When I was watching baseball religiously I loved watching Niekro. Always fascinated by the knuckler.
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Bob Uecker used catching Niekro for some of his comedy material. The quote we've all heard is this one.
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/bob_uecker_140050
The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and then pick it up.
However, in all seriousness, Ueck played a key role in convincing Niekro to become a full-time knuckleballer.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story...-knuckleball-dies-81
First called up by Milwaukee in 1964, Niekro seesawed between the majors and minors, a pitcher struggling to find a niche and willing catchers. He found both in 1967, when he was united with Bob Uecker, a veteran reserve backstop with many quips and sage advice.
"Ueck told me if I was ever going to be a winner to throw the knuckleball at all times and he would try to catch it," Niekro said. "I led the league in ERA [1.87], and he led the league in passed balls."
Uecker acknowledged he did a lot of chasing.
Niekro was king of the knuckler, really fun pitcher to watch. Wish the knuckler would come back in vogue. And base stealing. I miss some of the 80s small ball and strategy, knucklers and eephus balls.
@tsr86free posted:Niekro was king of the knuckler, really fun pitcher to watch. Wish the knuckler would come back in vogue. And base stealing. I miss some of the 80s small ball and strategy, knucklers and eephus balls.
I like the variety of approaches back then, but Moneyball and the thinking that's evolved from it have wiped it out.
If you value hitters getting walks as much as getting singles, then pitchers who walk a lot of guys like knuckleballers aren't very valuable. They might be less effective now because hitters in the 80s who knew they would not get paid based on drawing walks would be more likely to take some swings. Now, they know they get paid based on OBP, they are more likely to take more pitches. This makes it likely knuckleballers will issue even more walks.
The statistics don't lie. Giving up an out for a base by bunting in small ball isn't worth it. The risk you have in getting caught stealing isn't worth giving up the extra out for an extra base.
It's made the game more homogenous and boring. It's all launch angles from hitters and spin rates for pitchers, but there is no going backward.