Is This Anything?

David Letterman used to have a bit on his show called “Is This Anything?” where he and Paul Schaffer would have to decide if some bizarre activity happening onstage constituted something, anything. I was reminded of all that when I read about the Marlins hiring Rachel Balkovec as their director of player development. Balkovec comes over from the Yankees, where she managed their Low-A ballclub the last two seasons. So, good for her, and I mean that. But I question this being any kind of “advance” for women in baseball. Why? Because the Marlins’ GM used to be Kim Ng, until she left, jumped, or was pushed out last October. The skeptic in me wonders, is Miami operating under some sort of informal quota, down a woman, hire a woman? Balkovec got a promotion, but the standing of women in the Marlins’ didn’t increase, now did it? Unless Miami has totally restructured its front office, the director of player personnel reports to the general manager, whether or not he’s called that or president of baseball operations. So, is this hire anything?