Fed Baseball to Played in Skirts Next Year

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Betcha people were called sissies for wearing batting helmets. Should we ban batting helmets, or make them optional?

Bobby Layne called football players sissies for wearing face guards.

Jacques Plante got called a sissy for wearing a goalie mask.

Hockey players used to think it was sissy to wear a helmet. Should we let them take them off?

Heck, players got called sissies for using fielding gloves. The rules makers had to add the " may wear a glove" rules to declare it legal.

Come on, Rich - you know what I am getting at!
This isn't LL baseball anymore. Hell, if someone wants to wear a face shield, fine but don't mandate it!

[justanotherblue]

Baby boomers meddling again. If the incidence is less than one half of one percent or less as stated earlier, let the player decide. Statistically insignificant number IMHO. Is this becoming baby ball or baseball. If the FED wants to take a significant course of action, then increase the penalty for throwing at a batter when the head is involved. Say...five game suspension for the pitcher and three games for the coach. And let me warn both benches when warnings need to be given. If you can't tell the difference between a high hard fastball with intent or a poorly thrown curveball, you shouldn't be doing that level.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

Baby boomers meddling again.

I'm not sure my generation is responsible for this. I would more likely suspect Gen Xers, or whatever the generation that invented this "Time Out" crap as a deterrent to child misbehavior. It's the modern free-to-be-you-and-me-hug-a-tree-Cumbaya-singing-Volvo-driving-soccer-mom, and as Denny Crane would say, "mamby-pamby" bunch that is responsible for this movement.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Come on, Rich - you know what I am getting at!
This isn't LL baseball anymore. Hell, if someone wants to wear a face shield, fine but don't mandate it!

So FED adds a rule (or ruling) that ALLOWS the use of face guards and somehow it becomes a rumor that it's going to be mandated - and everyone goes nuts.

[Dave Hensley]

Not everyone.

[SAump]

They play baseball in Japan with a rubber version of our baseball. It is the closest thing we have to a real (simulated) synthetic baseball. It is cheaper by the dozen and it doesn't deteriorate as quickly as a rawhide covered baseball. Saving a school some money is a factor.

The main reason it is used to play high school baseball in Japan is safety. Ever heard of a Japanese baseball breaking a car windshield? Young pitchers develop effectively because they are not encourage to throw curveballs. Talk about saving some money on real baseball medical bills. The focus is were it is suppose to be, on their young arms and fundamentals of the game. After high school, the kids make the switch over to the real thing. There is no emotional debate over the safety of metal or wood bats over there.

Is FED consider more expensive helmet/facemask requirements without first considering the adoption of a rubber baseball? They never blink an eye wasting money on the wrong equipment. Has anyone ever been killed by a rubber baseball? That fact alone makes owning the new $50 allstar 2200 pitcher's titanium helmet/mask combo a rather silly idea. They seem to be ignoring the real scientific evidence. I guess borrowing a good Japanese idea isn't very popular either. Lah me, toy-ota.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I have an idea! Why not dress up all NHFS baseball players like NHFS football players! Now no one gets hurt because there are pads everywhere. The full helmet can either have a plastic shield or for added protection, a full cage like a line backer! Don't forget those cups - another mandatory item! Oh yes, steel toe cleats so we don't hurt our little footsies! Of course, sliding will be better wearing an a$$ pad, won't it.

What are we coming to? Is this baseball or sissy-ball?

I agree. As umpires, we need to model the behavior we advocate. No more sissy face masks. Dump the chest protectors. Shinguards? Hah, I laugh at your shinguards. Oh, and sandals should do just fine.

To really drive the point home, I disabled my airbags and ripped out my seatbelts. The next time I go skydiving, no helmet or reserve chute for me. I ain't no sissy!

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Don't make promises you can't keep, but I digress.

I have worked a game with a lad who actually wore the helmet with the mask at the plate and in the field. He had surgery from an automobile accident to his mouth and jaw area. He and his doctor felt it was best that he protect the healing by doing this very thing. The lad said it felt a little funny at first in the field, but he got used to it rather quickly. He was a very fine shortstop to say the least.

Paul,

I have no side to take in the debate over mandating safety equipment. I really don't care at this point.

I simply think it's stupid the way people are drawn to attack someone's manhood or courage because they may believe that protection against injury may be worth some inconvenience.

If you want to attack the idea, then do it with facts and figures, not bravado and testosterone.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I was agreeing with you. I pointed out the fact that a player could very well wear a helmet with a mask on it and play quite well without it being a hindrance.

I meant no offense. I was referring to a universal "you" rather than a personal "you." I should have used the term "one."

[LMan]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I agree. As umpires, we need to model the behavior we advocate. No more sissy face masks. Dump the chest protectors. Shinguards? Hah, I laugh at your shinguards. Oh, and sandals should do just fine.

I think Uxley could do that today and never notice the difference.

[PeteBooth]

[

QUOTE=jkumpire]Now that I have your attention.....

I overheard some conversation that FED will be mandating face protectors for HS batting helmets next year. Is this not a revolting development? We might as well start playing wiffle bal. l

THESE BOYS ARE NOT PLAYING FP SOFTBALL.

If you have heard this to be true, then by all means talk to your state association and the FED today, this is just bad, bad, bad IMO.

Comments?

[/QUOTE]

We are umpires who are asked to administer the rules according to the leagues we service.

Who cares if a state mandates the use of face protectors or not. Will it change how we umpire? Will the games last longer because of this new change?

Therefore, how is this just bad, bad, bad

IMO, it's no different than any other change the FED put in place. Ie; the FPSR, bat restrictions, etc.

IMO, the only ones who should care are the players that will have to wear them as it might effect them hitting but that awaits to be seen.

As far as I am concerned, it might add an extra couple of minutes when checking equipment because we will probably have to make certain that the face protector has the proper LOGO etc. on it. If it's part of a "combo" then it will probably not add any extra time checking equipment. Other than that it's play ball.

If the FED put in some kind of rule/regulation that added an extra 1/2 hour to the game then I would care.

Pete Booth

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

We are umpires who are asked to administer the rules according to the leagues we service.

Who cares if a state mandates the use of face protectors or not. Will it change how we umpire? Will the games last longer because of this new change?

Therefore, how is this just bad, bad, bad

IMO, it's no different than any other change the FED put in place. Ie; the FPSR, bat restrictions, etc.

IMO, the only ones who should care are the players that will have to wear them as it might effect them hitting but that awaits to be seen.

As far as I am concerned, it might add an extra couple of minutes when checking equipment because we will probably have to make certain that the face protector has the proper LOGO etc. on it. If it's part of a "combo" then it will probably not add any extra time checking equipment. Other than that it's play ball.

If the FED put in some kind of rule/regulation that added an extra 1/2 hour to the game then I would care.

Pete Booth

It's concern for the game in general, Pete, not just caring about what personally affects us.