Month: August 2016

Firenze hosts Team Italia Euro Warm-Up Games

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment
cerreti baseball stadium
International competition returns to Cerreti Stadium.

Florence, birthplace of Renaissance artists Donatello and Michelangelo as well as modern fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, hosts a series of exhibition games between Team Italia, Spain and Czech Republic during Italian Baseball Week in preparation of the 2016 European Baseball Championship. Manager Marco Mazzieri gets his last chance to finalize the Azzurri lineup when Team Italia play Spain on September 4th and follow up with Czech Republic on September 6th at Stadio di Baseball Cerreti.logo-fibs-20-x201

Sponsored in part by FIBS, the City of Firenze and Firenze Viola Super Sport, Italian Baseball Week welcomes back international competition to Cerreti Stadium, where the 2009 Baseball World Cup was held. FIBS vice president Massimo Fochi and Team Italia manager Marco Mazzieri were instrumental in the planning of such a monumental event prior to the 2016 Euro Championship in Holland from September 9-18. Mazzieri is only the second manager to lead Team Italia to a championship title in the Netherlands when they defeated Holland in 2012. Skipper Marco Mazzieri and pitching coach Bill Holmberg are up for the challenge to reclaim the Euro throne.

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Marco Mazzieri (far left) and Massimo Fochi (second to left) at Italian Baseball Week media day.

 

Team Italia switch-pitcher Pat Venditte immortalized with Yankees’ Bobblearms Giveaway

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment
Venditte
The first 2500 fans at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on August 19 will receive this limited-edition collectible.

Former New York Yankee prospect and current Seattle Mariner secret weapon Pat Venditte will be fondly remembered by the Staten Island Yankees on August 19th when the Yanks Class A Short Season affiliate host Pat Venditte “Switch-Pitcher” Bobblearms Giveaway Night. Venditte made his pro debut for the “Baby Bombers” against the Brooklyn Cyclones on June 19, 2008. With two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the ninth inning, a switch-hitter came to the plate representing Brooklyn’s last hope. He entered the batters box batting right-handed, so Venditte switched his glove to his left hand. The hitter then decided to bat lefty, so Venditte switched his glove back to his right.

The Venditte Rule

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Venditte’s custom-made glove by Mizuno

After a prolonged delay switching sides at the plate, the hitter was ordered to bat right-handed. Ambidextrous pitcher Venditte then struck out the batter on four pitches to end the game and secure a Yankees win.  Two weeks later on July 2nd after consulting with the Major League Baseball rules committee, the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation announced what has become known as the Venditte Rule: A switch-pitcher has to declare which hand he is going to use first. It ultimately afforded opposing managers the luxury of knowing the pitcher’s hand.

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Toronto manager John Gibbons signals for switch-pitcher Pat Venditte from the Blue Jays bullpen.
Selected by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 2008 draft, the Omaha native spent seven seasons in the Yankees’ farm system before signing a minor-league deal with Oakland. After an impressive 1.55 ERA with 40 strikeouts at AAA Nashville, the proud Italian American made his MLB debut with the A’s on June 5, 2015. He finished the season with a 2-2 record and a 4.40 ERA. Toronto claimed Venditte off waivers during the off-season, and the 31-year-old was traded to Seattle on August 6th.