Foul Ball (not tips) Concussions

[JRutledge]

How can you come to that conclusion? If the Giants feel the HSM caused a concussion, not sure that is a good thing. I would rather have a mark on my face then a concussion.

Peace

[Kaliix]

Did you fail to read the "two testing centers determined that the masks offer similar protection" part of the story. HSM are similar to traditional masks in protection from foul balls, at least straight on. The obvious indisputable part is that they offer protection on the top and sides unlike traditional masks.

I feel bad for Matheny and I thought the article to be a good read...

[SAump]

Originally Posted by Kaliix

Did you fail to read the "two testing centers determined that the masks offer similar protection" part of the story. HSM are similar to traditional masks in protection from foul balls, at least straight on. The obvious indisputable part is that they offer protection on the top and sides unlike traditional masks.

I feel bad for Matheny and I thought the article to be a good read...

If both masks offer the same quality of protection, then there is no reason to wear a HSM. Put it away and wear BASEBALL equipment.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by SAump

If both masks offer the same quality of protection, then there is no reason to wear a HSM. Put it away and wear BASEBALL equipment.

SA,

I disagree. There are many HS & youth fields where the backstop more or less encloses the plate area. Lot's of baseballs bouncing around that come back with sufficient velocity to hurt.

An HSM easily makes soem sense in that situation.

[bluezebra]

Foul Ball (not tips) Concussions

There is absolutely no way a catcher can get a concussion from a foul tip. The only injury would be if he caught the ball with his bare hand.

Bob

[Kaliix]

Yeah I know. That was in reference to the article constantly referring to foul balls as foul tips.

Kinda like when baseball announcers call them RBI's. It just irks me. It is not Runs Batted Ins!

Originally Posted by bluezebra

Foul Ball (not tips) Concussions

There is absolutely no way a catcher can get a concussion from a foul tip. The only injury would be if he caught the ball with his bare hand.

Bob

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by Kaliix

Yeah I know. That was in reference to the article constantly referring to foul balls as foul tips.

Kinda like when baseball announcers call them RBI's. It just irks me. It is not Runs Batted Ins!

When using the initials, RBIs is proper. Try saying RsBI.

Bob

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by SAump

If both masks offer the same quality of protection, then there is no reason to wear a HSM. Put it away and wear BASEBALL equipment.

I think you are too hung up on the H in HSM. They are only "styled" after hockey goalie masks, not actually hockey goalie masks. If they were hockey masks, you would not have the wide opening in front of the eyes, there would be bars there, as a hockey puck would get right through otherwise.

Should we tell all the catchers who have switched to helmets to put theirs away and go back to the cap and mask?

I may wear a cap and mask again, but I sure like my helmet when working the rec center style wraparound backstops, where getting hit by fast rebounds in the back of the head are commonplace, not rare.

[Kaliix]

Again, another discussion on HSM was not my point. Your statement, however begs the question, did you read the "The obvious indisputable part is that they (HSM) offer protection on the top and sides unlike traditional masks" part.

I don't mind a discussion but get the facts right.

Originally Posted by SAump

If both masks offer the same quality of protection, then there is no reason to wear a HSM. Put it away and wear BASEBALL equipment.

[kylejt]

I got a concussion after two foul balls in one inning wearing a +POS SUL mask.

For me, the helmets are too loud. Loud when you get hit, but really loud when I make my calls. I now only use it when I work with a backstop that goes over my head. If you've ever taken a ball off the button on the top of your hat, you'd understand.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Kaliix

Again, another discussion on HSM was not my point. Your statement, however begs the question, did you read the "The obvious indisputable part is that they (HSM) offer protection on the top and sides unlike traditional masks" part.

I don't mind a discussion but get the facts right.

Whether or not there is a piece of plastic does not automatically make the helmet safer.

You said this was not about the helmet vs. mask debate, but every post you are defending the use of a helmet and claiming the helmet is safer. Sounds like you are trying to have the debate from where I am standing.

Peace

[Kaliix]

I really wasn't trying to make this a debate about the HSM vs traditional masks as anyone who has been paying attention to the previous threads will know that most minds are not going to be changed on this issue. I was only responding to those who chose to ignore some blatantly obvious facts.

That being said, Jeff are you some kind of idiot? The masks that umpires wear that are styled after hockey goalie masks are designed to provide protection from the impact of objects at high speeds, baseballs at 70 to 100 mph depending on the level of ball, or bats. Calling the material it is made out of plastic is a bit disingenuous, as my materials college instructor would say, because there are literally thousands of different kinds of plastic, all with varying capabilities in regards to a multitude of material characteristics.

The plastic, as you call it, is specifically designed for maximum impact protection. It has "plastic" foam padding behind specifically designed to disperse and absorb impact. Said plastic covers the entire head, unlike a traditional mask which only gives protection to the front of the head.

While you may not like HSM, and that is absolutely fine by me, I refuse to let you or others spread untruths about them, because I am happy and satisfied user who sees the obvious addtional benefits from wearing them.

Stay with the traditional mask, but don't tell me that the HSM are not inherently safer. I saw the MLB umpire take a shattered bat against the side of his head last weekend. He absolutely would have been better protected had he been wearing a HSM. That fact that he wasn't is his personal preference and doesn't diminish his choice one bit. But facts are facts.

I've had balls come whizzing back by my head from short backstops and know that if they caught my noggin, I'd see stars and have a nice lump. So I choose to wear a HSM.

Please stay with your traditional mask. Just don't tell me the HSM's aren't safer because you are flat out wrong.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Whether or not there is a piece of plastic does not automatically make the helmet safer.

You said this was not about the helmet vs. mask debate, but every post you are defending the use of a helmet and claiming the helmet is safer. Sounds like you are trying to have the debate from where I am standing.

Peace

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by Kaliix

While you may not like HSM, and that is absolutely fine by me, I refuse to let you or others spread untruths about them, because I am happy and satisfied user who sees the obvious addtional benefits from wearing them.

I've heard that they cause male pattern baldness.... is this true?

[JRutledge]

I love how when people do not have a larger point, they have to start name calling because they cannot find the words to back up their point.

If you want to wear a mask, why would anyone but you care?

All I asked for was a comprehensive study or some kind of to back up your claim. Remember you are talking about concussions, not over all protection. All you have are a couple of stories and opinions. Now with my background you need some kind of study to back up the claims of the safety features of a helmet.

For the record I have done many games where I have been hit with a baseball around the 90 mph. I have had my masked knocked completely off. I have never received one concussion or had any ill effects from a ball or bat hitting the mask. It would be dumb to conclude that because "I" have not had any problems, others could not experience their own problems. I am also sure the type of mask used would be a factor. I am sure the padding would also be a factor and even the type of bars that the masks use. Guys get hurt in football all the time and there are no 90-100 mph balls flying at them. I am sure there are multiple factors as to why people get concussions and getting hit on the head with a bat. Helmet or no helmet the situations you described might still result in a concussion. It is called analytical thinking. I am not going to draw a conclusion based on some story that someone "believes" they were hurt because of wearing a certain kind of equipment. Any educated person can think of many facets that might cause a health problem.

It sounds to me like this helmet is like a new girlfriend that you found and you keep talking about her as if the rest of us cannot see her. We can come to our own conclusions as it if your woman is hot or not, we do not need you telling us all the time. You like the helmet, we get it already!!!

Peace

[d26]

Matheny thought it might be the helmet, not the Giants.

The sequence that may well be the last games he plays. Game 1, two hard hits. Took game 2 off, but passed medical tests. Returned for game 3 and took another hard shot and came out of game.

Laymen's guess is he had a more severe injury in game 1 which made the hit in game 3 even worse. The lingering effects are the scary part because they do not seem to be consistant with just one hit.

Personally, I wear a helmet because of field configuration. Have had one hard hit that made me have a headache, I now suspect a concussion. It was a direct center hit. Maybe a helmet style, being more flat in the cage, passes a little more force than a more rounded style. In my case, the ball returned directly forward, as Matheny's last hit did. Can't remember that happening with a mask...

Field configuration will keep me in a helmet.