I look really good in these.
So the good folks at New Balance were kind enough to send a scrub like me some of the freshest cleats out—Josh Reddick’s style New Balance 4040 cleats.
Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America
So I wanted to give you guys a quick little write-up on my experience with these babies.
One thing is not in question: I have the best looking cleats on the field. New Balance made a handsome shoe. That’s obvious. As important as that is to all of us, more important is how the shoe feels. I took a bit of a risk by wearing these for the first time in a game that I was the starting pitcher. I expected blisters as can be the case when you are doing anything so vigorous as pitching (especially on a humid day in the East Bay).
To my surprise, my feet felt great the whole day and I survived 9 innings on the hill and 5 at bats. The piece at the front of the shoe designed to protect the toe looks like it did a decent job saving the shoe from wear, though there is a bit of wear slightly above it on the leather (to be expected when you drag it along the ground 130 some-odd times).
The noticeable difference between the Puma cleat I was using (which I also thought was a good shoe) was the flexibility of the 4040. Sometimes baseball cleats can feel like you’re running on clogs because the metal combined with a stiff shoe make it hard to plant or round your stride. This is not the case for the 4040 as it is designed by a running shoe company who is very familiar with the concept of running in circles. The 4040s felt great on the bags as well as on the mound.
The old saying I always think of when cleat shopping is, “Look good, feel good, play good.” The “look” and the “feel” are well taken care of with the 4040s, and the “play” part is up to you.
But don’t take my word for it, consult the experts:
Or guys like Reddick, Asdrubal Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Andre Ethier—I could go on and on.
Rizzo, you’re no scrub… just a litte hung over.
I play in Australia and got myself a pair off eastbay and straight up the first time i wore them i walked up to bat and the catcher just stared at them. Pinstripe uni with high black socks and them babies, an 0-fer has never looked so good.
Hahahha that’s hilarious. thanks for the comment.
If u wanted to put Josh Reddick on this site i can help you out. For anyone reading this ill post links of his equipment.
Why don’t you go ahead and e-mail me what you got and I’ll put up a Reddick post. whatproswear@gmail.com
Josh uses a Wilson 1799. It is all black.
http://cdn3.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/950821/gyi0063920831.jpg
I’m not to sure about Reddick’s sunglasses but it looks like they’re a pair of Oakley Radar Paths that are green and white. Whit blue lenses.
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2012/0828/20120828__joshreddick1~1_VIEWER.JPG
hey mike
i sent that info to u
Just picked up a pair off Amazon, will be putting them to the test Sunday night. Usually a mid-3/4 cleat guy, but the rave reviews have me willing to try them out.
Awesome, Brent. And hey, sorry about your Reds. That must have been a tough one. I feel for Rolen especially—that wasn’t that easy a play so I hope he doesn’t take too much of the blame in Ohio.
[…] deserved a WPW shoutout. Reddick has already been highlighted on WPW in the review I did on the New Balance 4040s, which are tragically fresh by the way—it’s sad to see them get dirty because they just […]
[…] Zoom Vapors are challenging my opinion that the New Balance 4040 is the best-looking shoe in the game, especially that blue. I know there’s guys out there […]