Friends, this exceptionally exciting news ... As of Tuesday evening, R.A. Dickey is no longer Major League Baseball's only knuckleball pitcher!
Let the Steven Wright Era begin!
USA TODAY Sports
It's true. Tuesday, the Red Sox are, much earlier than anyone expected, adding knuckleballer Steven Wright to their 25-man roster. Why Wright, now? Here's WEE.com with the skinny:
The reason for the promotion - which will be the 28-year-old's major league debut - has a lot to do with the state of the Red Sox' 40-man roster than anything. With Tuesday night's starter Felix Doubront having not pitched since April 5, and reliever-turned-starter Alfredo Aceves following up Wednesday, there may be a need a long-man in the coming days. So with the understanding the Sox would need somebody on the 40-man, the candidates to fill such a role realistically came down to Wright and Daniel Bard.
So Wright’s not going to start, and I suspect he won’t last long as a reliever unless he pitches exceptionally well. But with the exception of a lousy spring training, Wright’s pitched quite well since Opening Day of 2012, and there are good reasons to think he’ll enjoy at least a decent career in the majors.
Bill James is high on Wright, and just a couple of months ago, I waxed optimistically about him. Then again, I once said much the same things about Charlie Haeger, and before him about Charlie Zink. So I really can't be trusted in these matters.
For much more about Wright and the Red Sox, please visit SB Nation’s Over the Monster.
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