First woman in the majors a coach?

[SABRSusan]

Could it happen? The Indians (and tomorrow the A's) are having a woman throw BP during Spring Training. The pitcher, Justine Siegal, has also been a coach for a men's collegiate team for the past four years and played baseball all her life on men's teams.

Couple good articles in the NYTimes and MLB.com.

What do you think?

[Bigfoot 88]

No
Anybody can throw bullpen

[Mattingly]

Susan, on which baseball teams has Justine both coached and played? Which positions for both?

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/...l?ref=baseball

If Justine were to be a coach, or would it be on the field (if so, which position?), or in the bullpen?

[sandlot]

Could it happen? The Indians (and tomorrow the A's) are having a woman throw BP during Spring Training. The pitcher, Justine Siegal, has also been a coach for a men's collegiate team for the past four years and played baseball all her life on men's teams.

Couple good articles in the NYTimes and MLB.com.

What do you think?

Let's wish her luck. I can remember being a kid in school and somebody said: "The first person to set foot on the moon has already been born." Hearing that was incredibly inspirational. I'd like to think that the first female to play baseball professionally has not only already been born, but is well on her way. There's no point in being negative.

[Imgran]

If she's competent, and knows what she's doing, and is the most qualified available person, I hope to heck that the gold ole boys network keeps its nose out of things.

[DriftersGM]

lol you be careful with that - some folks on this board are pretty vehemently opposed - or at least they give that impression by the way they rattle off (mostly irrational) reasons why women cant partake in the game! I have been enjoying a perhaps overly spirited convo on the forums here about having women as pro players - and was surprised how determined some folks are that it just aint gonna happen, while I think its just an eventuality as to when.

Judging by how women are treated in the umpiring profession, as players, as executives, then yes I suppose a coach is the faster path to breaking the gender barrier. However they are in for a fight all the way, and I pull for women who want to make that effort. I think baseball could do alot worse than to accept women more than they do now, which is minimal at best.


I have seen women as trainers, and that is another way one could soon see a woman on a major league bench - if it hasnt quietly happened already.

[Bigfoot 88]

Honestly it shouldn't be about breaking the gender barrier. Someone could sign Hillary Clinton and break the gender barrier. You have to prove you deserve to play.

[SABRSusan]

Susan, on which baseball teams has Justine both coached and played? Which positions for both?

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/...l?ref=baseball

If Justine were to be a coach, or would it be on the field (if so, which position?), or in the bullpen?

I don't know what men's teams she played on as an adult. I do know she played on her high school team, third base and pitcher.

She's been an assistant coach for four years at the collegiate level. Not sure in what capacity. In 2009 she was first base coach for the Brockton Rox, which is an independent league team in Massachusetts. She's pitching BP for the Rays today (3/9/11) and another team (Cardinals? can't remember) this week. She knows the game well, and she has a laid back but direct and focused personality that I think is good combination for a coach.