So, this story is really cool.

A female knuckleball pitcher from Japan will be playing for a minor league team in the United States.

Eri Yoshida, an 18-year-old pitcher who played pro ball in Japan last year, signed with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. The team said she will report to spring training next month.

I'll be honest.  I love, nay, adore, baseball.  But I'm a feminist, and, let's be honest: pro sports, and especially baseball, are still a boys club.  Maybe that's even part of why I love the game. (And, really, you don't have to be a dyed-in-the-wool feminist to think that there should be open doors, etc.) (And, don't worry, you don't have to explain to me that the exclusion of women from pro-ball is at least in part about physical ability than any deliberate sexism.)

But it's tough to explain to other feminists how I can be so nuts about a sport in which some dumbass will make incredibly stupid sexist comments if he *gasp* sees a woman in the dugout of a major league team.  Although, it helps to be able to point out that most of the guys around him will know that he's a dumbass and tell him so.

Anyway ... as always, I'm thrilled to see an opportunity for progress.  And you better believe that I will be pulling for Ms. Yoshida.  I hope to see her in the big show in a few years.  Whether I cheer for her if she finds herself pitching against my guys, though, is another question entirely.