First woman MLB player - when?

[toomanyhatz]

OK, I confess my wife- who is not enough of a baseball fan to ever post here- has put me up to this. But it does interest me.

While certainly it's important to acknowledge that there are physical differences between men and women, and upper body strength is one of them, I don't buy there are no women whatsoever skilled enough to play professionally. I know a few have (mostly pitchers, it seems), but they've faced enormous prejudice.

So what do you think? Is it possible? Will it happen in our lifetimes? And do you think, as I do, that the first (if it happens) will likely be a pitcher?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I say it will never happen. The gap in physical attributes is just too large IMO. If it were to happen I think it will be a slap hitting second baseman that can really run, someone with Jessica Ennis athletic ability.

[Nimrod]

If it did ever happen it wouldn`t be front page news because the front page headlines would read:HELL FREEZES OVER.

[toomanyhatz]

That would have to be one...how to put this diplomatically...freakishly large woman to sustain a 2nd-base collision. But pitching only (in the AL, therefore not hitting) seems in the realm of possibility. That's what Ila Borders did (OK, not that successfully) in the independant leagues. She had zero at bats. On the positive side, she only made one error.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

How big is Jose Altuve? He's done ok at second base so far, no? How about a woman playing first base?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

This got me thinking. I wanted to compare Jose Altuve to the reigning women's Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis. Both are listed at 5'5". Altuve has various weights listed for him.

ESPN- 155 lbs
Yahoo!- 168 lbs
Astros website- 170 lbs
BBR- 170 lbs

Jessica Ennis is listed between 125-130 lbs. It would be interesting to test the both of them in terms of speed, strength, dexterity, general hand-eye coordination, agility, power, etc. I suspect Altuve is way stronger but Ennis is way faster and more explosive. I guess the question is can a woman with Jessica Ennis level athleticism who has actual baseball skills be good enough to play major league baseball?

Jose Altuve 2.jpg

Jessica-Ennis.jpg

[NJYankeeFan]

I read a story of girl who was entertaining offers to either play in the minors, an indy league or Korea at something like 17. Possibly has the talent. Can't find the article.

But I think it could happen. A pitcher. Maybe a knuckleballer. Maybe a lefty submarines loowy? ,)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

[Honus Wagner Rules]

You are probably referring to Japanese knuckleball pitcher Eri Yoshida.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=yoshid001eri

She's pitched in the North American League. In 78 IP she has 17 K's and 57 BB's with a 7.62 ERA.

yoshida-chico-seals.jpg

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Eri Yoshida 1.jpg

[Jntg4]

Doubt it will ever happen, but maybe Miami would do it as a publicity stunt like what they did for Adam Greenberg.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Doubt it will ever happen, but maybe Miami would do it as a publicity stunt like what they did for Adam Greenberg.

And that is a problem. If any woman attempted to play pro ball, especially in the major leagues, it will quickly become a circus, side-show, carnival with all the press everywhere. Though, I would love to see Jessica Ennis in a baseball uniform. :hyper:

[clayadams]

This topic has been discussed in depth in the coaching 101 forum. It always seems to get rather heated. There are a lot of factors at play here. Number one, in my opinion, is that "Girls play softball, boys play baseball." Girls, from the start, are pretty much pushed into softball. The culture of this country doesn't even give a girl much of a chance. Second, is the obvious, girls aren't physically as strong as guys. However, this is one where I sit back and think. Baseball players don't do much "training" when it comes to peak athleticism. You have a handful of guys that could be olympic sprint runners, but that's the smallest of the smallest minority. I'd be willing to bet I can squat and curl more than 90% of all baseball players, and run with at least half of them. I don't think I could outrun ANY pro football player. Baseball is a lot more about skill and finesse than power. Power does play a role, but not like any other sport. So, I do believe there are woman, that if they were dedicated enough, could do it. That can be argued till the cows come home as it's a matter of opinion.

My thought on it happening... it would have to be a pitcher. There was a girl in Atlanta on her high school team that was clocked at 85mph. With proper training I'd bet that could easily turn into upper 80's. Imagine if she could hit every corner, ala Greg Maddux. Then had a wicked changeup, slider and curve? EVEN BETTER... imagine if she could throw a knuckleball like R.A. You all should google Chelsea Baker. She's currently 15, plays travel baseball in Fl, and I believe made her JV team. She's a knuckleball pitcher that was trained by Joe Niekro when she was a little one. She's made the Team USA Women's National team... at 15. She's also been offered a full contract to move to Japan and play for the women's pro league. (I don't know anything about the women's pro league in Japan, but I believe the Japanese are far more "pro girl" than we are in the states.) So, IMO, there is nothing a knuckleball pitcher can do that a woman isn't capable of. That's how it can happen. Again, all opinion and speculation. As long as guys like "tradosaurus" don't enter the conversation, then I assume it can be fairly civil.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

girls aren't physically as strong as guys.

No disrespect, but isn't that a bit sexist to say something like that?

There are strong girls and guys both.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

No disrespect, but isn't that a bit sexist to say something like that?

There are strong girls and guys both.

In general men are stronger than women. The strongest men are far stronger than the strongest women. Is there any doubt about this?

[toomanyhatz]

In general men are stronger than women. The strongest men are far stronger than the strongest women. Is there any doubt about this?

There shouldn't be. It's physically measureable and even the most radical feminists I know acknowledge that it's so.

Were it used as a reason to keep a qualified woman from playing, that would be sexism. Acknowledging physical differences is rational.

[ipitch]

I'd be willing to bet I can squat and curl more than 90% of all baseball players, and run with at least half of them. I don't think I could outrun ANY pro football player.

If you're as fast as 50% of baseball players, then I'm darn sure that you could outrun many offensive lineman.