Teenage Female Pitcher Makes Pro Debut in Japan

A 17-year-old female pitcher in Japan made history by making her professional baseball debut on Friday . Some baseball pundits have questioned whether her joining a team in the first place was a publicity stunt, while others wonder if the pitcher's mound is a safe place for a teenage girl.

about 2 years ago drewishdrewid 24 comments 0 recs |

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Hmm....

The real question is:

Can she kick field goals?

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by The Jade Scorpion on Dec 16, 2009 11:17 PM CST reply actions

Does she look like Kathy Ireland?

by TheHawkRules on Dec 17, 2009 12:55 AM CST up reply actions

Quite the submarine delivery.

I wonder if she has to hit, or do the pro leagues in Japan have the DH?

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Dec 17, 2009 2:20 AM CST reply actions

I don't think she's a starter

she only faced two batters. And those pitches look pretty slow.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Dec 17, 2009 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

Sign her up!

We need another lefthander in the bullpen.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2009 5:16 AM CST reply actions

If it put butts in the seats, it was worthwhile

I think sometimes people forget that sport is a business designed to make money.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Dec 17, 2009 6:32 AM CST reply actions

well, professional sports are a business designed to make money,

not so sure about T-Ball, Pee-Wee football, and college Tennis, but yes, professional sports should make money.

however, if she took a line drive off her face, I don’t think it would be worth it, because in all reality, it is still just a game (and that is why we love it)

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by Zakh on Dec 17, 2009 7:32 AM CST up reply actions

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eri_Yoshida

by Neifi Puppy on Dec 17, 2009 7:43 AM CST reply actions

this is interesting.

On December 15, 2009 she announced that she will be bringing her girl power to the U.S. to play in the Arizona Winter League to showcase her skills in hopes of getting signed by a major league organization.

Maybe she’ll pitch against Sam Fuld!

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Dec 17, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions

I just love that

“bringing her girl power”.

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is." -- Yogi Berra

by vonde6 on Dec 17, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

Sounds like she reforming the Spice Girls...

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on Dec 17, 2009 4:50 PM CST up reply actions

I'm sure it was discussed here many times.....

…. tho, I cant seem to find it (via search), Which MLB team, do you think will sign a woman first? :)

A woman's guess is more accurate than a man's certainty.--Rudyard Kipling

by cooliogirl47 on Dec 17, 2009 8:03 AM CST reply actions

I could see the A's doing it

They’ve always been about trying to find talent where other teams saw someone who didn’t fit their mold of an MLB player.

by madcow256 on Dec 17, 2009 9:27 AM CST up reply actions

I was thinking the Red Sox

and having Wakefield mentor her for a couple years.

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by tony412 on Dec 17, 2009 9:31 AM CST up reply actions

seriously????

do you guys really think that it would happen? could happen ? or are you just joshing me?

A woman's guess is more accurate than a man's certainty.--Rudyard Kipling

by cooliogirl47 on Dec 17, 2009 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

We're probably at least a few years away from it, but maybe someday.

Pitching (especially someone who relies on off speed or knuckleball pitches) would be an area where being a man provides much less of a benefit on the baseball field. Problem is, most women generally aren’t working on their skills with a baseball in favor of softball, so it’s not like there are a lot of potential prospects.

by madcow256 on Dec 17, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions

I could see some Minor League owner taking a risk....

to get a potential huge drawing card and all the national publicity that would go with it. It would need to be an owner with a Bill Veeck-esque mentality, though. A guy who felt that “putting on a good show” was just as important, maybe even more important at the minor league level, than the actual game itself. I say that with all due respect to this young girl, who does seem to have genuine talent, although it’s very doubtful that it could ever be Major League level talent. I never say never, though.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Dec 17, 2009 1:29 PM CST up reply actions