Eri Yoshida's White Knuckler

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD ERI YOSHIDA STRUCK OUT one of the two batters she faced in her debut for the Kobe 9 Cruise last friday. She's a mere five feet, 114 pounds and throws a sidearm knuckleball. I'm not sure why or even how she throws the sidearm pitch, since a knuckleball's deception occurs in those last five to ten feet. While there are some batters who can't wait to face her, there are probably some who sport white knuckles for the fear and embarrassment of striking out against a female pitcher. A pitch is a pitch is a pitch, right?

WBC Championship Cap = Waste of Money

I PROMISE THIS IS THE LAST World Baseball Classic post until next year, just that I couldn't help but notice the championship hat for Japan selling for $26.99 at MLB.com. What were they thinking?! Will anyone buy and wear one of these slap-it-on ugly hats? Shame on MLB.

Japan: World Baseball Champions...Again

IT'S NO COINCIDENCE that Japan has won the first two World Baseball Classics. These guys are as fundamentally sound as they come...and then there's Ichiro. With the score tied 3-3 in the 10th inning, Korea opted to pitch to him despite the Japanese having two men in scoring position AND first base open. So after fouling off several pitches, including one that bounced in the dirt, Ichiro got his pitch. A split second later I saw this giant fuzzy ball coming towards the screen—a sharp, two-run single into centerfield, and Team Japan would go on to clinch another world title.