Slowly, the knuckleball is becoming part of baseball's past as fewer pitchers are throwing the unorthodox weapon. But Bisons knuckleballer R.A. Dickey retired a club modern era-record of 27 consecutive batters on Thursday in a 4-0 win over Durham so its obviously still useful.
Two of Dickey's mentors are longtime knuckleballers Tim Wakefield and Charlie Hough.
"Tim's a guy I've looked up to for a while, even before I started throwing the knuckleball he's someone I started paying attention to," Dickey said. "When I started throwing the knuckleball, I kind of was on my own and then I hooked up with Charlie who I got to know very well."
Dickey was around eight when he started fooling around with the pitch in his backyard in Nashville. His Little League coach taught him how to properly throw the pitch and he threw it until he attended the University of Tennessee. His fastball was humming around 90 mph.
"I really didn't have a need for it in college," Dickey said.
When he reached the Majors with the Texas Rangers, Dickey threw about five knuckleballs a game but after suffering an upper back injury, Dickey's velocity wasn't as strong. Orel Hershiser, who was the Rangers pitching coach at the time, suggested Dickey make the knuckleball his primary pitch.
"In order to keep chasing the dream and keep being a big-leaguer, I had to come up with something," Dickey said. "He said my knuckleball was good enough to use full time. I've been a knuckleballer ever since."
He's pitched at least eight innings in four consecutive starts and leads the IL with 382/3; innings pitched.
There have been only three complete games in the IL this season. One was Wednesday's no-hitter by Norfolk's Chris Tillman at Gwinnett and Dickey has the other two.
Here's the Bisons starting lineup for tonight's game:
Jason Pridie, cf Jesus Feliciano, lf Mike Jacobs, 1b Mike Hessman, 3b Fernando Martinez, rf Chris Carter, dh Russ Adams, 2b Josh Thole, c Ruben Tejada, ss Pat Misch, p
Quite a night for Bisons knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. He tossed a one-hitter Thursday, giving up a leadoff single and no other baserunners in Buffalo's 4-0 win over Durham.
It was the Bisons' 11th one-hitter since Coca Cola Field opened in 1988 but just the third nine-inning shutout where only one hit was given up. The list of Bisons one-hitters downtown reads like this:
---R.A. Dickey vs. Durham, April 29, 2010 (4-0) ---Matt Ginter and Brian Slocum vs. Scranton-WB, June 28, 2008 (3-0) ---Jeremy Guthrie vs. Louisville, July 26, 2006 (6-1) ---Jeremy Sowers vs. Pawtucket, May 19, 2006 (1st game, 1-0) ---Kyle Denney & Scott Stewart vs. Ottawa, Aug. 14, 2004 (2-1 in 10) ---Jason Beverlin vs. Rochester, April 23, 2002 (1st game, 4-0) ---Jason Phillips, Dario Veras, Scott Radinsky, Martin Vargas vs. Syracuse, Aug. 3, 2001 (4-1) ---Kevin Blankenship vs. Oklahoma City, Aug. 1, 1991 (5-0) ---Roger Mason & Rosario Rodriguez vs. Pawtucket, May 30, 1991 (1-0) ---Morris Madden vs. Rochester, May 24, 1989 (2nd game, 1-0) ---Randy Kramer vs. Richmond, June 16, 1988 (3-0)
Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who signed a $30 million contract over the winter with the Cincinnati Reds, will pitch in Coca-Cola Field Monday night against the Buffalo Bisons. The 22-year-old left-hander is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts for Louisville. He has 22 strikeouts and 12 walks in 21 innings. He reportedly cracked 100 mph on the radar gun Thursday in Scranton -- although the scoreboard only went to 99.
As for the Bisons, they're playing Game Three of their series tonight against Durham on a chilly, windy evening. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is on the mound. Here's the Herd lineup:
Jason Pridie, cf Jesus Feliciano, rf Mike Jacobs, 1b Mike Hessman, 3b Chris Carter, lf Mike Cervenak, dh Josh Thole, c Andy Green, 2b Ruben Tejeda, ss
In the last eight games, the Bisons' offense has scored 51 runs for an average of 6.4 runs a game. They defeated Durham on Tuesday night, 9-5. Here is the starting lineup for tonight's game vs. the Bulls:
Jason Pridie, cf Jesus Feliciano, rf Mike Jacobs, 1b Mike Hessman, 3b Chris Carter, lf Russ Adams, 2b Josh Thole, c Alex Cintron, dh Ruben Tejada, ss Tobi Stoner, p
This series will be Durham's only trip to Buffalo this season. Last year, the Bisons won three of four from the Bulls at Coca-Cola Field and split the season series at 4. The Herd hasn't lost a season series to the Bulls since 1999. In the last 10 seasons, the Herd has five season-series victories over Durham and five splits.
Here is the starting lineup for tonight's game:
Jason Pridie, cf Jesus Feliciano, lf Mike Jacobs, 1b Mike Hessman, 3b Chris Carter, rf Mike Cervenak, dh Omir Santos, c Andy Green, 2b Ruben Tejada, ss Dillion Gee, p
For today's Inside Baseball column, I took a detour over to Fenway Park last week during the Sabres-Bruins sseries and checked in with the struggling Red Sox. The early signs are not good as the Yankees and Rays are off to fast starts while Boston is having problems in just about every area of its game.
Also making their debut this week are our first rankings of the regular season. I don't quibble over these too much this early in the season. Who's 14th vs. who's 16th doesn't make a lot of difference. More of a conversation stage at this point.
I didn't know much about late Rockies president Keli McGregor, who was found dead last week at age 48 in a Salt Lake City hotel room. But I remember seeing him at the 2007 World Series against Boston. Huge guy. Former college and NFL player. And if you read one ESPN.com story today,it should be this one by Amy K. Nelson on McGregor's death and legacy. Great stuff.
BOSTON -- The day's hockey work is over (update: It was until the Sabres called up Cody McCormick tonight), so why not sneak over to Fenway Park for some baseball? Can't resist. But while the Bruins are starting to create quite a buzz around town, the Red Sox are doing nothing but causing angst.
The Olde Towne Team entered tonight's game against Texas just 4-9, its worst start since opening the 1996 season 2-11. Boston is coming off a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rays and has dropped six straight in the Fens, its worst run since a 12-game slide in 1994.
It gets worse. Mike Cameron (hernia) and Jacoby Ellsbury (chest contusion) both went on the disabled list before tonight's game. Cameron could be looking at surgery.
"We have to own it, take responsibility for it and recognize that It has to change," Epstein said. "It's a very disappointing stretch of play. But it's also an opportunity to confront it and show some leadership."
Some numbers on the Sox heading into tonight:
---They haven't led for 48 straight innings ---They're 0 for their last 32 in RISP situations dating to April 14 ---They're ninth in the AL in batting average (.249), 11th in runs (50 in 13 games) and 12th in team ERA (4.58). ---No shortage to the slumpees list: JD Drew is just 6 for 41 (.146) with one home run, David Ortiz is 6 for 38 (.158) with no home runs. Victor Martinez is batting .212 with one home run and Kevin Youkilis is at 2.17. ---Struggling arms too: Jon Lester is 0-2, 8.44, John Lackey is 1-1, 5.63, Tim Wakefield enters tonight's start 0-1, 5.11.
It's only April but the Sox are already six games behind the first-place Rays and 5 1/2 behind the Yankees. Heard lots of griping and hand-wringing on the subway coming over here. With good reason.
The four-game series between the Buffalo Bisons and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees comes to a close today with a a 1:05 first pitch at Coca-Cola Field.
The Yankees hold a 2-1 lead in this series after winning the last two games. Both teams are now tied for second in the International League North Division -- two games behind division-leading Syracuse.
Lefty Pat MIsch (0-0, 1.69) gets the start for the Bisons. He pitched well in his first two starts but has not earned a decision yet.
Righty Romulo Sanchez (0-1, 12.86) starts for the Yankees as Scranton's starters still have yet to pick up a win on the season.
Today's lineups:
Scranton Kevin Russo, 2B Eduardo Nunez, SS Juan Miranda, 1B David Winfree, DH Jesus Montero, C Chad Huffman, LF Colin Curtis, RF Robby Hammock, 3B Greg Golson, CF
Bisons Jason Pridie, C Josh Thole, C Fernando Martinez, RF Mike Hessman, DH Chris Carter, 1B Mike Cervenak, 3B Alex Cintron, 2B Jesus Feliciano, LF Ruben Tejada, SS
Bottom of the ninth: Mike Cervenak homers to lead off the inning, making it 7-2.
Top of the ninth: Five walks by the Bisons pitching staff included walking in three runs. A single and a sacrifice fly made it a five-run inning for Scranton giving the Yankees a 7-1 lead.
Eighth inning: Greg Golson scores on a single by David Winfree to give Scranton the 2-1 lead.
Sixth inning: Josh Thole leads off with a double and scores on a sacrifice fly by Mike Hessman on a deep shot to right centerfield as the Bisons tie the game, 1-1.
Second inning: Jesus Montero hits his first home run of the year on an 0-2 pitch to give Scranton a 1-0 lead.
12:37: It's official: The New York Mets have selected the contract of Ike Davis.
12:21 p.m.: New starting lineups were released with Ike Davis out of the lineup, Mike Hessman playing first and Mike Cervenak taking third.
Pregame: The Ike Davis watch is officially on after several New York media reports that the Mets are looking to call up the 23-year old first baseman .... perhaps any minute now.
But for the moment, Davis is in the Buffalo Bisons lineup, scheduled to play first and bat fourth in the lineup.
Has the last 24 or 48 hours been hard for Davis what with all the reports of his possible first big-league call up?
"No, not all," Davis said after taking batting practice. "Because no one's talked to me about anything. I mean the media is about the only people that have talked to me about it. Basically I haven't heard anything so it's not that hard.
"I'm still here so approaching the day would be liken normal -- getting ready for the game and trying to hit a couple of runners in for the team and see if we can win this game."
In today's game, scheduled for 1:05 in Coca-Cola Field, righty R.A. Dickey (1-0, 3.95) gets the start for the Herd while righty Zach McAllister (0-0, 3.72) will start for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Today's lineups:
Scranton Greg Golson, CF Eduardo Nunez, SS Juan Miranda, 1B David Winfree, LF Jon Weber, DH Jesus Montero, C Colin Curtis, RF Robby Hammock, 3B Reegie Corona, 2B
Bisons Jason Pridie, C Josh Thole, C Fernando Martinez, LF Ike Davis, 1B Mike Hessman, 3B Chris Carter, DH Alex Cintron, 2B Jesus Feliciano, RF Ruben Tejada, SS
Looks like first baseman Ike Davis' days in Buffalo are numbered. His time here, in fact, might be down to hours. Virtually every New York City outlet is reporting Sunday evening that the Mets are calling up Davis (left) from the Herd to try to kick-start their offense after Mike Jacobs was designated for assignment.
Davis has clearly been Buffalo's top offensive threat thus far. He's 12 for 33 in 10 games with a .364 batting average, .636 slugging percentage and 1.136 OPS. He has three doubles, two homers and four RBIs. What's really impressive are his nine walks and only five strikeouts.
Nothing wrong with his bat. It's big-league ready. The glove is a question but the Mets simply can't wait anymore. They need offense. They need some electricity in Citi Field with a 10-game homestand opening Monday night against the Cubs. They need a way to win the back pages -- probably with the headline of this post. So this is how it's going to go down.
Click below for links to the stories coming out of the Mets' beat writers tonight in St. Louis.
