General Discussion

LeftyMom

(49,212 posts)

5. Women with potential get funneled into softball in HS and college.

Thu Mar 26, 2015, 11:40 PM

Mar 2015

And that's an entirely different ball and pitching motion.

Put some promising young women through HS baseball programs and either college ball or the minor league system and we'll see. Anyhow even if no woman anywhere can throw 95 (keep in mind most major league pitchers can't either) there could certainly be women who were capable of pitching with lower velocity by emphasizing deception and location, just as any number of successful pitchers do, including former power pitchers who have lost some velocity to the aging process.

But we know women playing actual baseball can successfully strike out big league pitchers. Jackie Mitchell- all of seventeen years old no less- struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gherig. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-woman-who-maybe-struck-out-babe-ruth-and-lou-gehrig-4759182/?no-ist That was long before the radar gun, but she struck out the best hitters of her day so I'd say her velocity was just fine.

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As an avid baseball fan, I expect to someday see female players and coaches [View all] CreekDog Mar 2015 OP

What about PMS? How WILL they muddle through it? Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #1

PMS Avenger. I only work 4 days a month. Is there a problem with that? uppityperson Mar 2015 #3

Coaches, maybe. Players, doubtful philosslayer Mar 2015 #2

How fast does he pitch? CreekDog Mar 2015 #4

How can women compete with big strapping specimens like that? LeftyMom Mar 2015 #7

I completely agree CreekDog Mar 2015 #9

In a world where Travis Ishikawa is a postseason hero anything is possible. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #14

It is possible CreekDog Mar 2015 #21

ROFL! KamaAina Mar 2015 #107

YES INDEED! yuiyoshida Mar 2015 #126

Ok, so let's mix boxing too Reter Mar 2015 #92

Maybe not Klitschko KamaAina Mar 2015 #109

Or MMA. hifiguy Mar 2015 #112

I am a smaller than average man. i struggled to get to welterweight. AngryAmish Mar 2015 #122

What about Ronda Rousey vs Laila Ali? FrodosPet Mar 2015 #138

Exactly right. AngryAmish Mar 2015 #139

Boxing has weight classes, genius. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #117

so many low count posters saying the same thing CreekDog Mar 2015 #120

So many dudes who want to go on about how lady bodies are inferior and terrible. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #121

I've read the entire thread, and haven't seen anyone say that. Captain Stern Mar 2015 #142

Ya ya ya Reter Mar 2015 #130

Err, Martha Salazar is 242 pounds and would be in Klitschko's class, Einstein Reter Mar 2015 #129

that's Timmy's height including the mound and baseball cap CreekDog Mar 2015 #141

I'm sure there are female pitchers out there who can match Romo's fastball for speed *and* accuracy. nomorenomore08 Mar 2015 #60

I want women to play, as long as they play for the Giants and the Giants win every World Series for NoJusticeNoPeace Mar 2015 #80

. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #119

wOOT! yuiyoshida Mar 2015 #125

! CreekDog Mar 2015 #127

Hi Hi!! yuiyoshida Mar 2015 #128

Women with potential get funneled into softball in HS and college. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #5

Barry Zito rarely pitched faster than 80mph CreekDog Mar 2015 #8

You left out his offensive prowess. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #11

LOL...that's because most successful Giants' pitchers have had to be decent hitters as well CreekDog Mar 2015 #13

Otherwise you get Cained. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #15

My Hometown Hero Strikes Out Ted Williams... catnhatnh Mar 2015 #73

Came across this. Downwinder Mar 2015 #6

thanks, this is very relevant CreekDog Mar 2015 #10

It's not just speed philosslayer Mar 2015 #32

Most men can't CreekDog Mar 2015 #34

I'm sorry, but men and women are not physically the same philosslayer Mar 2015 #36

most baseball players can't compete with Usain Bolt in the 100 meter dash CreekDog Mar 2015 #37

Then find a woman who can compete with any major league baseball player philosslayer Mar 2015 #39

They've never had a fucking chance, though. alarimer Mar 2015 #67

Why Is Softball Purgatory? ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #69

Because you want to play baseball and keep being told that softball is the only option, that's why. Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #70

So There's A Groundswell That You Know Of? ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #83

There doesn't need to be a groundswell for women to play baseball CreekDog Mar 2015 #88

Imagine the team that fielded the first woman MLB player Major Nikon Mar 2015 #90

Again, Nobody Is Saying That ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #102

That's Fine ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #101

No, but you are going over the wall trying to make your point. Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #99

Nobody Is Saying That Though ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #100

Velocity isn't everything but there aren't that many Greg Madduxes. hifiguy Mar 2015 #113

Most of those pitchers were on the backside of their career at the time Major Nikon Mar 2015 #28

Nice 18th century thinking. we can do it Mar 2015 #111

Players? Probably never. At least not in any significant numbers (more than 1-3) linuxman Mar 2015 #12

dinosaur CreekDog Mar 2015 #16

The league is trending toward smallball anyhow. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #20

that's right CreekDog Mar 2015 #23

LOL. linuxman Mar 2015 #24

men aren't even identical in physical strength to other men CreekDog Mar 2015 #27

God, I wish strength made for better quarterbacks. Kap's got some guns. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #31

Apparently he was down in Phoenix practicing screen passes CreekDog Mar 2015 #35

But the good news is they cut JMart today. I heard MUNI already offered him a job LeftyMom Mar 2015 #40

. CreekDog Mar 2015 #44

snarf trumad Mar 2015 #64

Of course they're not. linuxman Mar 2015 #38

do you have a granddaughter, or know a little girl somewhere who loves baseball and wants to play? CreekDog Mar 2015 #43

Granddaughter who has to tone her soccer game down Downwinder Mar 2015 #47

Why would I tell her she can't play? linuxman Mar 2015 #49

if that's the case, then why are you arguing that it's impossible here? CreekDog Mar 2015 #51

The only thing that's sad is your level of reading comprehension. linuxman Mar 2015 #55

No one said its impossible philosslayer Mar 2015 #74

For some weird reason chess is segregated Yupster Mar 2015 #134

Jackie Mitchell struck out Lou Gherig and Babe Ruth. She was seventeen. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #29

Maybe Reter Mar 2015 #93

Lol? BeanMusical Mar 2015 #57

I know of her, yes. linuxman Mar 2015 #59

She should get every opportunity go go as far as she can hifiguy Mar 2015 #115

Why should averages dictate exceptional cases? nomorenomore08 Mar 2015 #61

Perhaps a knuckleballer though Yupster Mar 2015 #133

Women managed in the negro leagues, so that's already happened. nt LeftyMom Mar 2015 #17

I think the match ups we've seen in tennis geek tragedy Mar 2015 #18

Babe Didrikson Zaharias made the cut in PGA events. Downwinder Mar 2015 #33

I already posted of a local lady who struck out Ted Williams... catnhatnh Mar 2015 #77

Golf is a game that is more skills-oriented than athelticism-oriented geek tragedy Mar 2015 #94

Rhode Lee Michelson could jump as high as any male in her class. Downwinder Mar 2015 #105

Her golf record for least putts was in 1982... catnhatnh Mar 2015 #110

Putting is one aspect where women should be every bit as geek tragedy Mar 2015 #114

This message was self-deleted by its author Yupster Mar 2015 #135

Girls are playing in the Little League World Series. It's only a matter of time. cherokeeprogressive Mar 2015 #19

Yes, against 12 year old boys philosslayer Mar 2015 #41

Yes. And baseball accomodates wildly different body types. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #50

Possibly the best post of this thread. Gidney N Cloyd Mar 2015 #87

Maybe if that happens, Jamaal510 Mar 2015 #22

So far, the closest a female has been to Jenoch Mar 2015 #25

Jim Abbott had one hand and was quite successful CreekDog Mar 2015 #30

So what if he had one hand? philosslayer Mar 2015 #42

well then there are plenty of women with one or more hands CreekDog Mar 2015 #45

Believe what you want philosslayer Mar 2015 #46

No, my believing won't make it so, women will make it so CreekDog Mar 2015 #48

the fastest softball pitch ever thrown was 77MPH ProdigalJunkMail Mar 2015 #63

Pete Gray was a one armed outfielder Yupster Mar 2015 #136

The limits of the human body, specifically the Jenoch Mar 2015 #52

the physical requirements of baseball don't disqualify women on the basis of their gender CreekDog Mar 2015 #54

Don't you dare assume anything about me. Jenoch Mar 2015 #56

The person you are replying to... philosslayer Mar 2015 #72

i didn't call it discrimination CreekDog Mar 2015 #82

You don't think maybe a knuckle ball pitcher Yupster Mar 2015 #137

I did say that the only way I thought it MIGHT Jenoch Mar 2015 #143

We already see people with wildly different body types find niches in baseball. LeftyMom Mar 2015 #26

First thing you need to do is convert softball programs to baseball programs jmowreader Mar 2015 #53

You're more likely to see it in endurance events, in my view Ex Lurker Mar 2015 #58

Coaches maybe... Oktober Mar 2015 #62

Yup. bigwillq Mar 2015 #81

There's no market for it... Oktober Mar 2015 #84

Let the resident so-called DU sports expert chime in. trumad Mar 2015 #65

I think it'll be tough, but not impossible Calista241 Mar 2015 #66

I'd settle for another league. alarimer Mar 2015 #68

Coaching I can easily see. Playing is going to be a lot harder. Captain Stern Mar 2015 #71

In the entire history of baseball there have only been a handful of knuckleballers to make the bigs Baclava Mar 2015 #76

Agreed, to some extent. Captain Stern Mar 2015 #86

I am not sure players will happen in my lifetime, but I would enjoy it dr.strangelove Mar 2015 #75

I think if women trained from an early age bigwillq Mar 2015 #78

I think Joan Joyce could have played... catnhatnh Mar 2015 #79

see post #63 n/t ProdigalJunkMail Mar 2015 #96

Coaches probably, players almost certainly not. Dreamer Tatum Mar 2015 #85

Maybe a late game defensive replacement or pinch runner The2ndWheel Mar 2015 #89

If a female is talented enough to produce on a ML level, she will make the team Reter Mar 2015 #91

If you think you can play in the major leagues anotojefiremnesuka Mar 2015 #95

that isn't a good indicator at all ProdigalJunkMail Mar 2015 #97

The point being the vast majority of people have no clie anotojefiremnesuka Mar 2015 #98

You spelled "clue" wrong while attempting to say that most people don't have one CreekDog Mar 2015 #124

It was a typo, not a spelling error Reter Mar 2015 #131

always thought that Snow Leopard Mar 2015 #103

I think there are some sports where women might be able to complete with men but this isn't one LynneSin Mar 2015 #104

Now batting for the Phillies, the pitcher, number 13, Mo'ne Davis! KamaAina Mar 2015 #106

Baseball is a brilliant, fun and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon... totally ruined SomethingFishy Mar 2015 #108

I thought they had softball for that? Blue_Tires Mar 2015 #116

Female coaches maybe... ileus Mar 2015 #118

Ya never know... Inkfreak Mar 2015 #123

Slightly off topic but, I decided to change my avatar because of this OP. Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2015 #132

:) CreekDog Mar 2015 #140