Obama ‘loosens up’ arm for All-Star first pitch

In the Oval Office Tuesday morning, The Hill’s Sam Youngman asked President Obama about unemployment figures and his preparation for throwing out the first pitch at Tuesday night’s all-star game.

On the latter, the president, meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende, said “I think it’s fair to say I wanted to loosen up my arm.”

He said he has been thinking back to the first pitch he ever threw out, as a senator in 2005 at a Chicago White Sox game.

“I just wanted to keep it high,” Obama said. “Now, there was no clock on it, I don’t know how fast it went. If it exceeded 30 miles per hour, I’d be surprised. But it did clear the plate.”

–Sam Youngman