GaryMrMets
02-26-2003, 05:58 PM
Arizona's Swindell Works on Adding Knuckler to Repertoire
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona reliever Greg Swindell used spring training practice to work on something new -- his knuckleball.
Swindell, who has been trying out the pitch since the beginning of camp, saw how effective it can be in a constant breeze.
"There was one time when I threw it and the catcher had his mitt down by his knee and it hit him in the mask,'' Swindell said.
Swindell, 38, said he has thrown the pitch during warmups for many years but has never used it in a game. He finished last season 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA and was hampered by back and shoulder injuries.
"We'll see if it something that Greg feels or we feel is something he should commit to full-time and become a knuckleball pitcher, or is it a complimentary pitch to go along with the other stuff that he has,'' Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona reliever Greg Swindell used spring training practice to work on something new -- his knuckleball.
Swindell, who has been trying out the pitch since the beginning of camp, saw how effective it can be in a constant breeze.
"There was one time when I threw it and the catcher had his mitt down by his knee and it hit him in the mask,'' Swindell said.
Swindell, 38, said he has thrown the pitch during warmups for many years but has never used it in a game. He finished last season 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA and was hampered by back and shoulder injuries.
"We'll see if it something that Greg feels or we feel is something he should commit to full-time and become a knuckleball pitcher, or is it a complimentary pitch to go along with the other stuff that he has,'' Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said.