Having the Upper Hand

The advantage for switch hitters is that they are always able to be on the opposite side of the plate as to the pitcher’s throwing arm, thus allowing the hitter to see the ball for a slightly longer time period.

Against Brooklyn when Ralph Henriquez, their designated hitter came to the plate after warming up as a lefty but stepped up to the plate from the right side, opposite sided to the arm in which Venditte had been throwing with up to that point in the game.

Venditte then switched his glove to his left hand, to which Henriquez crossed the plate again while Venditte once more did the same to his glove hand.

This went on for a few more comical turns at which point the managers and umpires had to confer on the proper course of action before the game could proceed.

The umpires ruled that a person and pitcher could only switch sides of the plate or throwing arm’s once per at bat and that the hitter had to declare his course of action first.

Henriquez struck out on four pitches. Check mate.

The value of an ambidextrous pitcher has got to be enormous for the simple fact that they have two arms to tire out.

If this kid has any talent and brain whatsoever he could be the prototype for a new kind of athlete. Imagine a basketball player being able to drain three’s with both hand’s and a golfer drilling shots from both sides of the tee, one side being able to drive the ball with more power and the other with more control.

Let the breeding begin.