Japanese knuckleballer knocking on baseball's door

JAPANESE KNUCKLEBALLER - ERI YOSHIDA

We highlighted this young Japanese pitcher when she was fist drafted in November of 2008 and it appears that she may be something more than a novelty.

From ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/news/story?id=4961259

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The fraternity of knuckleball pitchers is small, and Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox is its active godfather.

Eri Yoshida hopes to expand that roster and break the gender barrier at the same time.

Yoshida, the petite 18-year-old who became the first female drafted by a Japanese professional team, Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent Baseball League, made her pro debut on March 26, 2009, at the Osaka Dome. She learned how to throw a knuckleball as a young girl by watching video of Wakefield.

I ask the question again --

Will Major League Baseball be the first of the major sports to break the gender barrier in the modern era?


From the NBA, this analysis regarding the prospects of arguably the best women's basketball players making the leap from WNBA to NBA.

David Stern thinks it will happen by 2020.

From si.com:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ian_thomsen/12/04/countdown/index.html


NBA players like LeBron James and Candace Parker's own husband and brother think not.

Shelden Williams, husband to Candace Parker, arguably the best women’s basketball player, said “it’s not something that could happen,’’ pointing to the differences in size, strength, and game play.

He also said that Parker didn’t argue.

“We’ve talked about it,’’ Williams said. “She feels the same way.’’

And then Shelden maybe went a step too far (for Stern’s liking):

Williams said of Stern’s comments, “He has to say that because he wants to promote the WNBA, but it’s not something that’s realistic.’’

I think a Diana Taurasi who could play outside the paint might be a better contributor. A good spot shooter or a three-point specialist a la Steve Kerr could make the jump. Would that be good for the WNBA or would it detract from fan interest? There certainly would not be a mass exodus of women players from the WNBA to the NBA similar to what occurred after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, but it may be the final nail in the coffin for a league that seemingly has trouble attracting anything other than a friends and family fan base as it is.

In baseball, a pitcher that is able to master a trick pitch like the knuckleball or the screwball could certainly make the bigs. There is no need for such a pitcher the level of upper or lower strength that precludes most women from success in other sports or positions where this is nearly a requirement.

Time will tell but it appears as if the NBA or MLB has this event on the radar. It's becoming more a matter of when it happens rather than if it happens.