This story makes my heart sing. If only these things could happen in the US.
I always wanted to be the first female catcher for the Red Sox. I told this to my dad when I was 3 and he took me to my first game. He said- "Work hard at it and you can do anything."
My dad was always very supportive of his daughter being into the sports that only one of her older brothers was into. I was a great catcher, but I stopped playing in eighth grade so I could work. Plus, with Varitek and Cash, I probably wouldn't have gotten much playtime.
@HanaMaru: We do that here, with 'schoolgirl' and 'schoolboy'. I think it's to impress upon you their age. Although, as a Catholic schoolgirl, I have always been very wary of the term myself.
@elwood: Obviously its a vast conspiracy. Sondiering your derisive comments to Newt I would think you wouldnt want to do anything similar, albeit much less valid.
@ceejeemcbeegee: It wouldn't happen because there's no women that can hang with the men in the MLB. Maybe in A or AA baseball, but no higher than that.
Goddamn I am so, so jealous. My 8-year-old How I am Going to be Just Like Roger Clemens book writing self is pissed. Apparently it wasn't that I was a GIRL, it was because I didn't throw the right pitch.
@ladyjaye75: I know, right? That would make me insanely happy. Hell, I'd be happy with a female umpire. Let's hope this isn't like Blernsball where they only did it for the publicity.
@NefariousNewt, Serving at the Pleasure of the President-Ele...: Yes, the MLB is conspiring against women getting in the league. You've figured it out, now the gig's up. Soon we'll be seeing women playing competitively in the MLB all over the place.
@elwood: Without knowing for sure I'm going to clarify -- getting ANY Japanese professional baseball player into the MLB is near impossible, never mind a girl who has done nothing other than be drafted by a new upstart independent professional league. Their contracts don't allow it and buying a player from a team is a long, expensive process.
I think it's awesome that she got drafted. I hope she kicks major a**. And, the knuckleball saves elbows, she's not likely to burn out quickly. But, if she signs a pro-deal in Japan she'll be locked up for a while and MLB won't be able to touch her.
@girlz.like.sportz: You're missing the point. I doubt the MLB would want to get her, even if they could. I just don't see how a woman would be competitive in the MLB. And sure the knuckleball may help save elbows, but do you thinks she'd be able to get the velocity up high enough to be anywhere close to competitive in the MLB? As it is, a badly thrown knuckleball is just a 70mph fastball, and a badly thrown knuckeball from her is likely to be even slower, so practically a guaranteed extra base hit, maybe even a home run.
@elwood: Well considering signing women to MLB contracts has been illegal ever since Jackie Mitchell struck out babe Ruth and Gehrig back to back, I think its actually a valid point. Most women couldnt handle it, most people could never dream of it period, but if you think that there has never been a woman who couldve played in even the minor leagues you're being short sighted.
@elwood: its not all about velocity, thats why the phillies were so successful with their junk ball pitchers, a hard fastball is good, but movement is better.
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11/18/08
I always wanted to be the first female catcher for the Red Sox. I told this to my dad when I was 3 and he took me to my first game. He said- "Work hard at it and you can do anything."
My dad was always very supportive of his daughter being into the sports that only one of her older brothers was into. I was a great catcher, but I stopped playing in eighth grade so I could work. Plus, with Varitek and Cash, I probably wouldn't have gotten much playtime.
11/18/08
Hear that call...
The time has come...
For one and all...
To plaaaaay ball...
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Sniff.
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I think it's awesome that she got drafted. I hope she kicks major a**. And, the knuckleball saves elbows, she's not likely to burn out quickly. But, if she signs a pro-deal in Japan she'll be locked up for a while and MLB won't be able to touch her.
11/18/08
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