OT: Did you catch the pilot episode of Pitch

[MartyFromCANADA]

I enjoyed it. I think I'll be a regular watcher.
Also, I think it would be phenomenal if a woman became a big league player

[Snapolit1]

I too think it would be amazing if a woman made it to the major leagues. Talk about reinvigorating the sport. Would be amazing.

[packs]

The aspect of the show I don't like is that they make a woman playing professional sports seem like a fantasy. The buzz isn't that this woman is good at baseball, it's that she's a woman playing a sport. That's not really tearing down any walls. I'd like to see the show focus on her skill and abilities rather than the fact that she's a woman doing something.

[Shoeless Moe]

I'd rather see a show where a women makes in the NFL as a nose tackle!

[btcarfagno]

A female nose tackle is the last thing I would want to see!!

I played baseball through college (Big East)...this was through the early 1990's, so we are talking 25 years ago. I played with and against guys who excelled at that level, and several who played professionally, and a few who made the big leagues, and one who is in the Hall of Fame. From what I have seen in terms of athleticism and quickness, I am certain there are some softball players who, if they were to have played baseball since they were a child, would be good enough to have played at the division one college baseball level back then. At a minimum. Again, grain of salt as it has been a long time and players are very likely bigger, stronger and faster than they were back then. But I have seen some incredible stuff from some freakishly athletic females. The pitching they face is the equivilent of a 100+ MPH fastball. The game of softball is much faster than baseball due to the small field. The quickness on display is amazing.

I do not think that you could take someone who has played softball all her life and throw her onto a baseball field. That would be completely unfair. But if one of the top, most athletic softball players had instead grown up playing baseball, I have little doubt that there would be females in the minor leagues.

Tom C

[packs]

There are several women in Independent League ball and there was a French woman who plays shortstop that played for France's under 18 junior national team.

[peterb69]

I'm curious to know who Tom C played against in the Big East that is now in the Hall of Fame. My guess is that it's Biggio but he played at the end of the 80's.

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by peterb69

I'm curious to know who Tom C played against in the Big East that is now in the Hall of Fame. My guess is that it's Biggio but he played at the end of the 80's.

Correct. Both he and Mo Vaughan and John Valentin. Actually the best hitter on the team was Martese Robinson. I actually played them when I was 16. Their field at Seton Hall back then was horrible and flooded easily. That day my American Legion team was practicing on our field in South Orange when this bus pulled up and about 12 members of the Seton Hall team got out. They ended up scrimmaging us. Robinson and Valentin were not there but Biggio and Vaughan were. I struck out Biggio but Vaughan hit a ball so hard off me that I ducked (cowered more like)...didn't get up until it sailed over the center field fence some 400 feet away. Lucky I didn't soil myself.

Tom C

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I too think it would be amazing if a woman made it to the major leagues. Talk about reinvigorating the sport. Would be amazing.

As long as she is as good or better than the guy who's behind her on the depth chart I am for it but given how velocity oriented baseball is I can't see it happen other than as a gimmicky tool to get people in the stadium. I honestly can't imagine a woman as a position player.

Not really a very intriguing storyline to me personally so I doubt I'll watch it. Hopefully they have actors that actually look like they are decent ball players (pet peeve of mine with baseball movies).

[packs]

Why no position players? There are plenty of women faster than the average player and you don't need to hit home runs to make it in the big leagues.

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by packs

Why no position players? There are plenty of women faster than the average player and you don't need to hit home runs to make it in the big leagues.

Being fast just simply isn't enough. Sure there are women faster than some men but it would need to be a perfect storm as far as skill set for a woman to do everything as well as a Major League player. Again, if they are as skilled I'd be for it I just would not hold my breath that it is going to happen.

I could see a woman making it in the minors just not at that elite Major League level.

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by packs

Why no position players? There are plenty of women faster than the average player and you don't need to hit home runs to make it in the big leagues.

And at the top levels they face softballs being thrown at 70+ MPH from 46 feet away. That is the equivilent of a mid 90's fastball. Plus the movement on the pitches is crazy.

Having caught softballs thrown to me by low level division one softball players (read: Northeast...not California), I can tell you that these girls could throw a baseball just fine from the infield or the outfield.

I have zero doubt that an incredibly gifted, athletic female who comes up and plays baseball right from the start instead of softball....she would have a shot to play in the minor leagues. I have no doubt at all. Unfortunately there are very few opportunities for girls to continue playing baseball past little league. Their parents are smart to follow the money. The money will lead a very good female baseball player against boys to be an exceptional softball player against girls...much better chance at a college scholorship that route.

Tom C

[EvilKing00]

there was a girl on my sons little league team last year. I was the manager - was a Coach pitch league - 7 & 8 year olds. The girl was the not only the best player on our team, But IMO she was top 3 in the league. the league had 13 teams with 12 kids on a team. Yea she was one of the 8 year olds but she was awesome. crushed almost every pitch into the OF, there were no stats, BUT I know, cause i was manager and i was pitching, that in 22 games, she only got out twice. Both times it was due to her trying to stretch a single into a double, or she would of his 1000 for the season, lol

[Snapolit1]

If you watch this gladiator type show on now with men and women doing insane stuff (my kids love it), it's remarkable what athletes and how strong some of these woman are. The idea that they couldn't have the skills to be a major league second baseman or first baseman is laughable. I'd like to see Lucas Duda doing some of the things these women do.

[Eric72]

The question perhaps should be: why would we not want women in professional baseball?

Alta Weiss should have been given a shot at the majors. The AAGPBL was, by most accounts, successful. Other young ladies, before and since, have shown exceptional promise.

I say, "let them play."

[irv]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

A female nose tackle is the last thing I would want to see!!

I played baseball through college (Big East)...this was through the early 1990's, so we are talking 25 years ago. I played with and against guys who excelled at that level, and several who played professionally, and a few who made the big leagues, and one who is in the Hall of Fame. From what I have seen in terms of athleticism and quickness, I am certain there are some softball players who, if they were to have played baseball since they were a child, would be good enough to have played at the division one college baseball level back then. At a minimum. Again, grain of salt as it has been a long time and players are very likely bigger, stronger and faster than they were back then. But I have seen some incredible stuff from some freakishly athletic females. The pitching they face is the equivilent of a 100+ MPH fastball. The game of softball is much faster than baseball due to the small field. The quickness on display is amazing.

I do not think that you could take someone who has played softball all her life and throw her onto a baseball field. That would be completely unfair. But if one of the top, most athletic softball players had instead grown up playing baseball, I have little doubt that there would be females in the minor leagues.

Tom C

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcRvg8XGSjE

I'm all for it. See no reason, if they are good enough, to not let them play.

My son finished playing 4 on 4 hockey this past June (A Champs btw!) and on one of the teams he played, had 2 girls on it.
Imo, this was an extension of Rep hockey, only without contact, but both these girls (one was slightly better than the other) knew how to, and could play hockey!!

We were told, the better one was awarded a U.S. Scholarship this coming year.

Do I ever think girls/women will be in the NHL? Not likely, due to the physical nature of it, but Hockey is also softening up somewhat (crack down on fighting/dirty hits/headshots, etc) so you never know?

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

As long as she is as good or better than the guy who's behind her on the depth chart I am for it but given how velocity oriented baseball is I can't see it happen other than as a gimmicky tool to get people in the stadium. I honestly can't imagine a woman as a position player.

Not really a very intriguing storyline to me personally so I doubt I'll watch it. Hopefully they have actors that actually look like they are decent ball players (pet peeve of mine with baseball movies).

According to Mark-Paul Gosselaar , who plays the catcher, MLB had input on the actors. They were required to look credible playing baseball.