Sensei.

As impossible as it seems, Daniel Bard would have you believe that Tim Wakefield is something less than a super person. The boy must be insane because Wake has branched out from teaching tiny Japanese girls and is now trying (not terribly successfully) to explain the mysteries of the knuckleball to the unwashed masses.

Also, he seems ridiculously out of proportion to the background they've put him against.

Exchange Student.

They say that knuckleball pitchers belong to a fraternity. If Eri Yoshida has her way, then they may have to come up with a new term. (I'd guess, though, that since in Romance languages the word 'brothers' can mean 'brothers and sisters' 'fraternity' would include women so they probably wouldn't have to technically change it--it was a good start and I'm not willing to abandon it.) Wake, being the dear kind soul that he is, took the time to meet with Ms. Yoshida and give her a few pointers on throwing the knuckleball yesterday. It was very good of him and I'm not sure that there are many of them who would have bothered.

Knuckleheads.

You've got to think that one of the worst things about playing against the Red Sox is Tim Wakefield. If the knuckleball is working that day, then all that work you've put in in the batting cage is for nought. You've spent hours making something akin to a science out of hitting and for this particular game it comes down to luck. Conversely with R.A. Dickey having joined the Mets, one of the best things about playing for the Sox must be never having to try to hit a knuckleball.

Except in spring training when Wakefield throws live batting practice to David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia:

"Wow," Ortiz yelled at the top of his lungs after an unhittable knuckler dropped right over the plate. "What was that?"

A grinning Wakefield talked a little smack from the pitchers mound.

"You hitting that one? You hitting that one?" the 43-year-old knuckleballer teased.

Ortiz then bowed out, but laughed loudly as Pedroia twisted himself in a knot swinging and missing. Youkilis finally got a ball out of the infield, popping weakly to shallow center, and letting out a proud, "Aww yeah!" at the accomplishment."

Captions, Series Three.

More Globe photos:

No Daisuke! No! There may be too many pitchers but there is a better solution.


Jon Lester is aware of my softening opinion of him and he will glare me back to indifference.


A giant among men.

Captions, Series Two.

The Globe only had one good photo today:

"Please don't let them make me a reliever."

Going Home.

Yesterday, Tim Wakefield's golf tournament kicked off in Florida.

And last night Dustin Pedroia went home to Woodland, CA to help raise funds for improvements to a baseball field.

Good Eggs.

Tim Wakefield will be hosting his golf tournament for the Space Coast Early Intervention Center down in Florida this weekend. Since its inception the fundraiser has raised almost $6 million for the school. It would seem to be a good, useful program. What's more, Wake sends his own kids there after school. Timmy is a good person who deserves to be treated with respect.

Meanwhile, battery mate Victor Martinez isn't willing to disappoint a little girl either. There was still apparently unfinished business for him in Cleveland. Last year he had agreed to be part of a radio contest where the winner got to bring him to school, presumably for show-and-tell. Unfortunately for the contest's winner, Victor was traded to Boston before they could settle on a date for the visit. So today he trekked up to Cleveland to complete his part of the bargain.

Say it with me: Awww.

Six is the New Five.

Prior to receiving his award last night at the B.A.T. dinner in New York, Tim Wakefield gave an interview which CSNNE put on their website.

Always a gentleman would be a good way to describe Timmeh. He does charity work because he cares and he's honored to be recognized for doing it. His back is better and he's on schedule for the start of spring training. He's sad to see Bay go but the organization did a nice job of putting together a new team. And he plans on starting next season.

Man on the Move.

Tomorrow night in New York City Tim Wakefield will be honored for his community service by the Baseball Assistance Team with the Bart Giamatti Award. Wake will be honored for his work with Franciscan Hospital of Boston, the Jimmy Fund, and the Space Coast Early Intervention Center. Also attending the dinner will be Fred Lynn, former best beloved Craig Breslow, Mike Stenhouse, and Tito Francona.

And then on Sunday, February 7, Wakey will be back home and act as an official race starter for both the full and the half marathon at the Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon down in Melbourne, Florida.

Also, word is that Timmeh is working on a memoir about "how he revived his career by mastering the knuckleball, as well as a behind-the-scenes stories from Boston's two World Series Championship teams." Unfortunately, he's working with Tony Massarotti.

No Wake.

Tim Wakefield has been put on the disabled list with a low back strain and Clay has been brought back up to pitch on Wednesday. Hopefully it's not too serious.

Who Would You Rather Have as a Representative?

Kind, humble, generous Tim Wakefield in his spiffy suit along with his cutie-pie daughter?

or

This?

One of These Things is Not Like the Others.

Jonathan Papelbon looks right at home with an over-enthusiastic guy in a pirate suit and two girls in short skirts, fishnets, and tight satiny shirts. Dear, sweet, humble, good Tim Wakefield? Not so much.

All Star Timmy.

Congratulations are in order for Tim Wakefield who was selected for the 2009 All-Star team today. I'm firmly of the opinion that Joe Maddon is a jackass and I sort of thought that he might keep Timmy out just to be a jerk. Heh. I might actually have to watch the stupid thing this year--last year was the only time I had ever tuned in and that was only at the end because it just kept going.

I've long said that we should all aspire to be Tim Wakefield when we grow up. Ever the gentleman, Wake was nothing but gracious in his presser. And I hope that someone got him some damn potato salad as a reward.

First to Ten.

That'd be win number ten for Timmeh Wakefield.

If you'd have asked my in March which pitcher would have ten wins before the end of June, my answer would not have been Tim Wakefield. That's for sure.

Acey Duecy.

I haven't attempted to play poker in a very long time. I can play Setback. I can play Spit. I used to be able to play Gin Rummy. I can play War. I am really good at Uno, not as good at Crazy Eights. I got a little bit competitive at Hearts once--stacked the deck. People were upset; it wasn't pretty.

My Dad tried to teach me poker once or twice, five-card draw, seven-card stud (I think these are games), and after I got the hang of it declared myself to be a card sharp. The old man thought this was particularly funny and insisted that the term was card shark. And so the poker lesson dissolved into an etymological lesson and started the hunt for the actual term (we were both right but I was more right) and where it could possibly have come from.

If you do play the game though, on June 8 there will be a poker party in Faneuil Hall (and subsequent golf tournament) to benefit Pitching in for Kids; which raises grant money for children's charities. The event will be hosted by Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek.

Applause.

I wasn't particularly looking forward to turning on the game this afternoon. Wakefield in Oakland after a couple of really terrible games with a highly regarded lefty in opposition didn't sound particularly appetizing. But Wake succeeded in making it really interesting. And even if he couldn't get the no hitter, at least he got the win. And run support--they never score runs for Wakey. Hopefully, it turns into a momentum shift. And so a tip o' the cap for Wake.

Battery Bonding.

It may not seem like it but I do my best to ignore Heidi Watney; grumbling to myself each time she pops up on my television screen offering some insipid "enlightenment" that "she's just window dressing" and as such, she is very good at her job. She reminds me of the first example of female behavior in the second situation described in "100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man" from Wonderful Town. I've never bothered to read her blog before (a good thing because, as it turns out, she isn't much of a writer either) but today she has a story I haven't seen anywhere else.

In an apparent bonding exercize between the two men, George Kottaras and Tim Wakefield engaged in a mano-a-mano, no-holds-barred round of mini golf. Georgie K ended up winning the competition but Heidi does provide a complete play-by-play.

Springfield! Springfield! It's a Hell of a Town.

The Springfield YMCA may be the home of basketball but on April 8 it'll be all about the knuckleball. On the campus of Western New England College at 8 that morning, Tim Wakefield will be the keynote speaker at the Greater Springfield YMCA's Kick-Off Breakfast for the 2009 Annual Campaign. Single tickets are available for the hefty price of $150.

Fine and Dandy.

First, some more video from the day game:



And then regarding the night game:

While not entirely pleased with the outcome of his 2009 debut, Tim Wakefield thought it went alright:

"I would like to have better results, but I felt fine. The shoulder felt fine. I think I need to work out the rust a little bit. It was the first time in a game facing hitters. I just need to work on some things."

I thought Josh Bard looked a little unsettled but Timmeh (always the gentleman) disagrees:

"It was fine. I thought he did a great job."

And lastly, it might have been Don Orsillo's fault (the man could make Harold Reynolds say intersting things) but Brian Daubach did a really nice job as the color commentator. It's too bad Dauber has a job because he'd make a nice addition to the NESN staff. He seemed to know who all the random guys were and had something to say about them; either he really knows his stuff or he memorized the media guide and was able to deliver his lines convincingly. He'd be right up there with Eck and Dave McCarty.

In His Wake.

Watch this at Boston.com

There aren't too many questions during this spring training. Besides a little bit of intrigue in the shortstop department and maybe a concern or two about the health of extra outfielders, the only spot really up for grabs is that of the backup catcher. Of course, with someone having to catch Wakefield it's not as easy a task to pick one as it might be otherwise.

Peter Gammons takes on the problem in the clip. He talks with Kottaras (which he pronounces "Cot-er-us" not "Co-tar-us" but he's probably right), Bard, and Wakefield.

Georgie K. says that the goal is:

"Just to relax and don't give a target because Wake's throwing to a general area. So just relax, keep the body loose, and let the ball come to you."

Bard:

"There's no really way to practice for it. There's only one guy in the world right now that throws a world class knuckleball. I think the biggest thing is just being aggressive, having the mindset of, you know, Red Sox Nation isn't on my back every pitch--if you miss a ball, you miss a ball and I just have to control what I can control."

And always the gentleman Wakefield chimes in with:

"I think everybody that I've thrown to already this spring is has, you know in my opinion, got the hands good enough to catch it."