NOT AN EASY TOSS
Ken Hoffman on how to throw the perfect big league first pitch
Jun 10, 2019, 11:01 am
Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap
J.J. Watt delivered a perfect pitch. Other celebs, not so much.
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
By now, everybody's seen the video of the poor Chicago White Sox employee of the month who won the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Sox game. Her toss was, in the words of Bob Uecker, "just a bit outside."
She hit a photographer who was standing to her left, in a different time zone from home plate. It was one of the worst, funniest ceremonial first pitches ever. There was rapper 50 Cent, who missed the plate by a country mile, Michael Jordan, who threw the pitch 10 feet over the catcher's head, and Houston's Olympic hero Carl Lewis, whose baseball pitch was almost as horrible as his singing pitch.
Mariah Carey wore high heels and threw the ball straight down.
Pitchin' ain't easy
To fans in the stands, and people watching on TV, throwing the ceremonial pitch looks easy. What's so difficult about tossing a baseball 60 feet, 6 inches to a catcher? It's not like there's a hitter up there. You're basically just playing catch in your backyard.
It's simple, no excuse for throwing the ceremonial first anywhere other than right over the plate. That's the point I may have made several years ago in a column. I could do it, no sweat, with my eyes closed.
Your pitcher...Ken Hoffman
The Houston Astros called me on it. Okay, hot shot, how about you throw the ceremonial first pitch next week? The Dodgers will be in town, and there will be a big crowd.
I accept — on one condition. I don't want some assistant bullpen coach who wears No. 84 catching for me. I want either (Astros owner) Drayton McLane or (TV analyst) Jim Deshaies.
The Astros called back: Deshaies says he'll do it.
The reason most people throw the ceremonial first pitch into the dirt is because they're not used to throwing off a big league mound, which is higher than you'd think. The pitcher's rubber is 10 inches higher than the field. It slopes downward at the rate of one inch per foot.
Most of us are used to playing catch or co-ed softball games on flat Earth. It's the slope of the big league mound that causes mortals to stumble forward and bounce the ball toward home plate.
So … that weekend, I went to Wallin Field, home of West U Little League, and practiced throwing off a mound. I was confident that I could throw a strike across home plate at Minute Maid Park. But I also had a Plan B that would leave nothing to chance.
I got to Minute Maid Park 30 minutes before game time. An Astros media rep handed me a ball and pointed toward the mound. Some first pitchers walk to a spot in front of the mound and throw from about 45 feet on flat ground. Weenies.
I brought my son Andrew and his friend, also Andrew, with me to the mound. Then two things happened that threw me off: I heard the announcer say my name, and I turned and saw my name on the scoreboard. That brought it home, and I suddenly got nervous and scared: what if I throw the ball straight into the ground?
Continue reading on CultureMap to find out how Ken Hoffman's first pitch went.
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The Houston Texans finalized their roster ahead of Week 1, and while some choices raised eyebrows, the moves also revealed how the front office and coaching staff plan to approach the start of the season.
On offense, the decision to keep three quarterbacks stood out. Graham Mertz’s strong showing against the Lions erased any doubt about his value, and Houston wasn’t willing to risk losing him. That left the team with extra insurance behind C.J. Stroud, even at the cost of flexibility elsewhere.
Tight end was another surprise. The Texans opted to keep only Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover, moving Irv Smith Jr. to injured reserve and releasing Harrison Bryant. Analyst John Harris noted Houston may lean on the practice squad for depth and could also experiment with six offensive linemen in heavy sets, with Cam Robinson as a candidate to fill that hybrid blocking role. However, KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson is now reporting that Bryant is re-signing with the team, and expected to be on the roster against the Rams Week 1.
The running back room was just as interesting. With Joe Mixon on the NFI list, the Texans found a way to retain depth by carrying Nick Chubb, Damien Pierce, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale, and British Brooks. Brooks’ ability to contribute on special teams and line up as a fullback helped him earn a spot.
Along the offensive line, Trent Brown was a notable cut. Still recovering from a patellar tendon injury, he just wasn't healthy during camp. Aaron Wilson suggested Brown could circle back on the Texans’ practice squad.
Defensively, there were fewer surprises. C.J. Gardner-Johnson made the active roster, a signal that his recovery timeline isn’t overly concerning. If he’s not ready for Week 1, Houston can turn to MJ Stewart or shift Jalen Pitre into a safety role with Jaylin Smith sliding into nickel duties. Veteran pass rusher Denico Autry was placed on the PUP list, and while his absence will be felt early, his return could provide a valuable boost to the defensive front later in the year.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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