Pat Venditte

[Dojji]

Truck Day can't come too soon...

[Imperial59]

He's a statistical anomaly. So what?

 

Can you say that you would not like to see him pitch in the major leagues? Why?

 

There has been one pitcher with only one hand. Do you remember him?

 

Jim Abbott.

 

 

I think he's a statistical anomaly for a reason, that was my point. I never said I didn't want him to make the majors, I just seriously doubt that he can.

[Dojji]

Let's hypothetically assume he does. What would be the rules regarding Venditte facing a switch hitter?

 

Basically IMHO it kinda boils down to one question: would a pitcher switching hands while still on the rubber constitute a balk?

 

If it doesn't, then the hitter has to declare his side first and, once he climbs into the box, has to stick with it for at least one pitch. At that point if the switch hitter is smart he'll pick his strongest side and stick with it. Advantage switchhanded pitcher, who can then throw to the switch-hitter from a side he almost never sees -- and could give Venditte and those like him a chance at MLB play as anti-switch-hitting specialists.

 

If it is a balk, then the switchhanded pitcher has to declare which hand he'll throw with before he climbs to the rubber, giving the switch hitter time to pick which side to approach from. Advantage hitter, neutralizing the major advantage of a guy like Venditte since they can always approach him from the weak side.

[Dipre]

Let's hypothetically assume he does. What would be the rules regarding Venditte facing a switch hitter?

 

Basically IMHO it kinda boils down to one question: would a pitcher switching hands while still on the rubber constitute a balk?

 

If it doesn't, then the hitter has to declare his side first and, once he climbs into the box, has to stick with it for at least one pitch. At that point if the switch hitter is smart he'll pick his strongest side and stick with it. Advantage switchhanded pitcher, who can then throw to the switch-hitter from a side he almost never sees.

 

If it is a balk, then the switchhanded pitcher has to declare which hand he'll throw with before he climbs to the rubber, giving the switch hitter time to pick which side to approach from. Advantage hitter, neutralizing the major advantage of a guy like Venditte since they can always approach him from the weak side.

 

The official rulebook says that both the pitcher and the hitter can only change handedness once during an AB. Problem solved.

[ZonaSoxFan]

Let's hypothetically assume he does. What would be the rules regarding Venditte facing a switch hitter?

 

Basically IMHO it kinda boils down to one question: would a pitcher switching hands while still on the rubber constitute a balk?

 

If it doesn't, then the hitter has to declare his side first and, once he climbs into the box, has to stick with it for at least one pitch. At that point if the switch hitter is smart he'll pick his strongest side and stick with it. Advantage switchhanded pitcher, who can then throw to the switch-hitter from a side he almost never sees.

 

If it is a balk, then the switchhanded pitcher has to declare which hand he'll throw with before he climbs to the rubber, giving the switch hitter time to pick which side to approach from. Advantage hitter, neutralizing the major advantage of a guy like Venditte since they can always approach him from the weak side.

 

 

I'm pretty sure that's how it goes......

 

This is all I could find on the Venditte Rule:

 

 

The Pat Venditte Rule

 

The Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC) released its official rules for dealing with ambidextrous pitchers. These guidelines were reached after PBUC staff consulted with a variety of sources, including the Major League Baseball Rules Committee.

 

It reads:

 

* The pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter. Engaging the rubber with the glove on a particular hand is considered a definitive commitment to which arm he will throw with. The batter will then choose which side of the plate he will bat from.

 

* The pitcher must throw one pitch to the batter before any “switch” by either player is allowed.

 

* After one pitch is thrown, the pitcher and batter may each change positions one time per at-bat. For example, if the pitcher changes from right-handed to left-handed and the batter then changes batter’s boxes, each player must remain that way for the duration of that at-bat (unless the offensive team substitutes a pinch hitter, and then each player may again “switch” one time).

 

* Any switch (by either the pitcher or the batter) must be clearly indicated to the umpire. There will be no warm-up pitches during the change of arms.

 

* If an injury occurs the pitcher may change arms but not use that arm again during the remainder of the game.

[Dojji]

I forget -- doesn't the AB start only after the hitter climbs into the box for the first time. Could lead to some theatrics at some point as Venditte and the switch-hitter play a game of chicken with each other trying to get each other to commit to a hand first.

[Dipre]

I forget -- doesn't the AB start only after the hitter climbs into the box for the first time. Could lead to some theatrics at some point as Venditte and the switch-hitter play a game of chicken with each other trying to get each other to commit to a hand first.

 

The pitcher has to visually represent which hand he has chosen to throw with before the batter enters the box.

[Dojji]

I'm pretty sure that's how it goes......

 

This is all I could find on the Venditte Rule:

 

 

The Pat Venditte Rule

 

The Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC) released its official rules for dealing with ambidextrous pitchers. These guidelines were reached after PBUC staff consulted with a variety of sources, including the Major League Baseball Rules Committee.

 

It reads:

 

* The pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter. Engaging the rubber with the glove on a particular hand is considered a definitive commitment to which arm he will throw with. The batter will then choose which side of the plate he will bat from.

 

* The pitcher must throw one pitch to the batter before any “switch” by either player is allowed.

 

* After one pitch is thrown, the pitcher and batter may each change positions one time per at-bat. For example, if the pitcher changes from right-handed to left-handed and the batter then changes batter’s boxes, each player must remain that way for the duration of that at-bat (unless the offensive team substitutes a pinch hitter, and then each player may again “switch” one time).

 

* Any switch (by either the pitcher or the batter) must be clearly indicated to the umpire. There will be no warm-up pitches during the change of arms.

 

* If an injury occurs the pitcher may change arms but not use that arm again during the remainder of the game.

 

OK, that rule pretty clearly favors switch hitters and pretty much answers my question.

[Dojji]

The pitcher has to visually represent which hand he has chosen to throw with before the batter enters the box.

 

One more question does occur to me.

 

"Or what?"

 

So Venditte's facing a AA switch hitter next year, he's declaring first, the switch-hitter can respond to that, Venditte switches after the first pitch, the switch-hitter can respond to that, and then if either of them keep the charade up (let's say it's a long at bat and Venditte forgets he's already switched once) ... what happens? Balk? Ejection? Non-pitch and the ump goes out to tell him off and make him throw it from the proper side? Completely at the discretion of the ump?

[Dipre]

One more question does occur to me.

 

"Or what?"

 

So Venditte's facing a AA switch hitter next year, he's declaring first, the switch-hitter can respond to that, Venditte switches after the first pitch, the switch-hitter can respond to that, and then if either of them keep the charade up (let's say it's a long at bat and Venditte forgets he's already switched once) ... what happens? Balk? Ejection? Completely at the discretion of the ump?

 

Venditte has to commit right?

 

Then the switch-hitter changes, so Venditte can switch once more. IIRC, the hitter has no restriction, and if Venditte tries to switch again, it's simply not permitted, and in addition to stopping the change, i believe a ball is awarded to the hitter, but i'm not sure, i'll have to look it up.

[Spudboy]

How many gloves does he bring to the mound?

[ZonaSoxFan]

How many gloves does he bring to the mound?

 

He has one "special" glove.

 

Cus he's "special".

[Dojji]

http://blog.syracuse.com/news/2008/06/glove.JPG

[Dojji]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1aTrKKEiz2A/SQnRnHr08KI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/lNyySyNmCOU/s320/switchpitcher.jpg

[Spudboy]

http://blog.syracuse.com/news/2008/06/glove.JPG

 

LOL.

 

I guess necessity is the mother of invention.

[jacksonianmarch]

Venditte has to commit right?

 

Then the switch-hitter changes, so Venditte can switch once more. IIRC, the hitter has no restriction, and if Venditte tries to switch again, it's simply not permitted, and in addition to stopping the change, i believe a ball is awarded to the hitter, but i'm not sure, i'll have to look it up.

 

I think you are right.

[Dipre]

I think you are right.

 

What i can't figure is if there's some sort of punishment if the pitcher tries to change again.

[Dojji]

LOL.

 

I guess necessity is the mother of invention.

 

He's a pioneer, blazing a trail for others to follow.

 

Seriously, I understand why they'd be extremely rare, but why don't you see more switch-pitchers? It's like the lefthanded throwing catcher, there's some hurdles that a few good athletes might be able to overcome, but beyond a certain point it's not done simply because it's not done.

 

You see more than a few off-hand pitchers (such as Kason Gabbard throws with his left, I remember reading that as a kid he always wrote righthanded), why would it be that crazy to try a few of them on both hands when they're young (like Little League young, obviously by the time they even hit High School it's probably too late), and then if they reach the point where one hand isn't working, just make like failed switch hitters do and learn to focus on only one?

[Dipre]

He's a pioneer, blazing a trail for others to follow.

 

Seriously, I understand why they'd be extremely rare, but why don't you see more switch-pitchers? It's like the lefthanded throwing catcher, there's some hurdles that a few good athletes might be able to overcome, but beyond a certain point it's not done simply because it's not done.

 

You see more than a few off-hand pitchers (such as Kason Gabbard throws with his left, I remember reading that as a kid he always wrote righthanded), why would it be that crazy to try a few of them on both hands when they're young (like Little League young, obviously by the time they even hit High School it's probably too late), and then if they reach the point where one hand isn't working, just make like failed switch hitters do and learn to focus on only one?

 

Because people who have the arm strength to throw hard with both hands are extremely rare.

[Keeper]

He's a pioneer, blazing a trail for others to follow.

 

Seriously, I understand why they'd be extremely rare, but why don't you see more switch-pitchers?

 

Because it's really, really hard to do and it's asking a lot of a child to learn how to throw with both arms. I can throw pretty well with my right arm, but I throw like a girl with my left.

[jacksonianmarch]

You have to start it prior to the age of 5. Venditte has been switch throwing since he was 2

[Dojji]

I get it, freaky talent, lots of early intervention and training needed, but at some point you have to point out that most big league players are already genetic freaks of some kind or another.

 

I think at least part of the reason you don't see it more, beyond the obvious stuff you guys point out, is that people just don't realize it's possible.

 

I'm still at a loss for why there's no LHT catchers in the bigs though. Probably not the thread for it, but we're talking about freaky handedness, so what the hey.

[Dipre]

I get it, freaky talent, lots of early intervention and training needed, but at some point you have to point out that most big league players are already genetic freaks of some kind or another.

 

I think at least part of the reason you don't see it more, beyond the obvious stuff you guys point out, is that people just don't realize it's possible.

 

I'm still at a loss for why there's no LHT catchers in the bigs though. Probably not the thread for it, but we're talking about freaky handedness, so what the hey.

 

LHT catchers seems kinda silly. But no switch-throwers make sense. It's just too much work. Arm strength from both sides, and maintaining a delivery from both sides as well? Too much work if ya ask me.

[Spudboy]

It all comes down to which eyelid you breathe with.

[Spudboy]

I'm wondering if there are any transsexuals in organized baseball.

[26 to 6]

I'm wondering if there are any transsexuals in organized baseball.

J.D. Drew

[ZonaSoxFan]

I'm wondering if there are any transsexuals in organized baseball.

 

Transgendered is the preferable term.

 

::Psych Nerd Moment::

[Dipre]

J.D. Drew

 

I'll take a tranny with a .900 OPS any day of the week.

 

Besides, he doesn't have purple lips and people don't call him bitch tits. I wonder who that is.......