Japanese Girl May Be The First Female Pitcher To Make The Pros

[Are_grits_groceries]

Eri Yoshida an 18-year-old Japanese baseball player comes to America and tries to make the pros ... and she's a girl! It sounds like a magnificent sequel to "Mr. Baseball," but it's a-happenin'.

Yoshida is the first woman drafted by a Japanese professional baseball team, and she may be the first female pitcher to go pro. Her secret weapon is the old knuckleball, an elusive pitch that few have mastered, and the one thing that makes her attempt viable. Earlier this month, she hit the spring training circuit in Arizona, where she pitched under the tutelage of the Red Sox's Tim Wakefield. (Yoshida says she taught herself the pitch by watching videos of him.)

Although she isn't trying to make it to the majors -- she's only hoping for a spot in an independent league -- we would certainly love to watch an 18-year-old, 5-foot-1-inch lady strike out her juiced-up competitors.

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/03/12/female-pitcher-may-make-the-pros/

If she can master the knuckleball, she might make it. It is a very effective pitch that drives batters and catchers crazy.

[JCMach1]

1. Would love to see that!

[tularetom]

2. Hope she makes it

The "National Pastime" needs a good shake up.

BTW, I'd hate to be the first dude she strikes out. The ration of shit he'd have to take for the rest of his career would be overpowering. :rofl:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

3. would be pretty cool

the knuckle ball is a tough pitch to master. extremely hard to throw for a consistent strike. and hard as the devil to hit or catch if it's a good one! all that said, it is a far stretch for her to make it to the bigs...

sP

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. It is a long way, but

that is the pitch that could possibly take her there. Anything else would make me wonder at any possibility. If she is any good and willing to be in it for the long haul, this could be interesting.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. would love to see it...

and the abolition of the designated hitter rule...oh, and astroturf!

sP

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. I hate the designated hitter rule. nt

[boobooday]

4. Oh I'm TOTALLY rooting for her

That would be exciting. And if MLB wants to improve their ratings/attendance, THIS would do it.

[SidDithers]

7. "The knuckleball is the easiest pitch to catch...

you just wait 'till it stops rolling, go to the backstop and pick it up" - Bob Eucker

Best of luck to Eri :)

Sid

[tech9413]

9. I love the sidearm delivery Reminds me of Kent Tekulve

With that kind of delivery, she might be able to keep her arm for a few years.

[AwakeAtLast]

10. I might actually watch baseball if that happens

[Nailzberg]

11. The Cubs could use her.