I’ve always been a fan of the “odd” pitchers in baseball, namely the sidearmers (especially the submarine types) and knuckleballers. Even as a kid in my little league days, I have distinct memories of watching guys like Dan Quisenberry and Kent Tekulve over your “boring” power pitchers.
Anyway, I’ve been a big fan of Tim Wakefield since he joined the Sox. It’s fun watching him when he’s on, making the game’s best hitters swing like fools. (When he’s off, the ensuing home run derby is ugly.) It doesn’t hurt that he seems like a genuinely nice guy. I haven’t read his new autobiography (yet) but “Only A Game” interviewed Tim that discussed (among other things) a phone call he received from Joe Torre after the 2004 ALCS.