36

This post is about Single A ball. I do not think it would be appropriate for me not to mention what happened in the Staten Island Yankee game vs the Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn on Thursday night. For those who do not know, the Staten Island Yankees are the single A affiliate for the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones are the single A affiliate for the New York Mets.

The Yankees had a commanding 7-1 lead over the Cyclones when Pat Venditte came into pitch. He was drafted by the Yankees last year in the 45th round but after not signing was drafted again this year by the Yankees in the 20th around. What is so unique about him, is that he has a baseball glove that supports both his right and left hands. The reason? He is a switch pitcher. That is right he can throw both lefty and righty. More information on his background can be found by a Sports Heaven favorite, Jim Baumbach. Check out the article here. http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spjim0615,0,1734581.column

In the game Thursday night against the Cyclones he retired the first 2 batters he faced. Both were right handed hitters so he pitched right handed. The third batter, also a right hander, got a base hit into Center Field. This is when the fun started. The next hitter was a switch hitter! So now the question is what will the batter bat and what will the pitcher pitch? The batter stepped into the box as a right handed hitter. Pat put the glove on his left hand so he can pitch righty. Immediately after even before a pitch was thrown, the batter switched to the other side of the plate to bat lefty. Pat stepped off the mound and switched the glove to his right hand so he can throw lefty. This happened a few times back and forth before the first pitch which got laughs from both benches. After it happened about 4 times, it became serious. Pat was not happy that he had to keep switching his glove hand. Both managers had to come out to discuss the situation. About 10 minutes passed before the first pitch was thrown to discuss the situation. According to Sports Heaven baseball expert Dan Novick, this happened in college once before and the rule stated the pitcher must declare what he is going to pitch. This rule either is not stated in minor league rules (yet) or the rule just did not get down on to the field.

What ended up happening? The batter just said, “ok whatever I will just bat right handed.” So Pat pitched righty and the hitter looked foolish and he ended up striking out and the Staten Island Yankees won the game.

Pretty funny stuff!

Filled under: NY Yankees, New York Rangers, Sports Heaven