the disabled list.
Dickey said he closely watched Wakefield's start Tuesday but hasn't sought his advice. Dickey said he didn't want to overload himself with information, particularly while still trying to grasp the pitch.
"I was watching him from a different perspective," Dickey said. "I wanted to see how he did things, how he approached certain counts and situations, but I want to embrace my own personality with the pitch. I wanted to watch him but not necessarily emulate him."
Dickey certainly does not want to emulate Wakefield's results at Ameriquest Field. Wakefield lasted only 3 2/3 innings Tuesday. It continued a long dry stretch for Wakefield, which perhaps not so coincidentally coincides with the addition of the Gold Club luxury seating area behind home plate in 2000. The Gold Club construction eliminated an outlet for the winds that swirl inside Ameriquest Field. Too much wind is a big obstacle for knuckleball pitchers, as it makes control difficult.
Since 2000, Wakefield is 2-7 in Arlington with a 6.80 ERA. He was 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA before the club's addition.
"I enjoy pitching here, but haven't had good results," Wakefield said. "You are going to get [unpredictable conditions] at almost every park. But if you are going to throw it, you just have to live and die with this pitch."
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Scouting the Tigers
LHP Nate Robertson (7-16, 4.48 ERA): Robertson's solid fastball and above-average slider make him tough to hit at times, especially for the Rangers. He was 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA and seven strikeouts in two starts against Texas last season. He does have a history of good starts in his outings and not-so-good finishes.
Loves to face: Hank Blalock (3-for-11)
Hates to face: Rod Barajas (4-for-8)
Update: Detroit comes in fresh off back-to-back victories to start the season. Former Rangers starter Kenny Rogers helped Tigers manager Jim Leyland notch his first victory Monday.
Scouting the Rangers
RHP R.A. Dickey (1-2, 6.67 ERA): The knuckleballer got a chance to test the pitch out this season at Ameriquest Field when he pitched in the final exhibition game. He had three good innings and one bad ? giving up a grand slam. He pitches two days after another knuckleballer ? Tim Wakefield ? got roughed up in Arlington.
Loves to face: Brandon Inge (0-for-5)
Hates to face: Craig Monroe (4-for-9, 2B)
Update: Texas plays its first four-game series of the season. It didn't win a four-game series until late July last season, finishing 4-5 in four-game series. The Rangers are 7-8 against Detroit the last two seasons.
ARLINGTON ? Boston's Tim Wakefield, the senior member of the Fraternal Order of Knuckleballers, had this to offer to new initiate R.A. Dickey:
Listen to what Charlie Hough said.
Dickey, who makes his first start of the season tonight against Detroit, has spent lots of time since September with Hough, a knuckleball master. Wakefield also learned at Hough's fingertips when he was trying to unravel the secrets of baseball's unpredictable pitch.
"Just have confidence in the pitch and don't be afraid to throw it at any point," Wakefield said. "That's what Charlie told me. That's what I would tell anybody who throws this pitch. It's your best pitch. If you are going to get beat, get beat with your best pitch."
Hough told Dickey the same thing in September. And he repeated it during the eight days the duo spent together over the winter.
Tonight, Dickey gets his first chance to practice what the other knuckleballers have preached. And Dickey may have to make the most of limited chances. With Robinson Tejeda and his 94 mph fastball eligible to be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma next week, Dickey or lefty John Koronka, who starts Friday, may not get much of an audition.
Tejeda can be recalled from option Wednesday, which falls on the same day as Koronka's scheduled second start. Tejeda could be recalled earlier if a player goes on the disabled list.
Dickey said he closely watched Wakefield's start Tuesday but hasn't sought his advice. Dickey said he didn't want to overload himself with information, particularly while still trying to grasp the pitch.
"I was watching him from a different perspective," Dickey said. "I wanted to see how he did things, how he approached certain counts and situations, but I want to embrace my own personality with the pitch. I wanted to watch him but not necessarily emulate him."
Dickey certainly does not want to emulate Wakefield's results at Ameriquest Field. Wakefield lasted only 3 2/3 innings Tuesday. It continued a long dry stretch for Wakefield, which perhaps not so coincidentally coincides with the addition of the Gold Club luxury seating area behind home plate in 2000. The Gold Club construction eliminated an outlet for the winds that swirl inside Ameriquest Field. Too much wind is a big obstacle for knuckleball pitchers, as it makes control difficult.
Since 2000, Wakefield is 2-7 in Arlington with a 6.80 ERA. He was 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA before the club's addition.
"I enjoy pitching here, but haven't had good results," Wakefield said. "You are going to get [unpredictable conditions] at almost every park. But if you are going to throw it, you just have to live and die with this pitch."
===========
Scouting the Tigers
LHP Nate Robertson (7-16, 4.48 ERA): Robertson's solid fastball and above-average slider make him tough to hit at times, especially for the Rangers. He was 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA and seven strikeouts in two starts against Texas last season. He does have a history of good starts in his outings and not-so-good finishes.
Loves to face: Hank Blalock (3-for-11)
Hates to face: Rod Barajas (4-for-8)
Update: Detroit comes in fresh off back-to-back victories to start the season. Former Rangers starter Kenny Rogers helped Tigers manager Jim Leyland notch his first victory Monday.
Scouting the Rangers
RHP R.A. Dickey (1-2, 6.67 ERA): The knuckleballer got a chance to test the pitch out this season at Ameriquest Field when he pitched in the final exhibition game. He had three good innings and one bad ? giving up a grand slam. He pitches two days after another knuckleballer ? Tim Wakefield ? got roughed up in Arlington.
Loves to face: Brandon Inge (0-for-5)
Hates to face: Craig Monroe (4-for-9, 2B)
Update: Texas plays its first four-game series of the season. It didn't win a four-game series until late July last season, finishing 4-5 in four-game series. The Rangers are 7-8 against Detroit the last two seasons.
