Foul Ball (not tips) Concussions
 

Interesting article here on the Giants catcher Mike Matheny. Seems he took too many foul balls (not foul tips damn it!) and now is suffering the continuing affects of a concussion.

What is more interesting is that he was wearing a HSM and the Giants organization thought that the HSM might be the reason. Of course I saw the plate umpire in the Boston/NY series (i think) take a broken bat to the side of the head. No protection with his traditional mask. Sal Fasano took Ramirez's bat off his noggin today as well. Luckily he was wearing a helmet.

And don't take this as me trying to change anyone's mind to go to the HSM. Do what you want, I don't care... The post was more about the concussions and what I thought was a good article. But with the two incidences I saw in the past couple days, I wanted to note that the HSM protects you no better than a mask from foul balls but will help with the bats...

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

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...

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.

You are using anecdotal information to draw a conclusion. Now that might work for you, but it does not mean that your conclusion is true or based on facts. In order to come to a scientific conclusion you need hundreds if not thousands of samples to draw such a conclusion.

It is fine to feel safer in a helmet. In the 10 years of umpiring and the hundreds of games I have done over my career, I have never been hurt like the umpire was on TV and I have never seen anyone get hurt with a mask. I think it comes down to what you feel. But until there is a comprehensive study, there is continued to be debate about what is safer or better to use.

Peace

Jeff,

Have you ever had three 90+ direct hits over a two day span? If so, what were the short and long term results?

It's a well know fact that head injuries aquired over a short span are cumlative (IE: three hits in a short span tend to cause more injury than three hits over a season).

Testing I have seen (Internal testing by a local manufacturer here in SoCal) between the HSM & regular mask indicate:

1. Direct hits have very similar results. Louder to wearer in the HSM.
2. Glancing hits are deflected somewhat better by the HSM

IMO the main reason to switch are view & side/top/rear protection. In many youth and HS fields the backstop is very close to the plate, resulting in an umpire potentially taking shots to the these areas.

And that was kinda my point in posting the article. Umpires need to be aware of multiple shots coming off the mask in close proximity, time wise. It can happen and one should be aware the concussion warning signs. Don't get all macho and ignore them.

The HSM stuff is secondary. Both types of masks offer similar impact protection from straight on balls. Past that, it's basically personal preference. I've just seen, heard of and had enough balls/bats come in contact with unprotected head areas that I wear a HSM. Your mileage may vary...

How about 6 times in one game?

That answers a few questions .... :eek:

Oh man, you beat me to it.:)

I do not think I have been hit that many times in a week span. Not sure what this is going to prove.

If you love the mask wear it. If it makes you feel safer, wear the mask. I just do not see the point of the question. It is not like what my answer is going to change anyone's mind (which I am not trying to do).

Peace

Another classic from our resident nihilist.

Indeed. ;)

Not cold enough for HSM
 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

We are all just Dust in the Wind (tm).

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.

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

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

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! :rolleyes:

Is that what happened to all my hair...:confused: :eek: :D

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

Bob

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

Jeff, you know I really try to believe that you are not as dumb as you act sometimes and then you come back with this.

For the record, I did not call you any names in my previous post. I asked you a question. That question has now been answered and I am now absolutely calling you an idiot. At least now you can be offended for the right reason. It's rare that I "name call" but I am making an exception in this case.

You are either a troll or an idiot incapable of having a legitimate argument based on facts.

I already stated in a previous post that HSM vs traditional masks are about equal when it comes to protecting against a concussion. The two firms hired by the Giants organization say as much. I could get into the minutiae of looking at the test data but I trust that with the amount of money a major league club has both at stake and to spend, that the two independent tests, which both reach the same conclusion, are accurate.

It should have been obvious that we are talking about HSM being safer because they cover the entire head. Bats and ball can and have hit the head in places that traditional masks do not protect. Additionally, I remember someone relaying a story about a traditional mask spinning around after a foul ball and giving a cut requiring four stitches. Granted a somewhat freak occurence, but it happened.

A HSM protects more of the head, period. It is safer for that reason. Do or don't wear one, I don't give a flying farg, but get you facts straight! Jeez!

More to the point, we need to be aware that whatever mask we wear (as they both protect equally well in this case), we can be subject to a concussion from multiple blows. That was my original point.

When abbreviating, the singular or plural are abbreviated the same way. That is why you go 60 mph, not 60 m'sph. ;)

That is why technically it is RBI.

May I suggest Decaf?
 

If this is not name calling, I do not know what is.

Are you saying that the entire medical community has signed off on these studies? Are you telling me that everyone from the medical profession agrees with the methodology of the studies and there are no further studies that need to be done? These are simple questions, not understanding why these are hard to understand. There are medical professionals that cannot agree on the effects of Steroids and the heath effects on the body, now you want me to believe that a club doing a study changes the amount of disagreement out there on causes and solutions of concussions?

Concussions are more than likely come about when your brain hits the walls of your skull during some kind of head trauma. This is why you see football players with concussions a lot mainly because they are hit with such force, there body is jolted. Many times they come about in football not as a result of the actual hitting of the head, but the way their brain moves forcefully in different directions.

So what you are telling me know is you are a medical doctor or a physicist and that is the conclusion all doctors will come to only because the head is protected. Aren't football players heads completely covered too? Why was Troy Aikman getting concussions every other week at the end of his career? You are talking about facts, but simply having your head covered does not elude you from having a concussion. I was only asking a question so to get clarification if all these factors have been explored. I am also sure all helmets are not made the same. I know all football all helmets are not the same and there are no conclusive evidence as to which helmet works and why. If that was the case I am sure only certain kinds of helmets would be made legal and others would be considered illegal. As a typical internet umpire you took my comments and ran with them. I would ask any doctor the very same questions I am asking you. To me you are WAAAAAAYYYYYYY too emotional about this issue. You claim their are facts and I bet if I went to a neurologist or some kind of brain specialist they might not be so quick to say what you are saying here about helmet safety.

Dude, wear the damn helmet. I am sure you are not going to change the minds of many people.

Peace

Jeff, I actually said I was calling you a name and you say, if this isn't name calling, I don't know what is... What?!?

I believe you are trolling but let's try this one more time. The medical community doesn't have to sign off on anything. We are not talking about concussions. We are talking about the ability of two different protective mask designs to resist, deflect, absorb or do anything but not transfer energy to the head. This is a very measurable effect. Something transfers energy or it doesn't. If it does, how much? You place sensors at various points and hit the maks from all directions. You get quantifiable data as a result and you can determine with scientific accuracy how well a mask protects from the force of a baseball hitting it.

The whole process is not nearly as hard as you make it out to be. Biomechanical engineers, et al. have been crash testing cars for years and have gotten very good at figuring out how to make crash dummies replicate almost exactly how the human body responds to various types of impacts. I feel confident in saying this as the National Geographic Channel just aired a special detailing the various types of impacts that different martial artists can deliver. They hired crash test experts (biomechanical engineers and the like) to run their tests. They do impact measuring for a living, every day, and can accurately measure exactly how the human body reacts to impact, whether it be from an automobile or fist, elbow, knee, etc. Measuring a baseball hitting a mask from various angles at various speeds would be right up their alley and just wouldn't be that damn hard to figure out.

Now I am NOT saying that we understand exactly why people get concussions or why they affect some and not others. But we can measure the kind of forces delivered and we can compare how those forces would be withstood by different types of masks. That part isn't hard.

The fact that two independent labs said that the traditional mask and the hockey style mask have roughly the same protective qualities in terms of baseballs hitting them means that the tests are confirmed and reproduceable. We know exactly what kinds of forces the helmets/masks will withstand and how much force will be transferred to the head. What happens after that is not so certain in terms of how concussions happen, their effects short term vs. long, etc.

More to the point, a HSM covers more of the head. If a ball hits the back of an unprotected head, your gonna get hurt. If a broken bat hits you upside your unprotected head, you will get hurt. If you have an HSM and those things happen, in the same way, you likely suffer nothing more than you would if you got tagged with a foul ball while behind the plate, maybe less. Ergo, the HSM is safer.

That's all I'm saying Jeff, the HSM is a helmet designed to protect from impact. Take a foul ball straight back with either a traditional mask or an HSM and you will be protected in relatively the same way. How much that hit effects you is certainly debatable, but the transfer of energy will be roughly the same with either one. And it is entirely measureable.

Getting hit anywhere in the head but in the front is not that common an occurence. But if it happens, you will not be protected with a traditional mask. It is a relatively minor risk statistically speaking, so I completely understand umpires not rushing to wear HSM. But if that statistically minor chance happens to you, it isn't so minor. Depending on where you work, the chances might increase and so for some of us, we choose to wear an HSM (their are other reasons, but whatever).

As I said before, I am not trying to convert you. I just like a good discussion and I want the facts straight. You are under this delusion that we can't quantify the differences between the protective qualities of the two styles of masks. It just ain't so. We can and we have. Straight on hits, both styles offer the same protection. In the less likely event that you get hit some where else on your head (that is to say, the side, top or back) you are still protected with an HSM and not protected with a traditional mask.

Capiche?

Remember you started this thread. From what I understand this was not a hot topic of conversation outside of the "Mask vs. Helmet" discussion that has been had several times on this board. These discussions never change anyone's mind or changes. Obviously this is a very emotional discussion for you.

What does this have to do with baseball and the likelihood of concussions?

Wait a minute; you had all the facts right? :rolleyes:

You obviously do not know much about studies. Usually you need more that two studies and the studies have to use the correct methodology.

You are? Wow, considering I saw a guy get hit on the top of the head with a pitched baseball, he continued the game and had no affects from the baseball.

You are right you have all the answers in front of you.

Once again, you know.

I did not say we could not quantify data. This shows that this is a very emotional thing for you. You sound like you are going to get on a tower and start shooting people because they do not believe in your way of thinking. Relax man, it will be OK.

Peace

I can say with a high level of confidence if he climbs up on a tower and starts shooting people, it won't be because people don't believe in his way of thinking. It will because of you. You will have driven him to madness.

If a discussion on a message board is going to do that, he needs to stop umpiring. :D

Peace

Or at least posting on umpiring forums.:)

If anyone gets mad over to use a helmet or not (when they created the thread) they needed to stop posting along time ago. ;)

Peace

HSM aside... it's story time.

At an Umpire Development Clinic we held a couple years ago, one of our new umps showed up ready to work the plate. Here's a rundown of his equipment:
1. Mask
2. Chest protector
3. shins
4. cup
5. Plate shoes
6. That little plastic insert from +POS to put in your hats to keep them from getting crushed in your bag. He thought it was a hidden skull cap special for umpires but said he had to send it back for a bigger size!:D


I almost pi$$ed my pants I laughed so hard!

Jeff,
you are a troll. If you can't make your point with logic and a well thought out, well constructed argument, you change the subject, start talking about emotions or changing someones mind or just make flip comments about having all the facts.

Let me put this too you bluntly Jeff, where whatever you want. I was trying to have a good discussion, but it is obvious you can't. Your lame argument/logic (if there really was one) and obvious zig zag, shuck and jive two step act isn't fooling anyone.

The two things about this that make me sad are that I actually believed you could have an honest open discussion about this and that WWTB has been right all along... too bad really, cause I didn't want to believe it.

(slowly closes eyes and shakes head)

What was the reason you posted this again?

This is how it works. When you create a thread no matter what the topic, it opens the possibility that people will comment on them. You might read posts you like. You might read posts you do not like. Then it is up to you respond or keep the thread.

This is how it has worked from the beginning of this board and long before you got here. It is not going to change overnight. So when you do not read something you like, you have some choices to make.

This ends the lesson for today.

Peace

ROTFLMFAO

Whatever you say Jeff....

The two step continues....

Yes. :eek:

Peace

I would like to hear more of the study about catchers who keep injuring their throwing hands catching foul tips with the bare hand.

I would like to know how many players look in the sun and get hit on the head with the ball, and then get concussions as a result.

Peace

Jeff,

It's OK, you can let go now.