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The ups and downs of a wild pitch.(baseball)(Brief Article)
The ups and downs of a wild pitch
I can't imagine throwing a knuckleball, but a teammate of mine, Steve Sparks, lives and dies by it. Sparky and Tim Wakefield are the two big league pitchers who throw primarily knucklers.
Sparky is a great story and a good pitcher for us. He has been very effective, and if I hadn't blown two of his wins, he probably would be an All-Star.
Last year, he came up as a reliever and spot starter and ended up doing an awesome job.
Sparky has been through a lot. Because of his knuckleball, he sometimes has trouble finding a job. It seems like he finds himself fighting for a spot in spring training but always finds himself there at the end.
His story began a few years ago in the Brewers' system. He was on a three-year plan: 20 percent knuckleballs the first year, 50 percent the next and 70 percent the third year.
He found it too tough to go back and forth between his regular delivery and his knuckleball delivery. So after he got to winter ball, he decided he was going to live or die by it. That was when his knuckleball took off.
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- Newspaper article from: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) Uhland^, Vicky September 27, 2002 700+ words
...latest sports novel, Wild Pitch. Not that Wild Pitch is about Grace. This...put up with ``Little Sparky, the coolest kid in...t born,'' Little Sparky says to Charlie. Just...manage to grow up. Wild Pitch is a combination of...
- Sparky Anderson fires shot that could end this baseball strike. (Originated...
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Albom, Mitch February 20, 1995 700+ words
...Civil Rights movement. So is it possible that Sparky Anderson, by taking his pipe and walking away...the normal twine. Wait. Did I just compare Sparky to Gandhi? Ohmigod. And yet, Sparky has now become _ and those of us who know him...
- Sparky the Sixth takes the stage; Como Zoo's newly trained sea lion earns raves...
- Newspaper article from: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) Merrill, Ann May 28, 2002 700+ words
...Ann Merrill; Staff Writer The reign of Sparky the Sixth began Monday with spins, smooches and splashes. Sparky the sea lion gave her first performance...cloudless sky. The arrival of a new Sparky after the retirement of Sparky the Fifth...
- Como Zoo Celebrates Fifty Years of Sparky Shows.
- Press release article from: PR Newswire August 11, 2006 700+ words
...kick-off the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Sparky Show! Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will make a special appearance on August 16th at the 2pm Sparky Show to induct Sparky into the Como Hall of Fame. The Como Zoo and Conservatory...
- Sparky retires; show goes dark; Como trains new sea lion to resume role next...
- Newspaper article from: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) Kimball, Joe July 16, 2001 700+ words
...the first time in 45 years, there's no "Sparky the Sea Lion" show at Como Zoo this summer. Sparky V has retired; he's 22 years old and his...But we're happy to report that a new Sparky is waiting in the wings and a new crop of...
- Sparky returns : Bolting beagle raises questions of pet custody rights.
- Newspaper article from: Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, TN) September 20, 2006 700+ words
...ounces lighter and a little disoriented, Sparky the beagle returned to his McDonald...were distraught about their runaway pet. Sparky returned home after some indirect negotiation...a McDonald-area man who'd adopted Sparky from the Humane Educational Society of...
- SECOND YEAR OF SPARKY'S TOUR BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER
- News wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News August 4, 2009 700+ words
...State University Athletic Department will begin Sparky's Tour 2009-2010! Sparky's Tour is a way to directly reach out to Arizona...Jason Watson. "School should always come first. Sparky's Tour provides a forum for us to share that...
- Football: SPARKY AND ME BY RYAN GIGGS.(Sport)
- Newspaper article from: Wales On Sunday (Cardiff, Wales) September 15, 2002 700+ words
...year rapport with Mark Hughes. He says Sparky couldn't be more different than his...us during the many years I've known Sparky - other than the fact that I don't look...wall. ``To suddenly line up next to Sparky for club and country was very special...
