[bluejays]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

As an avid knuckleball enthusiast, it doesn’t work because

a) it’s very difficult to throw a knuckleball at all

b) it’s even harder to throw a knuckleball AND throw other MLB level pitches - even RA Dickey could only mix in an 80 mph fastball here and there. Knuckleball = no breaking pitches

C) catchers can’t catch it. A knuckle balling starter requires a personal catcher. Josh Thole, Doug Mirabelli - you can’t just tell the everyday starter “go catch knuckleballs”.

Arencibia basically got drummed out of the league after he was unable to catch Dickey, but the next year with Martin, they made a big deal about how beat up he was getting behind the dish because he couldn’t get a handle on it, and Russell
Martin is Johnny Bench compared to JP Arencibia.

To me, the ultimate pitch mix for durability would be something like four-seam (92-95), circle change (84-87) splitter (81-83), knuckleball (64-68). But I don’t believe it’s possible in real life.

Wow. Quite the answer. Thanks! Totally get it now.