Pat Venditte, the first ambidextrous pitcher in organized baseball since Greg Harris retired in 1995, gets to show his stuff in an exhibition game 

ByTom

Pat Venditte, the first ambidextrous pitcher in organized baseball since Greg Harris retired in 1995, gets to show his stuff in an exhibition game for the Yankees against the Braves. The 24-year-old ends the 5th inning by retiring Yunel Escobar on two pitches from the right side; he then moves from one arm to the other as he works his way through the Braves’ batting order in the 6th. When switch-hitter Brooks Conrad steps to the plate, home plate umpire Mike Reilly reminds Venditte of rule 8.01 that states that he must commit to one arm, in order to avoid the fiasco of his professional debut with the Staten Island Yankees in 2008, when he and switch-hitter Ralph Henriquez Jr. changed sides repeatedly in a cat-and-mouse game. Venditte choses to face Conrad right-handed, and retires him on a ground ball to end his turn on the mound, Venditte will start the year with the Class-A Tampa Yankees, where he was 2-0, 2.21 in 21 games last year.

Nationals Park opens for action with the host Nationals beating the Braves 3-2

Nationals Park opens for action with the host Nationals beating the Braves 3-2

ByTom

2008 – Nationals Park opens for action with the host Nationals beating the Braves, 3 – 2. Odalis Perez pitches a solid game and Jon Rauch gets the historic first win after blowing a save. Nick Johnson drives in a run with a double in his first at-bat in over 18 months. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Ryan Zimmerman hits a walk-off home run off Peter Moylan.

2006 – Jeff Kent of the Los Angeles Dodgers signs a contract extension for 2007 with an option for 2008, and Grady Sizemore signs a six-year, $23.45 million contract with the Cleveland Indians.

ByTom

2006 – Jeff Kent of the Los Angeles Dodgers signs a contract extension for 2007 with an option for 2008, and Grady Sizemore signs a six-year, $23.45 million contract with the Cleveland Indians.

Bud Selig appoints George Mitchell to head an investigation into the use of steroids in baseball

Bud Selig appoints George Mitchell to head an investigation into the use of steroids in baseball

ByTom

As a result of the recently released book detailing Barry Bonds allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs, Bud Selig appoints George Mitchell to head an investigation into the use of steroids in baseball. The former Senate Majority Leader will have the authority to expand the probe, which will be made public, into events before Fall of 2002, covering a period when the substances became banned by major league baseball.

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Major League baseball returns to Brooklyn for a day when the Mets appear at KeySpan Park

ByTom

Major League baseball returns to Brooklyn for a day when the Mets appear at KeySpan Park, the Coney Island home of the short-season single-A Cyclones, for the team’s final preseason workout. Although the practice session is rained out, fans enjoy meeting the players and collecting autographs, with the profits made from beverage and other sales being donated charities in the NYC area serving children.

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 Enron Field officially opens with a 6-5 exhibition win over the A.L. Champion New York Yankees

ByTom

 Enron Field officially opens with a 6-5 exhibition win over the A.L. Champion New York Yankees, paralleling the feat that occured when the Astrodome opened in 1965. Daryle Ward’s two-run homer caps a four-run eighth-inning rally to open up the Astros’ new home in style. 

At the Tokyo Dome the New York Mets defeat the Chicago Cubs in 11 innings
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At the Tokyo Dome the New York Mets defeat the Chicago Cubs in 11 innings

ByTom

At the Tokyo Dome, the New York Mets defeat the Chicago Cubs in 11 innings, 5 – 1, on Benny Agbayani’s pinch-hit grand slam. Rey Ordóñez commits an error in the game, ending his major league record streak of 101 consecutive errorless games at shortstop. With a swipe of second base, Rickey Henderson joins Ted Williams as the only major league players to steal a base in four different decades.