Japanese knuckleball pitcher Eri Yoshida plays on her own 'Field of Dreams'

Good for her. I hope she can make it to some level.

A touching and inspiring news story indeed. So often society and even the industry or league doesn't get it. There are talented geniuses like Yoshoda out there in baseball and other fields. But, the powers that be, keep them down, just like the music industry prevents genius musicians from showcasing their unique talents. It would be great if some team in the MLB would give her a chance to pitch in the big show sometime. Everyone here knows Japanese baseball is the world's best. That's why the NPB limits the number of foreigners. The inferior MLB doesn't do that. Now, while this may be bad for the level of ball played in the US, it also means Yoshoda has a shot to make it in the big leagues. I think I'll write a song about her and what an inspiration she is to all of us who are trying to realize our dreams. So glad to have read this instead of some stale piece on Otani.

Everyone here knows Japanese baseball is the world's best. That's why the NPB limits the number of foreigners. The inferior MLB doesn't do that. Now, while this may be bad for the level of ball played in the US

LOL

 Everyone here knows Japanese baseball is the world's best. That's why the NPB limits the number of foreigners. The inferior MLB doesn't do that. 

This is just nonsense. The reason NPB limits the number of foreigners is that they want to protect roster spots for Japanese players who, in a free market, would face more competition from talented foreign players.

Sugoi! Sidearm knuckleball. My coaches taught me I had to throw at 12 o'clock. They didn't believe in sidearm anything. Thats in Canada.

@Kumagaijin

I played ball in Canada, too. The pitching was like BP

@rainyday

Do you even understand the sport, or Japanese samurai spirit? If America and other countries that play baseball in the WBC like England and The Netherlands are better than Japanese, then why do they never win it? Japan always wins it. The time they didn't win was because of foreigners umpires. Sheesh.

Do you even understand the sport, 

Been an avid baseball fan for forty years, and an NPB fan for 24 years.

If America and other countries that play baseball in the WBC like England and The Netherlands are better than Japanese, then why do they never win it? Japan always wins it.

There is a massive difference between NPB and Japan’s WBC team. If you hadn’t noticed, about half Japan’s WBC roster plays in MLB rather than NPB. Your insistence that MLB is an inferior league to NPB, despite most of the top Japanese players leaving NPB to play in MLB, is laughable on its face to anyone in Japan who actually understands baseball.

Your insistence that MLB is an inferior league to NPB, despite most of the top Japanese players leaving NPB to play in MLB, is laughable on its face to anyone in Japan who actually understands baseball.

Bingo

MLB just pays more but the league is saturated like the Top 100 radio show. There is more talent in Japan. Any NPB team playing WITHOUT foreigners would DESTROY any MLB team playing with their regular roster of Americans and hired foreign guns. Japanese Yakyu is superior to American baseball, which is slightly superior to cricket. How you people can't understand this is beyond me. Have you been to a game in Japan? They are next level. It's like David Bowie starmen playing mere mortals. Japanese baseball is the highest level of sport in the Milky Way.

Japanese Yakyu is superior to American baseball, which is slightly superior to cricket. How you people can't understand this is beyond me. Have you been to a game in Japan? They are next level. It's like David Bowie starmen playing mere mortals. Japanese baseball is the highest level of sport in the Milky Way.

Lol, MLB also-rans like Randy Bass and Tuffy Rhodes become superstars in the NPB, lol

(Guys, he's clearly being sarcastic. He's dialing up the hamminess to 11 to make it obvious)