I didn't realize Brian was Floyd Bannister's son. Seems strange to me as Floyd was a lefthander and Brian is a righthander. I guess that's proof that no matter what hand we throw with, we really are of the same species.

If I remember correctly, Floyd Bannister had pretty good stuff at one point, though he probably became a finesse pitcher midway through his career.

Floyd was one of the top strikeout pitchers in the AL during his prime. Also, Rice was right. He hit .296/.383/.606 against Bannister in 81 plate appearances.

I think Jim Rice is a pretty sharp guy when it comes to baseball (I don't know what he's like when discussing anything else), his articles that have been posted here are pretty good.

In the New Abstract, there's a section where Bill James groups pitchers into categories, like left-handed change-up pitchers would be the "Tom Glavine" family. Somehow I convinced myself that Rice has written an article in that vein about pitchers who suceed despite low K-rates.

This is not that, but it is pretty entertaining.

I think Jim Rice is a pretty sharp guy when it comes to baseball (I don't know what he's like when discussing anything else), his articles that have been posted here are pretty good.

I was also surprised by how good an analyst he is on NESN, when he has a reputation as a player for being sullen and uncommunicative.

I agree that he's a sharp analyst. But is he feared the way a Ken Singleton or David Cone is? I think not.

I was also surprised by how good an analyst he is on NESN, when he has a reputation as a player for being sullen and uncommunicative.

Rice has mellowed considerably over the years.

He's OK on NESN, but he can't hold a candle to Eckersley, who is absolutely fantastic.

But is he feared the way a Ken Singleton or David Cone is? I think not.

Funny. Actually Singleton is my favorite of the Yankees announcers, when I get stuck with a YES telecast over the internet. Jim Palmer is probably my favorite out-of-town guy. He's really good, and often says things from the former player's perspective that I'd never really thought about and which make sense.

So the 3-1 off-speed pitch was invented in, what, 1998?

So the 3-1 off-speed pitch was invented in, what, 1998?

July 14, 1998, to be precise.

Scott Radinsky of the Dodgers landed in some loose soil while throwing what was to be a 3-1 fastball (of course) to the Astros' Ricky Gutierrez. The result was a 78 mile per hour pitch, which fell in for a strike.

Manager Bill Russell immediately came to the mound to discuss the new invention and how it might be useful to other pitchers on the team. Within months, pitchers around the world were experimenting with it and, today, you can see one used in just about every MLB game.

And now you know...the rest of the story.

July 14, 1998, to be precise.

Scott Radinsky of the Dodgers landed in some loose soil while throwing what was to be a 3-1 fastball (of course) to the Astros' Ricky Gutierrez. The result was a 78 mile per hour pitch, which fell in for a strike.

Manager Bill Russell immediately came to the mound to discuss the new invention and how it might be useful to other pitchers on the team. Within months, pitchers around the world were experimenting with it and, today, you can see one used in just about every MLB game.

And now you know...the rest of the story.

Can we get a tracer on this?