Ayami Sato is considered by many to be the best female baseball player in the world. The Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League announced in December they had signed Sato to pitch for the Leafs, making her the first female player to play professional baseball in Canada.
The Toronto Maple Leafs home opener is May 11 at 2pm at Dominico Field at Christie Pits, and I was chatting with Maple Leafs manager and former Toronto Blue Jay Rob Butler about this game and his plans for Ayami Sato. Rob Butler opened up about an internal feud that has engulfed the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball club and has pit Butler against ownership.
Rob Butler insists Ayami Sato is ready to start for the Maple Leafs, and he wants to start her May 11th for the season opener. He's a true believer in the Japanese pitcher who has won three consecutive MVP awards in the Women's Baseball World Cup. "She's starting May 11, that's the reason we signed her, that's why she's here", Butler told me.
My job is to support the players and giving Sato the opportunity to open the season for us is me saying I believe in her and that the team of players is behind her 100 percent. And since I am the manager and I get to make these decisions, this is the one I’m making. Many women and girls dream of the chance to show there skills at a higher level and we are about to see it happen on opening day!
Owner Keith Stein vehemently disagrees, and doesn't think it's fair to Sato to start her on May 11. "This is fucking bullshit and I'm totally against this decision," Stein told me when I asked him to comment on Butler's story.
Toronto Mike
I'm told the two are not currently speaking, and Rob Butler is threatening to walk if Sato isn't permitted to start game one. I'll keep you posted as I learn more.
