Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
February 23, 2004
One Hand Clapping

Chad Bentz, a left-handed pitcher, is trying to make the Expos bullpen. What's most interesting about him is his lack of a right hand.


"I don't consider it a handicap," said Bentz. "If I did, I would get a parking sticker.

"It doesn't prevent me from doing anything. I call it a birthmark. I think it would be boring to catch normally, without switching the glove, but I'm sure it's not normal for anyone else."

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand but had a 10-year major league career that included throwing a no-hitter for the New York Yankees against Cleveland on Sept. 4, 1993.

"I saw him and I almost fell out of my chair -- he was exactly like me," Bentz said of Abbott, whom he met in 1999 while playing for Long Beach State University. "Meeting him was probably one of the best experiences of my life.


Like Abbott, he throws and catches with the same hand. I really enjoyed watching Abbott pitch, and I hope Bentz has as much success.


Posted by David Pinto at 04:16 PM | Pitchers | TrackBack (0)
Comments

That's a great story...the kid hit 23 HR's in High School...amazing !

Posted by: Lobster Larry at February 23, 2004 05:11 PM

Saw Bentz pitch for Vermont against the Brooklyn Cyclones two years ago and he was impressive. He slides his glove off onto his non-throwing "hand" after retrieving the ball, then replaces it after delivering the pitch. It's so effortless that you barely notice.

Posted by: Jay Jaffe at February 24, 2004 11:53 PM

Chad is an amazing talent. I was fortunate enough to coach in Juneau during his High School years. With a catcher like Jesse Parr how could we not win state.

wassup Juneau!

mb

Posted by: Mike Brown at April 2, 2004 07:47 PM

Ever since Jim Abbott first played for the Angels, he has been my favorite baseball player of all time, because I was a LHP in high school while he was in the MLB. He taught himself how to switch the glove on and off by throwing a ball against a wall over and over again until he could do it with ease. I was bummed when he retired but when I heard about Chad Bentz I was so excited to see someone in their situation in the limelight again. I now have 2 favorite baseball players, and will keep a close eye on Chad. Can't wait to see him strike out Barry Bonds!!!!

Posted by: Cory Hughes at July 12, 2004 03:27 PM