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Jeff PassanESPN
It was a few years ago that Johnny CuetoAn ambulance was bought, but to call it an ambulance is an error. It looks more like a Transformer. The back will open and you’ll be greeted with 22 speakers. There are nine speakers in each door, and four stacks in the middle. A literal sound wall is found at the top of the ride. Two fold-out flaps each with six speakers are attached to a central panel that has 20 more. Cueto’s on bass percentage is remarkable for a pitcher.
The long-serving reliever, Octavio Dotel bought the audiophile’s dream and immediately began to upgrade it so that nobody could out-blare him at El Malecon, the main drag of Dominican baseball hotbed San Pedro de Macoris. Robinson CanoCueto, who is also the proud owner and operator of a souped out ambulance. Cueto usually places the ambulance next to his pool near the dolphin statues. Then he cranks the radio to play the appropriate music as he cooks up beef, pork, chicken, goat or any other bounty that his ranch of 1,500 acres provides.
“Once we were in a pool, he parked it next to the ambulance,” he said. Reynaldo LopezHis Chicago White SoxTeammate and close friend. He turned up the volume. The water was sprinkling up in the pool.
Cueto denied it. “He’s not a liar,” Cueto said. He chuckled when asked about the tale. But whatever the truth, Cueto was self-aware enough understand that if any baseball player had an automobile equipped with a speaker system that could make water dance, it would be Cueto.
Cueto, now 36, is a veteran of 15 seasons in the major-leagues, winner of 135 games, one World Series crown and, until his retirement, a constant threat for The Most Interesting Man in Baseball.
After three weeks of being at AAA, Cueto was ready to join the Chicago White Sox. Cueto was delayed by the lockout and eventually signed for a minor-league deal. Through interpreter Billy Russo, he stated that he believed he would be in the majors one day. Cueto returned to the mound and unleashed a dizzying array shimmying pitches. He then promptly twirled six complete shutout innings in his 2022 debut. The next day, Cueto celebrated by running 40 minutes up and down the stairs at Kauffman Stadium.
The eve of a matchup against the white-hot New York YankeesCueto is feeling invigorated in the Bronx. Cueto walks with a springiness in his step, much like the Paso Fino horses that he rides back home every day. It is a blessing that he managed to make it out of San Pedro. He is a gifted right-hander at 5’11 and has made it to the major leagues. He is also a marvel at how he pitched his way to more than $150,000,000 in career earnings. His latest trick is that pitching can come in all shapes and sizes.
Cueto is a walking duality. Cueto is small but he plays big and bulky, but he moves gracefully. He throws slowBut he works quickly. He holds a doctorate of deception. White Sox starter said, “He’s sinking and he’s cutting, he is throwing off hitters’ timing.” Dallas Keuchel said. “He’s everything I want to see in someone taking the mound. He’s a The pitcher.”
The glory days of the The pitcherCueto, who was known for his witty remarks and willingness to blow away hitters, is long gone. He has been replaced by executives who value velocity and spin rate more than pitchability. Cueto, however, is proudly of the past. The runs between starts are seen as outdated by many and are essential to Cueto pitching deep in games.
This means that he cares more about the RPM of a DJ’s turntable then his slider. When Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association came to terms on a collective-bargaining agreement to end the lockout, teams scrambling to fill out their rotations were curious about Cueto’s form. Many asked Cueto if he could provide data about the pitches he was throwing this season to help them estimate what they might get if Cueto signed.
Maybe they had known better. Even after spending some time with them, San Francisco GiantsCueto, who is part of one of the most innovative pitching teams in baseball, said that he does not know much about TrackMan and Rapsodo — two crucial tools for modern analysis. Instead, he relies on the innumerable kinds of things that have helped him for nine consecutive seasons with a better ERA and FIP.
Cueto approaches the game in a unique way. He’ll do a twist like Luis Tiant while on one pitch he’ll be wiggle-happy mid-delivery. He’ll continue to try new things, even now, while he tries to improve the White Sox’s shaky rotation. Cueto barely flexed the leg of his stride leg as he strode towards the plate on the seventh pitch. It was almost certain that Cueto broke Rule 8.01, which governs legal pitches and allows for only one step per delivery. The umpire did not call a balk. Salvador PerezFor a strike, I stared at an 85-mph Cueto slider.
Ethan Katz, White Sox pitching coach, stated that he couldn’t tell everyone in the room that pitches, “Hey, we’re adding this component to what your do.” “Guys sometimes have trouble doing just one. His ability to mix and match things is an art.
Katz first met Cueto while he was an assistant pitching coach in San Francisco. Cueto was also in the fifth year on a $130 million six-year contract. Cueto was incredibly hardworking and willing to fight for any small advantage. He was amazed at how agile Cueto was.
Lopez said that he was surprised by Cueto’s body. He was introduced to Cueto’s trainer by a close friend and colleague of the pitcher. But once you begin working out with him, it becomes obvious that he is an athlete. I still vividly remember the first time that we did exercise together. I said to him, “OK, let’s play catch.” ‘What? No. No. We ran, played catch, and then ran again. I asked him, “Man, what’s your plan?” Are you going to kill me? I couldn’t keep with him. He said that pitchers should run. Because if you have to throw 50 pitches, then how can you do it? He was correct. I felt better each time. This is the kind of thing he does. He runs a lot in preparation for the things he is about to do.
“He works hard, but he eats a lot.”
Every rational person enjoys a good meal. But Cueto’s desire for public documentation of his charming life — which sometimes seems more like a beer advertisement — is what separates him. Cueto is seen lying in bed, seemingly unaffected by any external stimuli. He posted a photograph of the horse’s body to honor its memory. Cueto also posted a photo of the body of his horse, showing it as a model on a diamond. This was a modern take on George Costanza’s couch pose. Cincinnati RedsTeammate Joey VottoComment: “Wow, you look very sexy in grass.”
It is worth taking a look at this window into Cueto’s life, however carefully curated it may seem. In 2004, Cincinnati signed Cueto for $35,000. His career has lasted for more years than any seasoned optimist could imagine. He has a fascinating life because he earned his success.
Cueto embraces the absurdity that he represents, regardless of whether he’s pitching at Yankee Stadium oder informing the world about the fact that ambulances don’t always respond to emergencies.
He stated, “Everything that is posted, I post it from the heart.” “I don’t always post everything that I do. However, I enjoy showing people what I do and how hard I work. It’s just a way I can connect with people, especially young fans. Then they can see that he works hard.
“I’m a happy person. I enjoy my work and enjoy being with people who are happy. I love to compete. I love to have fun.”