CJ
@CJNitkowski • 48,318 subscribers
Atlanta @BravesVisionTV color analyst ~ Loud Outs on @MLBNetworkRadio 2-5ET ~ "The Drive In" Podcast. LH Pitcher 1994-2012. TV/Radio since 2013.
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This is a non-story for me but Byrdie was upset last night when he found out some took his sign off after his Yaz interview as insulting to the player. He and I were talking past midnight last night working through it. He felt terrible. Yaz wasn't offended, quite the opposite. You'll see that by the sign of affection he gave Byrdie at the end of the interview and what you'll hear Byrdie share in the video below. Byrdie is a champion of players and wants to bring their stories to you with the greatest appreciation and perspective that he can. That is what last night was. Byride is not on social media but he wanted to share his thoughts with Braves Country. He is a sweetheart of man, friend and teammate, we are lucky to have him.
CJ384,574 views • 20 days ago
There's a misconception that all chase is bad. It's not. It's a matter of knowing where you can expand and still do damage. Drake Baldwin is hitting .292/.956 on pitches outside of the zone. Percentile rankings have some value but we don't play baseball there. Also see: Guerrero, Vladimir, 2018 Hall of Fame class.
CJ93,163 views • 5 days ago
Look how much Cruz’s head moves, he has no idea where this pitch crossed the plate and add in his catcher’s framing work. If I were an active player it would be $100/per 0.1” on challenges that you get wrong over 0.5” into the clubhouse staff tip fund. This would be $2300.
CJ37,644 views • 3 months ago
My contributions to Atlanta Braves baseball goes back nearly 30 years when #10 hit his 10th career HR vs. me in my 3rd career start. It was his first career HR batting right-handed. I know this because he told me 9 years later in Braves Spring Training in 2004. I appreciated that. 😂
CJ212,605 views • 2 years ago
I had never seen this video, thanks to Daniel Kim 대니얼 김 for sending it to me. Then moment I tore my rotator cuff. 2009, I was 36yo, I hadn't been a regular starting pitcher since 2000 but was doing so in Korea. This is Game 1 of the first round of the postseason. Great crowd, great atmosphere, I has been throwing well for them and was sure to be back the next season. Things were good. I tear my rotator on this 0-2 pitch (scorebug says 2-0 b/c they do counts backwards there, 2-3 is a full count). I know I am hurt, I never had been before, but I knew. In the 1-2 count I am deep in thought on the mound, I was hesitant because I know what's coming, "This next pitch is going to hurt like hell. Just throw it down the middle and we'll see what happens." I get lucky, a strikeout, but I just tore my rotator cuff even worse and nearly fell over in pain. Shockingly I tried to go back out for the 4th inning, I actually forgot about that part. Clearly I was done. My shoulder still bugs me to this day. It is so strange when I watch this and write about it how I can feel the exact spot where it tore, nearly 17 years ago. The mind and body are so fascinating.
CJ20,537 views • 3 months ago