Eddie Gamboa might be the most interesting man in the Orioles farm system. After five seasons in the minor leagues, the 29 year old righty converted into a knuckleball pitcher at the start of the 2013 season and the results have been remarkable.
In 16 starts with Double-A Bowie, Gamboa pitched to a 3.46 ERA, 1.141 WHIP, 7.2 K/9 and 2.55 K/BB. Now, after allowing just one hit over his last 14 1/3 scoreless innings pitched, including a seven inning no hitter, Gamboa is headed to Triple-A Norfolk.
On the latest edition of Baseball Prospectus’ Fringe Average podcast, Mike Ferrin and Jason Parks discussed Gamboa and the difficulty of scouting knuckleball pitchers. “Can he throw the pitch for strikes? Can he control the knuckleball,” Ferrin asked. “His last couple of starts he really has. He’s thrown a ton of pitches into the strikezone — a ton of knucklers in the strikezone and he’s increased the percentage of knuckleballs he’s used. I mean, he’s going 70 to 75 percent in this last outing.”
The other concern for knuckleball pitchers at the big league level is controlling the running game. Ferrin told Parks that Gamboa has a quick feet and a great move for a right handed pitcher.
Of course, secondary pitches remain important for any knuckleball pitcher. Gamboa can still work his fastball 90-91 MPH, but Ferrin says he still needs to work on his command of the pitch. Gamboa is still throwing his fastball when behind the count, 2-0 or 3-1. Ferrin adds that if Gamboa were to add a breaking ball to keep hitters off balance he could be a real interesting piece for the Orioles down the road.
As for the knuckler, Gamboa throws two variations. A harder knuckleball that works like a slider as it comes in on the hands of left handed batters and away from righties. His soft knuckleball moves like a changeup “with some armside fade.”
“The scout that I talked to had seen him a couple times and said ‘I think he’s as interesting as anything,'” Ferrin added. “He said ‘I will bet you right now that he will be in the big leagues before Labor Day.'”
Labor Day? That’d be one hell of a season for the career minor leaguer. Hopefully the knuckler succeeds at Triple-A, it would be great to see another valuable arm in Baltimore.
Buck is a big fan of the knuckler as he was a huge influence on Dickey when his career was going no where. Can you imagine O Day and Gamboa on the same squad? Batters would be breaking their bats over their knee trying to figure out how to make solid contact.
OH , I see , this guy is going to be our new Ace……………………..
Correct spy , do you realize we haven’t had a real Ace since the Yankees took Musina from us.
A trivia question for you O’s fans:
How many playoff series have the O’s won since November 2000 when Musina signed with the Yankees.
If you know the answer , you also know it’s difficult to win a short series with an Ace and it’s even more difficult to win one without an Ace.
More “Ace” talk, but no suggestions on who that may or might be…
Who is the “Pink Unicorn” Ace you speak of brother spy?
MGW , have you not been paying attention to spy ? He has stated the O’s should have acquired an Ace when they saw these young players were close to jelling, you have to get an Ace when one is available you just can’t go to 7/11 and but one. Yes it’s difficult to know when to pull the trigger on an Ace but that is their job.
In addition , Angelos has also stated he ‘would not pay top dollar for a pitcher to pitch once every five days’ . That alone tells you they haven’t even been looking , now it’s too late , as you have said.
It’s too bad because the O’s really could win a world series with an Ace , if the chemistry comes back. Riemold and Roberst have broken the chemistry a bit , I hope it’s not for long.
MM – I’m simply asking for a name of this “Ace” they should have gone after.
Just a name. And Greinke is NOT the answer as he said he didn’t want to pitch in the AL East, just like Lee. “Aces” in search of big money deals don’t want anything to do with pitching to AL East teams. They would rather go to the NL, pad their stats and seek even bigger contracts.
All I want from spy is the name of this mystery “Ace” whom the Orioles should have pursued this offseason.
Pingback: DMV: Lannan Sticks It To The Nats | Mr. Irrelevant, a D.C. Sports Blog by the Brothers Mottram
MGW, lets get honest here, you have already made up your mind there were no aces. It doesn’t matter what is said, you will refute the suggestion. Lets move on.
So you toss out an idea with absolutely nothing to back it up, then keep bringing it up over and over and over and the lemmings are just supposed to sit back and not respond?
Sounds like how the KGB ran things in their day.
“We say it, you follow along, NO questions”.
Got it Joseph. I won’t question it anymore….until YOU guys bring it up, again. I’ll give it until the end of the week.
All is quiet from Moscow.
Pole “Stalin” has made his decree and none of us are to question it or bring it up, unless he does AGAIN, or his croonie, spy.
It all makes sense now. “Pole” is from eastern Europe, say Poland and “spy” must be his “secret policeman”.
Tear down that wall, Pole. Tear down that wall.
Why do you people argue with someone like mgw who is blinded by the orange rays coming from Camden Yards?
Spy and Pole and Mystery Man, do not argue with someone who is constipated on what he speaks.
It is fans like him/her who would say a pile of poop on the mound could go 6 innings for the Baltimore Orioles.
I will say Chen looked outstanding last night going 7, yes 7 innings of 3 hit baseball. The O’s need more of that to give their bullpen a rest with the important months of July, August and September looming. MGW, I know a great restuarant near DC that serves the best barsczc (saurkraut and pork soup) with gulasz topping if off with Wodka. Wonderful stuff.