Charles Haeger on Baseball America's Weekend Dish

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http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prosp...ews/261172.html

 

There has always been, and will likely always be, a fascination with the knuckleball. As unpredictable as the pitch can be, so too is the path for those who try to master it.

 

Most recently, Red Sox righthander Charlie Zink grabbed attention nationally after he went 3-2, 3.43 for Double-A Portland during the second half of the 2003 season.

 

Zink has struggled since, going 1-8, 5.97 at the same level in 2004, then coming back relatively strong for the Sea Dogs last year before falling apart after a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket--carrying a 10.45 ERA in just 10 innings.

 

Such is the life of a knuckeballer in the minor leagues. Just ask White Sox righthander Charlie Haeger.

 

"As far as knuckleballers, I look up to all of them," Haeger said. "I look up to all of the guys who had some sort of success at the major league level, simply because it’s such a tough pitch to master. Needless to say, the success rate isn't very good.

 

"But I look up to guys like Wilbur Wood, Charlie Hough, (Tim) Wakefield . . . It’s just such a rarity that it's become something that's kind of on the verge of extinction."

 

Haeger is the latest to garner attention for the knuckler, and he has been throwing it well in all kinds of weather conditions early on. In his last start on Friday--in Ottawa--Haeger allowed just three hits over seven innings, lowering his ERA to 0.51 in 35 innings at Triple-A Charlotte.

 

"It was a little cold, and (the knuckleball) moves so much more when it's warm and humid," Haeger said. "The leather just loosens up more and I can get my fingers into the seems when it's warmer. Sometimes, it's just like you go out there and see what it does."

 

Haeger has had success in every outing so far this season. In his first five starts, he's averaging seven innings each time out and has allowed just two earned runs.

 

"I've had pretty good control with it so far. I'd say it's been a little bit above-average," Haeger said. "But the big thing for me is hitters have been aggressive after it, which is huge. And my defense has been playing fantastic behind me."

 

This is a long way from where Haeger was just three seasons ago. The 25th-round pick in 2001 became so discouraged with his lack of development that he left the White Sox organization in 2003. He played golf at Madonna University in Michigan, where his brother Greg is the baseball coach, but worked on a knuckleball that had been suggested by minor league pitching coach Chris Sinacori.

 

Haeger returned to baseball in 2004 as a knuckleball specialist. He reeled off 14 wins between high Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham last season, and was added to the 40-man roster after pitching for two months of winter ball in Venezuela.

 

In addition to the knuckleball, Haeger mixes in a high-80s fastball and a slider, which he said he's thrown maybe 10 times so far this season. As for his early successes, Haeger said he chooses to ignore the results--no matter what they might be.

 

"I don't really look at the numbers at all," he said. "I know that in one bad outing that everything could change at the drop of a hat. So I just go out there every fifth day and concentrate on making my pitches and getting through from hitter to hitter."