Switch Pitching 101

Tuesday, 16 November 2010 Roy Halladay was amazing this year -  throwing a perfect game plus a no-hitter for the Phils.  He went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and 219 stri keouts. Phils' Halladay unanimously wins NL Cy Young Award Roy Halladay arrived in Philadelphia to a standing ovation, a $60 million contract extension and the billing as baseball's top ace. That was before he threw a single pitch. By  BEN WALKER AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK — Roy Halladay arrived in Philadelphia to a standing ovation, a $60 million contract extension and the billing as baseball's top ace. That was before he threw a single pitch. Doc delivered, and then some. Halladay added another victory to an almost perfect season Tuesday, unanimously winning the NL Cy Young Award and becoming the fifth pitcher to earn the honor in both leagues. "It's by far the most fun I've ever had playing this game," he said on a conference call from Mexico, where he was golfing with Phillies teamm...

Alex Adami Hometown: Thornwood, N.Y. High School: Iona Prep HS, 2008 College: SUNY Binghamton Height/Weight:  5' 11", 175 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Both (ambidextrous) Gloves: used two different gloves to throw right- or left-handed Alex does a nice job of blocking his glove on the throw. At Ion Prep HS, Adami had a c umulative record of 16-8 with a 1.16 ERA over three seasons.  He was 8-2 with a 0.93 ERA during his senior year in 2008.  Naturally right-handed, Adami started to alternate pitching left-handed in games. Alex Adami Biography The Switch-Pitcher  - The LoHud Baseball Blog Adami pitches five-hitter to beat the Mount

Switch Pitchers  on  YouTube  >> Make sure to take pitching lessons from an expert before you start switch pitching. Many of the video clips posted online show young pitchers with very poor pitching mechanics, which will lead to arm or shoulder injury. Here are a few examples of good and poor pitching mechanics. Switch Pitchers with good mechanics Pat Venditte -  minor league switch pitcher This is the switch pitcher featured all over the news. He was a walk-on pitcher for Creighton University, then was drafted by the NY Yankees organization. Glove: Switch pitches using six-finger custom glove Feature on Venditte Venditte had instruction from college and pro pitching coaches, which helped to develop his mechanics. Note the good glove control - he blocks the glove out in front of his body. Pat Venditte Northwoods League Allstar Game 2007 Venditte warming up  left- and right-handed Ambidextrous Pitcher Drew Vettleson Featur...

Ryan Perez Hometown:  Hampshire , IL High School:   Westminster Christian  ,  Elgin, IL HS Team : Warriors  - 1A State Champions 2010 Travel Team:   McHenry County Hurricanes   Height:   5-11   Weight:   165 Positions:   RHP, LHP, 1B, 3B, SS Pitching     Fastball:   RHP: 84-86 LHP: 83-85     Curve:   RHP: 67 LHP: 64-66     Changeup:   RHP: 72 LHP: 73 Bats:  Switch hitter Dominant hand: right-handed When it comes to brushing his teeth, eating, writing and playing other sports, Ryan is always right-handed. Glove:   Akadema Abidextrous Glove Ryan Perez  uses a special glove his brother found after a long search led him to Akadema, a company that specializes in baseball and softball equipment. The glove has six fingers, allowing Ryan to easily switch from one hand to the other. Goal:   "At first I didn't think about that stu...

Once in a while, you here about a baseball player who injures their throwing arm, but they want to play so much that they learn to throw with the opposite arm. Billy Wagner comes to mind. Here is a story about a talented outfielder with the desire to play baseball, who switched to throwing right-handed following surgery on his left arm. Again, this is proof that throwing with both arms can be learned and is not a "gift" as some people might claim. Staying On the Field Cousino show strong desire to play by Bubba Brown, 3 Nov 2010 After surgery to repair a posterior labrum tear, it didn't take long for Austin Cousino to start throwing again.  No, his left arm didn't make a miraculous recovery, enabling him to breeze through the extensive rehab. Ever the competitor, he was merely trying to get back on the field by learning how to throw righthanded, a feat he mastered.  "He decided he was going to do that after he was injured," said Tim Saunders, Cousino...

Dave Niehaus, Voice of the Seattle Mariners, Dies at 75 November 10, 2010 Mariners fans are saddened to learn that Dave Niehaus, the play-by-play voice of the Seattle Mariners since 1977, has died at age 75. Niehaus passed away of a heart attack Wednesday evening in his Bellevue home.  Niehaus was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 as the recipient of the   Ford C. Frick Award , the highest honor for American baseball broadcasters. He will be missed by all, but remembered for his many phrases. The home run call: "It will fly away!" The Grand Slam call in which he emphatically screams: "Get out the rye bread and mustard, grandma - it is grand salami time!" My Oh My! “He made the Mariners what they are. Day in and day out he brought the excitement.” - Ken Griffey, Jr Loss of a Legend: Dave Niehaus, voice of the Mariners, dies at 75  - Komo News

"I think long toss is a great way to build your arm up, to get in shape to throw off the mound." -   Greg Maddux Long toss helps to build arm and leg strength while improving throwing accuracy. Throwing long distances - over 150 ft - can be useful to practice for fielders and pitchers. It's great to have a strong partner to throw with, but a parent can help with the workout. My son likes to throw long toss on the local football field. It's a level turf surface and the yard markers help when moving to different throwing distances. I don't have a strong arm - after getting hit in the crosswalk by a car, so I roll ground balls underhand or hit fly balls over 40 yards. A light fungo bat helps to drive the ball straight down the field.  Long Toss - warm up with dynamic stretching and arm circle exercises - use your legs and work on throwing mechanics  - throw straight and accurate - block the glove, moving your chest to the glove There a...