Tim Wakefield throws like a girl

by SoxDevil on Nov 19, 2008 1:06 PM EST

Actually, that's backwards. A 16 year-old girl in Japan throws like Tim Wakefield

The knuckleball - the fluttering, hard-to-hit pitch that's rare in the major leagues - is propelling a 16-year-old girl to the pros in Japan. Eri Yoshida was inspired to learn how to throw the knuckler after seeing a video of Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. On Monday, she broke the gender barrier by being drafted for an independent league team as Japan's first female professional baseball player. "Hope I can see her pitch one day," Wakefield said in a message he texted to the Red Sox. "I'm honored that someone wants to become me. I wish her the best of luck. Maybe I can learn something from her." The 5-foot, 114-pound high schooler was chosen by the Kobe 9 Cruise in the Japanese League, which starts its inaugural season in April. The Cruise are a far cry from Tokyo's Yomiuri Giants. Making the squad is more like earning a tentative slot on a farm team than warming up in the bullpen for the Red Sox.

-Associated Press

Maybe they should sign Doug Mirabelli, too. Dougie wants to deep again!

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How did I know someone would pick up on this?

The article doesn’t mention that she throws sidearm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcwnjWOEP3M

Clutch: A measurement of how much better or worse a player does in high leverage situations than he would have done in a context neutral environment. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/glossary/

by bdalebs on Nov 19, 2008 2:05 PM EST reply actions

Actually I respectfully disagree with you

I think it’s terrific that a woman has finally gotten the opportunity to compete against men in the extremely competitive arena of professional sports. True it might not be the Major Leagues but it’s a start and I wish her all the best. There are obvious biological reasons why the vast majority of women cannot reasonably compete against men in many (but certainly not all) professional sports, but what I abhor is the fact that Major League baseball keeps the doors firmly shut. From a young age even I always though that if a woman could seriously compete then there is no reason why should not be allowed to. More power to the Japanese, provided of course, (and that’s a big provided) that this is not just a grand publicity stunt.

I like Tim Wakefield first and foremost because he has spent his entire career with the Red Sox, the better part of two decades, and has declared several times in the past that he wishes to end his career with our great team. So on a final note, though I understand why SoxDevil as well as many other Red Sox fans would like to belittle Wakefield, all I have to say is more power to Wakefield, Japanese baseball and women!

Forever Red Sox, screw all those pink-hatted babes, 'got no family, 'got no friends, 'got no life--RED SOX I LIVE FOR THIS.

by RedSoxUltras on Nov 19, 2008 4:09 PM EST reply actions

Name one example of a decent female BASEBALL player that was shut out?

If you say Jennie Finch, I will kill you.

by bdalebs on Nov 19, 2008 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

I was demeaning neither

I’m a fan of Tim Wakefield, and I think it’s great that this girl has a shot to pitch in Japan. Were you offended by the title joke?

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Nov 21, 2008 12:35 PM EST up reply actions