The knuckleball pitch has been present in Major League Baseball since 1907, and yet it’s been championed by only an historic handful. Now over a century old, the spin-less baseball’s legacy rests in the fate of one current pitcher, New York Mets hurler R.A. Dickey, the last remaining major league player to contain it in his arsenal.
David Wright has been a Met his entrire career. He was drafted by the team out of high school in Chesapeake, VA 11 years ago. This season, with the drop in the Mets payroll and the change in team philosophy, that may change. However, 5-time All-Star is more focused on returning to his performances in 2007 and 2008, especially after this past forgettable season.
Ike Davis started out his 2011 season as an MVP candidate. In just 36 games, he hit 7 homers, drove in 25 runs, and was hitting with a consistent .302 average. Then, an infield collision with David Wright and injury mis-management cost him the rest of the season.
You'll never see 'Nick Swisher' and 'introvert' in the same sentence. Swisher, who is entering his fourth season with the New York Yankees, is one of the most gregarious players in the major leagues, and definitely the 'loudest' Yankee.
PIcked 7th overall in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft, Matt Harvey had already arrived in the Major League Clubhouse for Mets Spring Training. The UNC alum is in position to speed through the minor leagues after spending time with the Mets Advanced A and AA squads last year.
Before his re-assignment to minor league camp, Harvey spent his time picking the brain of all the pitchers with MLB experience, especially Miguel Batista. Harvey warmed up with Batista every day and learned how to 'finish' on his pitches from him.
As he begins his 4th season with the Mets, Daniel Murphy is re-adjusting to his new position at second base. His season ended there last season when the Braves' Jose Costanza collided with Murphy as he tried to turn a double play.
Mets Starting Pitcher Mike Pelfrey isn't only a baseball fan, he also loves college basetball. The Wichita State University alum has season tickets to watch his Shockers team as well the Kansas Jayhawks team he's rooted for his entire life.
"In the entire bracket, there are only about 10 good teams, and after that there's a big drop off, so I would look for the #1 and #2 seeds to make it pretty far," Pelfrey said. All the #1 and #2 seeds made it to the Elite 8 in his bracket with Missouri emerging from the West as the only #2 seed in the Final Four.
From the WFUV Sports Archives
Cooperstown, NY, Sunday, July 27, 2003...This was the date Gary Carter ws inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Earlier that week WFUV Sports Manager Joe Buono had the opportunity to interview Gary for One on One's Saturday broadcast from the Hall.
ESPN's Buster Olney talked with One on One about Hanley Ramirez, the Oakland A's, and much more. Listen below.
Late September in the baseball year is usually the time for post season surges, when teams jockey for position and aim to win the division or wildcard. That’s probably the reason that Moneyball, the book, now movie starring Brad Pitt about the 2002 Oakland Athletics, is out this Friday. That year, under famed GM Billy Beane, the A’s won 103 games, collecting a late season stash of victories (including a 20-game winning streak) en route to sealing the A.L. west division title. How they got there is more impressive.
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