ON BASEBALL
Steven Wright isn’t joking around
He is a serious knuckleballer
By Nick Cafardo
Globe Staff /
February 16, 2013
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“I definitely need to get my walks down. It was my first year throwing it. It’s hard because everybody compared my numbers to Dickey. The fact he did it with a knuckleball is unreal. His walks-to-strikeouts were incredible. My walks are high compared to him.”
Wright reiterated that the biggest adjustment is mental.
“I want them to know what’s coming,” he said. “I want them to think a knuckleball is coming every time. Everybody knows what’s coming but I still have to execute the pitch. That was the hardest thing. I’m basically throwing batting practice.”
So far, he’s glad he made the switch.
“I don’t think I’d be in the position I am if I didn’t start throwing a knuckleball,” he said. “And I always told myself I’d never be a knuckleballer.
“You see guys like Wake, throwing it at 65 — nothing wrong with that, but I throw 95. I don’t want to throw something 65 when I can throw it 95. That was my mentality. But now I’m here and I’m going to go all out and give it everything I’ve got.
“I feel that I’ve been given a second chance to be a major leaguer and this is my avenue. I never thought it would be the way I got to the big leagues, but this has been enjoyable.
“It’s been a challenge. I’ve been able to prove to myself I can do this. It’s funny where life takes you, but it took me to this and I’m good with it.”
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.
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