Phil Irwin Spring-Training Curveball Watch

Much like a young John Cusack holding his boombox aloft outside an also-young Ione Skye’s bedroom window, the author both (a) has declared for everyone to hear his feelings about right-handed Pirates prospect Phil Irwin’s curveball and (b) finds no little value in the musical stylings of Mr. Peter Gabriel.

A recent spring-training broadcast of a Red Sox-Pirates game has provided a means by which we might all reacquaint ourselves with what film critic Pauline Kael would likely describe as a “fucking tour de force” were she still alive and also filthier of mouth.

Like on this curveball to Boston shortstop Stephen Drew:

And on this second curveball to Drew:

And also on this curveball, to Boston catching prospect Ryan Lavarnway: