Our 9th installment of the Legends Series features two-time All-Star Pitcher Bob Knepper.  Knepper started 413 games throughout his major league career, spending several seasons as a reliable member of the Astros pitching rotation.

Q:  The Dodgers will be coming to town here early next month. You had some amazing battles against L.A. in your day.  Were they the biggest team to beat in the old N.L. West?

A:  I started battling those guys even before I got to Houston.  In 1978, I was facing them as a member of the Giants at Candlestick Park, so I already had that ingrained in me.  The Dodgers were always the team to beat.    

Q:  You started 38 games in 1986.  How special was that group?

A:  We had a bunch of great guys, some amazing personalities, and a lot of the guys were having career years.  Hal Lanier did a great job managing our club that year and it was a lot of fun.

Q:  You made two All-Star appearances.  Which was more special, 1981 or 1988?

A:  I don’t know if one was more special than the other.  You know in 1986, I thought Art Howe should’ve made the team, he was putting up some impressive numbers that season.  Those appearances were a real privilege and honor.  It’s a fun event.  

Q:  When you pitched, pitch counts weren’t a big thing.  Could you do what you did in today’s game?

A:  It’s certainly different.  The entire culture of baseball has changed.

When I played, there was an expectation that you could go 9 innings.  It’s a different world now.  

Look at even the high school ranks, kids are playing baseball year-round.  I honestly believe you only have so many pitches in your arm, why would you waste them in high school?  

I think pitchers are being overworked early on in their careers, and the philosophy has just changed so much.    

Q:  How much did you want the challenge of taking the ball in the 9th inning?

A:  I always enjoyed pitching in the 9th inning.  I enjoyed facing adversity when I’d be a little tired or worn out and my stuff wasn’t as sharp.  I’d take on that challenge head on because that’s what I was paid to do.    

A:   You know, I’m not sure I ever struck out Pete Rose, and trust me, I tried.   There were so many guys.  Tony Gwynn and Mike Schmidt, Andre Dawson, they were all great hitters.  Even when Jack Clark came back to the National League, it was such an enjoyable thing to try and strike him out.  Dale Murphy was also a real challenge and when you recorded an out against that caliber of players, it warranted a fist pump.