Just checked the listings for FIVE to confirm that they will be showing the Yankees/Red Sox game on Sunday night, in which the Sox should be sending Tim Wakefield to the mound. This will be the second time in two weeks that they will have shown a Wakefield start having shown his outing against the Diamondbacks and Randy Johnson, he’ll now be matched up against Joba Chamberlain. I would never, ever start Wakefield on my fantasy team but there is no pitcher I like watching more when it comes to the real thing. I believe there is only one other knuckle ball pitcher in the Majors, possibly with Tampa Bay, but I’ve never seen him pitch. The game against the Big Unit was a wonderful contrast, Johnson’s mid nineties fast ball, high eighties slider against Wakfield’s high fifties knuckler and low seventies fast ball. And who’s fast ball was more hitable? Johnson’s. Wakefield’s throws over to first base are harder than his fast ball to home plate, I guess if he threw his fast ball harder his motion would change and tip his pitch to the hitter and even if he got the fast ball up to the low eighties then that’s just batting practice for a Major Leaguer if he can recognise it.
Even though I have Chamberlain on my fantasy team, and need wins, as long as he doesn’t get torched I would be happy to see him lose this one to Wakefield.