Switch Pitching 101

Justin Verlander predicts the debate is over for a few years. Pitchers can now win the Most Valuable Player. "I think this set a precedent," the Detroit Tigers ace said Monday after becoming the first starting pitcher in a quarter century voted MVP. "I'm happy that the voters acknowledged that, that we do have a major impact in this game and we can be extremely valuable to our team and its success." After winning the AL's pitching triple crown by going 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts, Verlander received 13 of 28 first-place votes and 280 points from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He became the first pitcher voted MVP since Oakland's Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and the first starting pitcher since Boston's Roger Clemens in 1986. November 21, 2011 -  Verlander wins AL MVP, 1st starter in 25 years   by Ronald Blum, AP Sports Writer

Ed Tseng interviews Yankee minor league pitcher, Pat Venditte, the only ambidextrous pitcher (switch-pitcher) in professional baseball. Ed Tseng asks the million dollar question: Do you think that anyone can be a switch pitcher, be ambidextrous, with the right training and strategy? Absolutely, if you start young enough you can train yourself to do anything. It takes a lot of time  but those breaks are where it comes in ... if you can prove people wrong, then you can continue to do it. and it also takes some breaks. You need those breaks in there. There are going to be a lot of people may try to deter it, but those breaks are where it comes in ... if you can prove people wrong, then you can continue to do it.  - Pat Venditte

Justin Verlander was the unanimous choice for the AL Cy Young Award in 2011. Verlander, a right-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tiger's, went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts. (source: Associated Press) Justin Verlander captures third Tiger Cy Young in unanimous fashion - Detroit Free Press Justin Verlander Stats - ESPN

It's been said that hitting a baseball is the toughest task in professional sports. Hitting a 100+ MPH fastball off of Reds Aroldis Chapman is nearly impossible.  Pitching expert Tom House and the Sport Science team explain Chapman's mechanics that enable him to throw 105 MPH. His  7.5 ft  stride and quick release gives the hitter a very short time to react to the fastball.  Aroldis Chapman, the 6' 4" left-handed pitcher, is know as the "Cuban Missile." The Fastest Pitcher is Baseball History - Baseball Almanac Aroldis Chapman Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

MiLB.com's Matthew Stucko catches up with Yankees Minor Leaguer Pat Venditte, who discusses pitching with both arms and his offseason plans. (video 04:50)