What happened to Charlie Zink?

Charlie Zink had a perfect 1-2-3 inning in his major league debut Tuesday night. Three All-Stars, nonetheless (Kinsler, Young, Hamilton.) So what happened in the 2nd inning when he gave up 2 runs and in the 4th inning when the wheels came off?

He had to wait about 40 minutes after the 1st inning before he was able to take the mound again, while waiting for the Sox to pound out those 10 runs. Now I'm not complaining about the ostentatious display of offensive prowess, but a knuckleballer does not like to sit still for very long in between innings. As reported in the Providence (RI) Journal, Zink even got up two times to throw in the batting cages to stay warm.

Jim Bouton, author "Ball Four", his controversial diary written during his 1969 season with the old Seattle Pilots and the Houston Astros, was a knuckleballer. His coaches and managers at first didn't want him throwing that pitch at all, much less a whole game. Once he became proficient enough with the pitch and convinced his coaches and managers to let him throw it for the whole game, he discovered that he needed to be throwing a lot more often than a conventional starter, a LOT more often.

It looks promising that Zink did not feel too defeated by his last 3+ innings as shown by his comments in the Providence Journal report. My hope is that he continues to shine in Pawtucket for the remainder of August and gets called up in September. Wakefield then returns from the DL, pitches a gem and leaves the game after 7 innings with a healthy lead. Enter Zink. Cash is already behind the plate. Zink then pitches 2 more knee-buckling innings.

It could happen. Hang in there, Charlie Zink.

Read more...

Zink's Road To Fenway

Charlie Zink will make his MLB debut tonight against the Rangers, an event that would seem very unlikely a few years ago. Zink pitched at the Savannah College of Art and Design for 3 years compiling a record of 9-17, he did have 14 K's in one game. Luis Tiant managed Zink in college and recommended him to the Red Sox. He was signed by the Sox as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He spent most of 2002 in Augusta and Sarasota playing A-Ball. In 2003 he was called up to the Portland Sea Dogs after he pitched a 3-hit complete game and was later named the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Zink faced a setback in his career in 2004 when he spent most of the season on the DL with shoulder problems, an injury very similar to what Wake has now. In 2005 he played for the PawSox for the first time but would be sent back to Portland where he struggled for part of the season with a 6.36 ERA in July. In 2006 he split the season between the Sea Dogs and the PawSox as both a reliever and a starter. He was much more effective when he started and earned 10 wins, mostly with Portland. In 2007 he had 11 wins and this season he was an International League All-Star and is 13-4 for the season. Zink talked about the throwing a knuckleball in 2007.

I actually figured out how to throw the knuckleball when I was 11 I think. I saw Wakefield throwing it during the playoffs for the pirates and I was just fascinated. It came really easy to me and I would always throw it playing catch, However, I didn’t throw a knuckleball in a game until 2002. All of my coaches growing up said it was stupid and I shouldn't mess around with it.

I worked with Wakefield a few times every spring training for the past four years. He has been really helpful in just teaching the little things that I never knew before about how to be consistent. I think I've learned the most by just watching him and seeing how he pitches in different situations. I also worked with Charlie Hough for about a week during spring training two years ago. He was extremely helpful and it was nice to have another person to talk to about the knuckleball.

Read more...

Zink Gets The Ball

What other team in baseball could replace one knuckleballer with another? With Wake going on the DL the Sox have chosen Charlie Zink to make his MLB debut on Tuesday. In case you were wondering, he is from northern California. When Zink was informed of the news he told the ProJo the following:

"This is everything I have ever dreamed of," said Zink moments ago. "It has come true now and I'm going to the major leagues. It's ridiculous. I'm at a loss for words. I really don't know what to say about it. I'll be smiling forever now. This is just awesome. Awesome."

Read more...

Sox Need More Cash

Kevin Cash has been quite a pleasant surprise. The rookie has done a fantastic job of handling Wake's knuckleball this season. I miss Dougie just as much as anyone, but he just didn't hit the ball enough, ykwim? While Cash hasn't set the world on fire with his BA (.242 last time I checked), he's at least hitting well above the Mendoza line, (and not at or below it.)

So why do the Sox need Cash even more? Well, if we take a look down in Pawtucket, we find a pitcher by the name of Charlie Zink who is tearin' it up down there right now. He's 11-3 with a 2.54 ERA, and he throws the knuckleball!

Will we see 2 knuckleballers pitching for the Sox soon? With 'Tek on the backside of his career, and Cash doing a good job of handling that screwy pitch from Wake, I'm guessing it's a good possibility we will see Zink-Cash battery in September, if not sooner.

Has there ever been a team with 2 knuckleball pitchers at the same time?

Read more...

Tuesday's Starter

After yesterday's great effort, Bartolo Colon seemed likely to get the call to make his regular season debut for the Red Sox, but his pitch count is still below 70. Colon will make one more start with the PawSox before joining the big club in Boston. This leaves the Red Sox with a choice to make for Tuesday's game against KC. Masterson has been struggling lately so the Sox may call up David Pauley once again or give Charlie Zink his MLB debut. Zink is a knuckleballer who has been taught by Wakefield and has a 2.91 ERA this season. Can you imagine 2 knuckleballers in the same rotation? Can Sox fans survive this?

Read more...