Tim Wakefield Has Glove, but No Catcher

ST. LOUIS -- Tim Wakefield is one of the touching stories of this All-Star Game, making his first appearance on a roster at the age of 42. If Wakefield actually gets into the game, it might become an interesting story of a different kind.

Manager Joe Maddon said that Victor Martinez will be the catcher entrusted with handling Wakefield and his knuckleball.

"I'm up for anything," Martinez told FanHouse before the All-Star Game. "I've never caught a knuckleball before, but this is the All-Star Game and it's supposed to be fun."

Wakefield's knuckleball is difficult enough to handle that the Red Sox have needed to keep a knuckleball-catching specialist on their roster. This year it is George Kottaras. Wakefield brought Kottaras' backup glove to St. Louis for use by whoever caught him.

When asked if he'd be able to give any advice to Martinez on how to catch the thing, Wakefield shrugged and said: "Nope. He'd have to call George."

Maddon, a former catcher, suggested that the trick to catching a knuckleball is to wait back on the ball, not stab at it.

"It's uncomfortable, but I think if you accept the fact that you're probably going to miss some, you'll probably miss less," Maddon said.

Even more intriguing is that Wakefield is only going to pitch if the game gets to extra innings, he said. When he was asked about the possibility of allowing a run on a passed ball, he said: "It's happened before."

That might be the only thing that could detract from Wakefield's All-Star experience. A veteran of 17 seasons, he's gotten a thrill from his first time at the Midsummer Classic.

"It's been overwhelming," he said. "I'm just trying to soak it all in. It probably won't all soak in till I leave tomorrow."

Wakefield said he wouldn't be upset if he didn't pitch.

"I'm just happy to be here," he sadid. "If I pitch, great, but if I don't, I'm not going to be upset," he said.

MLB All-Star Game Photos

National League starting pitcher Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch in the first inning against the American League during Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009. REUTERS/Morry Gash/Pool (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL)

Reuters

ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: National League All-Star Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals dives to make a play on a ball during the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Albert Pujols

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees rounds third on his way to scoring during the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Jeter

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Stars Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees look on before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Morry Gash-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ichiro Suzuki;Derek Jeter

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees looks on before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mariano Rivera

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Morry Gash-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Maddon

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays greets National League All-Star manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Morry Gash-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charlie Manuel;Joe Maddon

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American League starting pitcher Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch in the first inning against the National League during Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009. REUTERS/Morry Gash/Pool (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL)

Reuters

American League's Michael Young of the Texas Rangers singles during the fourth inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

American League's Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners swings on a pitch during the fifth inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-14-2009 @ 11:07PM

Goldie said...

YOU GO, WAKE!!!!!!!!!!!

7-14-2009 @ 11:38PM

dewit202 said...

It would have helped if madden had thought to bring in, even on reserve, somebody who can catch a knuckle-ball . I knew Wake would not get into the game as soon as I read this.