who had the best move to 1st base of pitchers

JML · 03-15-2003, 11:52 PM

I saw the other post, and it wasn't what I thought, so I made my own, darnit!

Of the pitchers you have seen, who had/has the best move to first?

Pettite's move is pretty good, albeit borderline illegal. But I think that's the point. He's gotten so good at controlling his kick that he is ALWAYS borderline balk.

I saw Chris Michalak pull off a duesy once. Even I didn't realize he threw to first until after the ball got there. Not to mention the baserunner, who was just standing there, 4 feet off the bag, with his mouth agape. He didn't move a muscle.

holyroller · 03-16-2003, 12:03 AM

Michael Jackson had some damn fine moves.

JML · 03-16-2003, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by holyroller
Michael Jackson had some damn fine moves.

Yeah, he's just not the same now that sudden movement could cause body parts to fall off.

BTW, do you watch baseball?

holyroller · 03-16-2003, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JML
BTW, do you watch baseball?

Uh huh.

JML · 03-16-2003, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by holyroller
Uh huh.

OK thank

holyroller · 03-16-2003, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JML
OK thank

no prob

holyroller · 03-16-2003, 12:08 AM

My serious answer is Pettite. He is the best I have seen, but I started watching baseball in the late 80's so I wouldn't say he is the best of all time or anything.

JML · 03-16-2003, 12:12 AM

It's true. Patience is a virtue.

That would be my answer as well, but with the same qualification. I did watch some early 80's ball, but I was too young to judge that kind of thing.

JML · 03-16-2003, 12:14 AM

Awesome.

Even if you don't count my posts, my thread is kicking blink182stud5's thread's ass!

LivnLegend · 03-16-2003, 12:41 AM

Yea, Pettite is the best going now although Terry Mulholland could give him a run for the money in his prime.
Others that I would rate as "excellent": Jimmy Key and Armando Reynoso

JML · 03-16-2003, 01:50 AM

SOMEONE... *cough* Kuffrey *cough*... changed the title of my thread.

Oh well, as a certain genius of a stand-up comic once said: "Ambiguity... the devil's volleyball."

TotalEnd98 · 03-16-2003, 01:52 AM

Pettitte's move is just... damn. Half the time, I don't even see it. It's just like "The pitch...why didn't he swing? Wait, what's going on at first?... Oh, he did it again."

Was it the 2000 World Series where somebody got picked off by Pettitte and the Mets' bench coach just said "Don't worry, there's no shame in getting picked off by Pettitte, he's got the best move I've ever seen" or something like that? I think I saw it on ESPN Classic the other day.

The Professor · 03-16-2003, 01:53 AM

Mulholland was pretty good, I've got to say...

JML · 03-16-2003, 01:58 AM

I checked bballref.com (and the handy quick links to other sites they have on the player pages), but I couldn't find any stats on Pettite regarding pickoffs, steals against, etc. I'll bet they're pretty ridiculous.

Anyone know where to find this info?

Tib · 03-16-2003, 04:53 AM

Fernando Valenzuela had an excellent move.

OldGiants · 03-16-2003, 11:15 AM

Whitey Ford had a great move.

Steve Busby of the early Royals teams was the first pitcher I ever saw who did the runners on first and third move where the pitcher fakes a throw to third, then wheels around and nails the gawker standing off first. He was famous for it back then.

Walt Terrell of the Mets, Tigers and Blue Jays had a good move. In fact, I saw the very last game he ever pitched in organized ball. He started for Syracuse at Richmond and didin't get a single batter out. But he lasted 2/3 of an inning because he picked two guys off first. The Jays organization cut him the next day.

BleacherBum · 03-16-2003, 10:54 PM

Steve Carlton

ill16ca · 03-16-2003, 11:10 PM

Chris Michalak all the way. Too bad he couldn't get the ball to the plate so well.

Smellyface · 03-17-2003, 09:05 AM

I remember seeing an article a few years ago, maybe 99 or so that said Terry Mulholland by far had the fewest bases stolen against him and the most pick offs. Of course, this was just among pithcers at the time, so I don't know about the ol dudes.

Kevin · 03-17-2003, 09:12 AM

Tippy Martinez of the Orioles had a great move in his day. Carlton was one of the best.

03-15-2003, 11:52 PM	#1
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	who had the best move I saw the other post, and it wasn't what I thought, so I made my own, darnit! Of the pitchers you have seen, who had/has the best move to first? Pettite's move is pretty good, albeit borderline illegal. But I think that's the point. He's gotten so good at controlling his kick that he is ALWAYS borderline balk. I saw Chris Michalak pull off a duesy once. Even I didn't realize he threw to first until after the ball got there. Not to mention the baserunner, who was just standing there, 4 feet off the bag, with his mouth agape. He didn't move a muscle.

03-16-2003, 12:03 AM	#2
holyroller Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: OTBL Forums Posts: 3,532	Michael Jackson had some damn fine moves. __________________ Back to work, but not drawing a paycheck. TonyJ et. al.'s alias “I confused it with the chicken’s neck,” Mocanu, who was admitted to the emergency hospital in Galati, was quoted as saying. “I cut it ... and the dog rushed and ate it.”

03-16-2003, 12:08 AM	#7
holyroller Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: OTBL Forums Posts: 3,532	My serious answer is Pettite. He is the best I have seen, but I started watching baseball in the late 80's so I wouldn't say he is the best of all time or anything. __________________ Back to work, but not drawing a paycheck. TonyJ et. al.'s alias “I confused it with the chicken’s neck,” Mocanu, who was admitted to the emergency hospital in Galati, was quoted as saying. “I cut it ... and the dog rushed and ate it.”

03-16-2003, 12:41 AM	#10
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	Yea, Pettite is the best going now although Terry Mulholland could give him a run for the money in his prime. Others that I would rate as "excellent": Jimmy Key and Armando Reynoso __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

03-16-2003, 01:50 AM	#11
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	SOMEONE... cough Kuffrey cough... changed the title of my thread. Oh well, as a certain genius of a stand-up comic once said: "Ambiguity... the devil's volleyball." Last edited by JML; 03-16-2003 at 01:52 AM.

03-16-2003, 12:12 AM	#8
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	It's true. Patience is a virtue. That would be my answer as well, but with the same qualification. I did watch some early 80's ball, but I was too young to judge that kind of thing.

03-16-2003, 12:14 AM	#9
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	Awesome. Even if you don't count my posts, my thread is kicking blink182stud5's thread's ass!

03-16-2003, 01:52 AM	#12
TotalEnd98 All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New York Posts: 1,687	Pettitte's move is just... damn. Half the time, I don't even see it. It's just like "The pitch...why didn't he swing? Wait, what's going on at first?... Oh, he did it again." Was it the 2000 World Series where somebody got picked off by Pettitte and the Mets' bench coach just said "Don't worry, there's no shame in getting picked off by Pettitte, he's got the best move I've ever seen" or something like that? I think I saw it on ESPN Classic the other day.

03-16-2003, 01:53 AM	#13
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East of East Posts: 3,020	Mulholland was pretty good, I've got to say... __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are."

03-16-2003, 01:58 AM	#14
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	I checked bballref.com (and the handy quick links to other sites they have on the player pages), but I couldn't find any stats on Pettite regarding pickoffs, steals against, etc. I'll bet they're pretty ridiculous. Anyone know where to find this info?

03-16-2003, 04:53 AM	#15
Tib All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Paso Robles, CA Posts: 995	Fernando Valenzuela had an excellent move. __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...ad.php?t=64219

03-16-2003, 11:15 AM	#16
OldGiants Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 211	Whitey Ford had a great move. Steve Busby of the early Royals teams was the first pitcher I ever saw who did the runners on first and third move where the pitcher fakes a throw to third, then wheels around and nails the gawker standing off first. He was famous for it back then. Walt Terrell of the Mets, Tigers and Blue Jays had a good move. In fact, I saw the very last game he ever pitched in organized ball. He started for Syracuse at Richmond and didin't get a single batter out. But he lasted 2/3 of an inning because he picked two guys off first. The Jays organization cut him the next day.

03-16-2003, 10:54 PM	#17
BleacherBum All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 672	Steve Carlton __________________ Right Field Sucks!

03-16-2003, 11:10 PM	#18
ill16ca All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 690	Chris Michalak all the way. Too bad he couldn't get the ball to the plate so well.

03-17-2003, 09:05 AM	#19
Smellyface Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 211	I remember seeing an article a few years ago, maybe 99 or so that said Terry Mulholland by far had the fewest bases stolen against him and the most pick offs. Of course, this was just among pithcers at the time, so I don't know about the ol dudes. __________________ Corked Bat Baseball League

03-17-2003, 09:12 AM	#20
Kevin All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 503	Tippy Martinez of the Orioles had a great move in his day. Carlton was one of the best. __________________ It seems more like today than it did all day yesterday.