Bonestorm
05-06-2009, 01:56 PM
Interesting read about a switch-pitcher in the Yankees farm system. He's a closer that pitches both lefty and righty depending on the batter. One of my favorite parts of the piece is a new rule that single-A umpires have instituted when a switch hitter faces him:
And switch-hitters will switch batter's boxes, making Venditte switch the glove, starting a cat-and-mouse game that can go on for 10 minutes. Minor league umps now have the Venditte Rule: At the start of an at-bat, the pitcher must declare his throwing arm, then the hitter can pick his side, with each man able to switch once.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4145564
And switch-hitters will switch batter's boxes, making Venditte switch the glove, starting a cat-and-mouse game that can go on for 10 minutes. Minor league umps now have the Venditte Rule: At the start of an at-bat, the pitcher must declare his throwing arm, then the hitter can pick his side, with each man able to switch once.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4145564