Schoolgirl knuckleballer headed to Japan pro league

A 16-year-old schoolgirl with a mean knuckleball has been selected as the first woman ever to play alongside the men in Japanese professional baseball.

Eri Yoshida was drafted for a new independent league that will launch in April, drawing attention for a side-armed knuckler that her future manager Yoshihiro Nakata said was a marvel.

7 months ago BaronVonCurrentEvents Comment 21 comments 2 recs |

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Wow, cool.

How do you even throw a sidearm knuckler?

by Evan on Nov 17, 2008 7:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Can she play 3rd?

Right up wil’s alley ;-)

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by SoFa King Mike on Nov 17, 2008 7:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn’t mind trying to hit off that

by wilriv21 on Nov 17, 2008 10:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Make sure there’s grass on the field, first.

Sergio Romo will gladly hand you a bench to sit on / GIANTSPACE™ / Adopted brother of the AnVil

by SoFa King Mike on Nov 17, 2008 10:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have longer hair than her…

There amass been plenty of articles written this spring about the stud shortstop Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum , as well as the fluid young outfielders and thirteen basemen Kevin Frandsen.
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by Natto on Nov 17, 2008 11:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

THAT MEANS YOU’RE A GIRL!

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by WalrusMan on Nov 17, 2008 2:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Moar info

Ms. Yoshida is playing for the Kobe team in the new Kansai Independent Baseball League. Per a Mainichi news source she throws 80 km/hr. That’s a tick below 50 MPH for those of us who don’t embrace the metric system.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Nov 17, 2008 7:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It’s hard to be happy when you’re not using the metric system.

The Denker bus is now bound for San Diego. Those who were passengers on it are now angrily stranded at a gas station in Modesto, CA. Not much about baseball here .

by oldjacket on Nov 17, 2008 8:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

50 MPH..

On her knuckler or her knuckeballer’s "fast"ball?

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by WalrusMan on Nov 17, 2008 8:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

50 MPH

baserunners gone wild!

Giants! Giants! HELP US GOD!

by j14 on Nov 17, 2008 9:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mmmmmm…publicity stunt.

by chilibean_3 on Nov 17, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool I must say.

It’s hard to imagine, even in today’s world, that the MLB will in the near future adopt women into baseball. Of course, then we have another “asterick because all the players aren’t allowed to play” era as well.

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by WalrusMan on Nov 17, 2008 8:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Until a player comes up with enought talent to see, we won’t know. I keep pushing my 2 year old to throw left handed, though. I figure if Steve Klein "earnd " a few mil last year, she might have a future…

by tyrannoman on Nov 17, 2008 11:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s pretty cool. I’d like to see a video of her pitching.

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by xanthan on Nov 17, 2008 11:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Young girls rule!

I was expecting the busty Asian woman in the baseball
jersey to appear in this thread by now. (There’s more than
one way to rule.)

They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long

by bgunn on Nov 17, 2008 11:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I never check FanShots

That said, this sounds cool as long as it’s not just a publicity stunt.

Hey, she’s 16, she’s bound to add velocity to that 50 MPH pitch.

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by BruteSentiment on Nov 17, 2008 2:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

What's a....

FanShot?

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
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by WalrusMan on Nov 17, 2008 3:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

Females tend to mature physically earlier than boys, though.

At least, that’s what I remember from my pre-GWBII Health class (and the bunch of girls who were about as tall as I was in 5th-9th grades before I pulled away down the stretch).

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Nov 17, 2008 4:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs