One of my favorite pitchers threw a lot of slow balls.  My Dad and I used to watch baseball quite a lot when I was growing up on the south side of Chicago.  Year after year a pitcher named Hoyt Wilhelm pitched for our beloved Chicago White Sox.  He threw a knuckleball.  A knuckleball is a very slow pitch that would flutter, drop out of sight, and baffle hitters trying to make contact with it.  Hoyt threw it for a very long time.  There are lots of advantages to throwing such a pitch.  It is nice on the arm.  Soft stuff like a knuckleball, is a lot easier on the arm than say a fastball or slider or curve.  Knuckleball pitchers can pitch well into their forties because of it.  It is a very hard pitch to master though, because it must have a lot of movement to it to fool hitters.  The trick of the pitch is eliminating all spin on the ball so the ball can dive and curve in the atmosphere. 

Windy days can help the ball move more and humid or dry days can help too.  The best pitchers can control the ball to make the soft stuff rise or drop.  Most of the time though, a pitcher will not know where it is going.  The catcher certainly does not know.  The knuckleball is the hardest pitch to catch in baseball and many catchers struggle mightily trying to corral it.  They even use special oversized mitts to catch it.  Some knuckleball pitchers have their own catcher to catch them, and they will catch every game that pitcher pitches.  It is such a difficult pitch to throw few can do it well.  There are only a handful of players that have mastered it enough to have many wins under their belt.  Hoyt Wilhelm is one.  Joe and Phil Nekro did too.  Often these pitchers will have other pitches in their arsenals too.  If they need to throw a strike on a count of three balls and no strikes, they will throw a fastball down the middle of the plate.  Knuckelballers, as they are called, can walk a lot of batters because they can not aim it to the place they want most of the time.  Walks kill pitchers and many walks in a game are a disaster waiting to happen.  A fastball once in awhile is better than soft stuff all the time.

People who are not real familiar with baseball may think a knuckleball is held in the hand with the knuckles.  Most pitchers who throw this type of pitch uses their fingertips and push the ball from their arms.  The fingertips try to prevent the ball from spinning to create the floating effect.  Jim Bounton, a famous pitcher and author of the very funny book Ball Four, tried throwing a knuckleball when it became apparent he had lost his fastball.  He relates the story how often he was hit because his soft stuff was not very good.  He wanted to stay in the big leagues so bad he tried to learn how to throw it, but eventually he could not master it.  Today there are just a few knuckleballers  left.  Tim Wakefield is the most famous of these and I believe he is in his early forties. 

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Listen to that walking bass line, and that smooth trumpet solo that sounds like it’s coming from the late-night ally of a Harlem, New York, neighborhood. Jazz is some real soft stuff if played with the right touch. Many jazz musicians, instead of playing with a smooth touch, like to play with a certain amount of chaos that represents the time and society in which it was written. Yet, other jazz musicians prefer to use the genre to play some of the sweetest music lines known to man. Charles Mingus is known for playing some really chaotic jazz music that is quite masterful. But others, such as some of the compositions by Miles David, are much sweeter and softer.

That’s one of the beauties of jazz music. There are no rules and a huge variety of options available to a jazz musician. Many people tend to opt for the soft stuff, but that’s only because the more chaotic music might be too much for them if they are use to American pop music with its simple chord progressions and always-resolved tensions. Jazz, on the other hand, doesn’t always fall into those perimeters.

That’s why a lot of people like jazz, because it is so free-form. It can be bold and harsh, or sweet and wispy. The soft stuff is what a lot of the cats like to hear. Even when slightly louder than normal or faster or even slightly chaotic, and expert jazz musician can make them sound smooth.

With enough musical training, there’s nothing that a jazz musician can’t do. One thing that can make jazz music sound really soft is when a drummer uses brushes instead of traditional drum sticks. This gives a quieter, more intimate feel to the song. With these brushes, the drummer can slide them on the head of the snare drum to create a constant, soft stuff sound that gives a smooth backdrop to the music going on.

Without jazz music, some people might only consider certain classical music compositions or maybe Bob Dylan’s early music as soft music. Jim Croce, come to think of it, has a really soft sound to his music as well. There has been a recent spring of musicians who like to play this kind of music. But a true musician is not going to be satisfied with playing only one type of music. Instead, a musician will want to learn every style.

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Some people have chronic dry, flaky skin. For this reason the skin lotion and skin care industry has become a multi-billion dollar industry. This is all because people want soft stuff as their skin. It’s understandable. There’s nothing like dry skin. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it often looks bad and is rough to touch. Using lotion can mean the difference between being touched and touching yourself. But perhaps your skin is so dry and rough that you won’t even want to touch yourself.

There are hordes of different types of lotions out there, all claiming to be the final, end-all answer to dry skin. They claim that they’ll be able to make skin some really soft stuff. Who doesn’t want soft skin? Almost everyone does. However, there are some people who are fully against the use of lotion. Why would anybody be against the use of lotion, especially if the lotion hadn’t been tested on animals or otherwise contributed in evil goings-on of the world? No, some people are adamantly against the use of lotion because they want their hands to be touch and able to defend themselves against the elements. If lotion is used regularly, the lotion will do just what it purports to do, which is make hands and skin soft and take out the roughness of them.

Yes, most people, if asked, would say they would prefer hands that are soft stuff rather than hands that are rough stuff. Not only are lotions good to accomplish soft skin, but many other products on the market claim to give soft skin. One type of product is exfoliation creams. These creams typically have small grains in the cream, and when it’s rubbed on the skin, especially the face, the dead skin is rubbed off and what is left is some of the softest skin you’ll ever feel.

By using a certain product like lotion, other creams and exfoliation rubs, soft skin can be attained. That’s the best part of using lotions. Although some lotions have a pleasant scent to them, which to some people could be considered an added benefit. However, to all who use lotion, they can expect some more soft stuff to enter their lives, even though it’s been there the whole time: their skin. That’s the best way to get soft skin.

Once you’ve experienced what soft skin is like, you’ll never go back to not using skin lotion regularly.

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One thing is clear, people love soft stuff. They love soft clothing such as cashmere sweaters and fleece pants. They love soft animals such as baby seals and puppies. And they love soft sounds like the ocean. But one of the most depressing things in life is when you have a soft piece of clothing that you like to wear around the house when you want to be comfortable and the softness begins to escape. This can happen for a variety of reasons. But the dominant culprit is washing your clothes in the washing machine and drying them in the dryer. That is the easiest way to turn extremely soft clothing into tattered rags, of just less soft clothing.

Every time you wash clothes in the washing machine, some of the clothing fibers get washed away with the dirt and grime. Those clothing particles are part of what makes clothing soft stuff. But, as time passes and the clothing has been washed dozens of times, you will notice it begins to lose those soft qualities. This is horrible, especially if it is a favorite piece of clothing. Instead of washing these soft garments in the washing machine, it’s a good idea to hand wash them. Never put them inside of an electric clothes dryer. That also takes a lot of the soft out of the clothing. At the end of a laundry load, check the lint trap on the dryer. That is where a lot of the softness of clothing goes and why it’s not a good idea to wash soft clothes in a washer and dryer.

Instead, had wash and hang dry. That’s the only way to keep clothes as soft as possible for as long as possible. Another tip is to not wash clothes very often if you want to retain their soft stuff. Of course if there are spills or noticeable stains, you will want to wash the clothes. But, if some clothes are really soft and don’t smell too bad and don’t have stains on them, it’s OK to wear them and to enjoy the softness of the fabric.

It’s no wonder why people like to wear soft stuff. It’s really comfortable. When it’s raining outside and a chill is in the air, nothing is better than getting cozy in some really soft clothing and making some hot chocolate. This can then be followed up by reading a book by the window as the rain falls outside.

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Sleep is many people’s favorite thing. That could be for many reasons. But one reason that people spend hours on end in their beds, aside from the fact that sleep is required, is because of all the soft stuff people have on their beds. Some beds can be compared to clouds. These are the best beds to lie on and take naps on. You feel engulfed by all the bedding and soft things that people often keep on their beds. There are many different ways to keep on top of maintaining the softest bed possible.

One of the tools of the soft stuff trade related to beds is a down comforter. These are a must-have for anyone who wants to have a bed like a cloud. It’s virtually impossible to have a soft bed without one. Down comforters are filled with goose down, which are some of the softer feathers known to man. Another added benefit is that goose down is great for insulation, so you will stay quite warm under a goose down comfortable. What could be better than being warn and being surrounded by things that are soft? You can dream all the stress of the day away.

Feather beds also make for some real soft stuff. They go between over the mattress, so it’s like you really are lying on a cloud. Combined with a down comforter and the softest sheets, that bed is going to be really soft. Waterbeds could be a good way to attain some extra softness as well, with extra pillows added to the natural relaxing sway of the water.

To ensure a bed is as soft as it can be, it’s a good idea to purchase the right sheets. When it comes to sheets, it’s all about the thread count. The higher the thread count, the softer the bed sheets will be. However, not only is the thread count important to keep in mind, but the type of fabric the sheets are made of is also important. Satin is a popular material for sheets and is likely the softest material. But, jersey-knit sheets are also exceedingly soft. Jersey knit is made of cotton and resembles the fabric used to make T-shirts. However, the softest of soft stuff in a bed often has nothing to do with the materials that bedding is made from, but more who is sleeping next to you.

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Have you ever wondered why videos of baby animals on websites such as YouTube typically have thousands of views? It’s not only because these baby animals are cute beyond belief, but also because, although they are on a computer screen and you can’t touch them, it’s clear that they are soft stuff. Polar bear cubs awkwardly walking around is one of the cutest sights available to man’s eye. But the soft white fur is perhaps one of the softest things that a person can touch. That goes for baby tigers and baby seals as well.

When animals are first born, they have softer fur than when they finally grow up and become adult animals. That’s not to say that they cease being cute or even soft. But as they age they become less soft as their mature fur grows in. There’s a reason that baby animals are such soft stuff and so adorably cute. The reason is because they are essentially helpless when they are first born. They need to be cute and soft to attract the affection of their mothers, and if for some reason their mother has abandoned them or been killed, then baby animals have to attract someone else to take care of them and hopefully, in the animal kingdom, not eat them. It can be ruthless out there, no matter how soft you are.

The soft stuff that baby animals are has brought people to the verge of tears, all because they are just so cute and soft. Little puppies are also soft and cute. There are many baby animals that are in commercial advertisements. That’s because companies know that people love to see cute baby animals on TV and imagine themselves petting the soft fur. The thought is that people will begin associate the product being advertised with cute, soft and over all desirable things. And the truth is, advertising companies are usually pretty successful.

There are even businesses that rent out adorable baby animals to people for birthday parties or even just so someone can spend a day with some soft stuff if they are feeling down. This is called “Rent a Pet”, but it could just have easily been called, “Rent a Soft and Cute Animal”. The softness of baby animals is unparalleled. Taking naps with baby animals is one of the best and softest experiences known to man. Try it on for size.

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From baby blankets to top of the line sheet sets, everyone loves soft stuff. Cashmere, silk, fleece: soft stuff comes in many shapes and forms, but all of it has a relaxing and decadent feel. However, everyone knows that over time, such things tend to lose their feel, slowly wearing and aging. While this eventual degradation is unavoidable, there are ways to keep soft items from aging for as long as possible.

The first tip should be obvious, but is always helpful to hear again. When it comes to preserving soft stuff, be sure to wash it as sparingly as possible. Some soft items, such as pajamas and sheets, need to be washed frequently for cleanliness. However, other pieces, such as blankets or pillow shams, do not need to cleaned as often. With these items, keep washings to a minimum, since the washing cycle can slowly wear away at the soft feeling and texture.

Along with that, when washing is necessary, always read the care instructions carefully and abide by them entirely. Some soft fabrics require very delicate care, perhaps even necessitating washing by hand and laying flat to dry. While this type of washing certainly is more time consuming, it can be a huge factor in reducing the negative impact to the fabric, thereby keeping the soft item plush for longer.

Next, consider using the item with some reservations. Of course, it makes no sense to not use a soft item for fear of ruining it, but that does not mean that a cherished soft product should be used all the time. Some items, such as silk pajamas or special blankets, can be best kept for special occasions. This not only helps keep the items softer for longer, but can make the items extra special when they are used.

Last, it should be remembered that not all aging is bad. Though frequent use can make some fabrics look dingy, sometimes time can enhance the feel of a product. It may not retain its original soft and fluffy appearance, but for some, the familiarity of the wear and tear on such items can be even more appealing. This is especially true with comfort items, such as a favorite pair of slippers or a baby’s blanket.

With a little care and a little perspective, people can trust that their soft items will keep them warm and fuzzy for years to come. 

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