Switch Pitching 101

Switch-pitcher comes to Rays with 42nd pick Despite rare ability, Vettleson likely to make name in outfield By Bill Chastain / MLB.com  06/08/10 ST. PETERSBURG -- Drew Vettleson, a high school outfielder/pitcher from Silverdale, Wash., became the third and final pick of the Rays on Monday, Day 1 of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. The Rays selected Vettleson with their "sandwich pick," which was the 42nd overall of the Draft. Vettleson is also a high school player and possesses the rare ability of being able to throw right-handed and left-handed. Though he can touch 90 mph on the mound, he is known as a better outfield prospect with power potential from the left side. Read More Switch-pitcher: More than just a novelty act Carla Swank | Rivals High  April 19, 2010 New York Yankees pitcher Pat Venditte got the attention of the sports world last month when he became baseball's first "switch-pitcher" in a spring training game - throwing to batters

#19  Cleveland Indians nicknamed "The Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob", and "Rapid Robert" November 3, 1918 – December 15, 2010 (aged 92) Position : Pitcher Bats:  Right Throws:  Right Height:  6' 0" Weight:  185 lb. Bob Feller grew up on a farm in Iowa, and in his spare time he loved playing baseball. His father built a baseball diamond on the farm that he named "Oak View Park", then recruited his son and others to play for a team he named The Oakviews. Feller was signed at age 16, by scout Cy Slapnicka for $1 and an autographed baseball. What a steal. Known for his high leg kick, this All-star pitcher could bring the heat - throwing the fastball over 100 mph. Feller credited his arm strength and ball speed to milking cows, picking corn, and baling hay. Career Highlights - Winningest pitcher in Cleveland Indians history (266 victories) - 8-time All star - Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1962 - Record:    266–16

Forget about throwing the curveball when you are 9 years olds. Here are three pitches that a Little League pitcher can use to keep hitters off balance and mess up their timing. 1) 4-seam fastball 2) 2-seam fastball 3) changeup These pitches can be thrown with the same arm angle and speed. The key is to locate the pitches on the corners or low in the zone for strikes. 4-seam Fastball - The Heater Use the 4-seam fastball on most of your pitches. Throw the fastball on the inside or outside corner for strikes. If they start fouling it off, then switch to the two seam fastball. 2-seamer - The Sinker Hitters have trouble tracking the movement of a 2-seam fastball, especially when thrown by a lefty pitcher. The 2-seamer thrown toward the middle of the plate, by a lefty, can run low and away from a right handed hitter. The pitch will run to the outside of a left-handed hitter, when thrown by a right-handed pitcher. Cy Young award winner Félix Hernández throws a fastball that has

by Kevin O'Donnell, FOX 13 Tampa Bay TAMPA - Pat Vendetti causes a lot of double takes. He's not a twin, but he's two different pitchers -- actually ambidextrous. He started at the age of three. "It was my Dad's idea," Vendetti said. "He's been working with me ever since I started. He's been very supportive of me and I wouldn't be here without him today. I'm very appreciative of that." For Vendetti, throwing with both  arms comes natural. What makes it easier is his specially designed six-finger, two-pocket glove. "It's a six-fingered glove," he says. "Two-thumbed glove with the pocket in the middle. You just kind of catch the ball over here, your makeshift pocket on either side. Depending on which hand you are catching with." Read More In 2010, Vendetti was one of the top relievers for the Tampa Yankees with an ERA of 1.84 in 24 games.

WHAT IS LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW ? Little Leaguer's Elbow is pain on the side of the elbow that is closest to the body. In Little Leaguer's Elbow, the growth plate is irritated or inflamed. This problem is often caused by overuse of the throwing arm by pitchers. The most important treatment for Little Leaguer's Elbow is to not throw if the growth plate is inflamed. Rest the arm and see a doctor for treatment. Read more Source: University Sports Medicine, University of Buffalo HOW CAN LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW BE PREVENTED? The best way to prevent Little Leaguer's Elbow is to limit the amount of throwing a player does. Since this problem occurs the most in young pitchers, there are guidelines for how many pitches or innings a child can throw in a week. Even without overuse, poor throwing mechanics can lead to arm injury, so it is important to learn proper throwing techniques from an experienced coach. Little League Pitch Count Limits and Mandatory Res

The changeup is thrown with the same arm angle and speed as a fastball, but using a looser three-finger grip instead of two. Players with small hands often use the claw grip, while players with larger hands can use a circle changeup.  According to pitcher Steven Ellis -  The key to an effective changeup is deception. A changeup must look like  a fastball , but come in slower and lower in the strike zone. A fastball is held tightly with the index and middle fingers. With the change up, you hold the ball lightly, keeping the wrist loose, and there is more contact with the ball to create friction.  Think fastball arm speed The arm speed of a changeup should be the same as a fastball. Young  pitchers tend to slow their arm motion down and good hitters will soon recognize the pitch as being off speed.  A good changeup looks like a fastball on release, but is 8-10 mph slower than the pitcher's fastball. The slower velocity of the ball causes a hitter to slow down their swing

Joseph Alan Vavra Born: November 16, 1959 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Bats: Left Throws: Right or Left Positions: 2B, 1B, SS, 3B, OF, C College:  University of Wisconsin-Stout Joe Vavra, htting coach for the Minnesota Twins can throw right- or left-handed. This talent comes in handy when throwing batting practice.  Vavra threw right-handed as a player, going from Wisconsin-Stout to the Dodgers' organization and reaching Class AAA. At age 11, he began toying with throwing left-handed, too. He tried it only once in a game, pitching to one hitter in an amateur contest and inducing a ground out. (source: StarTribune.com) Twins fail first test vs. lefties | StarTribune SEATTLE - Twins hitting coach Joe Vavra usually throws batting practice with his right arm, but the schedule has taken a strange twist, so there he was in the batting cage Tuesday, pitching lefthanded. Vavra is ambidextrous, an uncommon bonus at a time like this. The Twins don't have a lefthanded bat