Nicasio broken neck
 

Rockies' Juan Nicasio has surgery to repair broken neck - The Denver Post

There had been a discussion on when to call time for an injured player. On replay, the ball bounded toward the on deck area and was fielded by the catcher and the runner made it easily to first. It looked like he was rendered immediate attention, with no delay from the course of play. Horrific injury, one wonders if he'll ever pitch again after a C-1 fracture/repair.

I notice that the umpires, appropriately, called time at the end of play.

The first trainers / etc to leave the dugout didn't do so until the runner neared (or was at) first. That's as far as he was going to go on that play, in MLB. So, time was called (after the runner reached first, after the trainer was on the field).

As I've said, in upper level baseball, the players will take the "value" of the hit, and time will be called and no one will be penalized for starting out of the dugout a step or two early (and maybe farther if they don't interfere with play).

Quite true. The first I instinct of the catcher was to field the ball and F3 to cover the bag. PU seemed to have his attention focused on the injured player.

Last time someone in pro baseball got a high-profile devastating injury after being struck in the neck with a batted ball, helmets were mandated for those occupying that position.

I wonder if they'll overreact again.

Two years ago, Mark, Jr., and I were umpiring a boys' 12U game (80 ft bases) that played under OBR. Junior was the PU and I was the BU. The Batter hit a line shot back to the Pitcher that hit him on his forehead bounced into foul territory between HP and 3B on the fly. F1 hit the ground before the ball hit the ground in foul territory. We both called Time simultaneously and awarded all of the Runners one base. IMHO it really doesn't matter what age the players are, in this type play, play should be stopped immediately.

MTD, Sr.

That looks terrible. :(

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | WSH@COL: Nicasio leaves the game after getting hit - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

By the replay, he was struck at :09, batter reached first at :13 and a trainer was at his side at :19, ten seconds after he went down. It's hard to see how they could have gotten there quicker. If his larynx was crushed and he needed an emergency tracheostomy, it probably would have been done more quickly there than on any Little League field. I agree with your comment in principle, and most certainly at amateur levels. It is just hard to see how it would help much at the MLB level. In this case, it might have gained 3 or 4 seconds. BU the EMT personnel are at least 5 to 10 minutes closer.

An article says the C-1 fracture (the one that happens when diving into a shallow pool) probably happened when he dropped right down on top of his head. The impact of the ball caused a skull fracture, but that was the lesser injury.

Just Cuious
 

To the people who think MLB might overreact, what could MLB do in this case? Mandate hard helmets for F1's?

Anything else dramatically changes the game forever, right?

Are you referring to base coaches? I have always thought that was a good decision.

CNNSI.com - 2001 MLB All-Star - Lasorda plunked by Guerrero's broken bat - Wednesday July 11, 2001 01:57 AM

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Wilson Pro Hard Shell Base Umpire Cap: Ump Attire

The helmets being worn would not have prevented the injury that led to the requirement to wear helmets.

You are becoming ridiculous. Do you stay awake nights thinking of this crap and timing videos? Believe me, you are not impressive by a long shot!

I was being a tad sarcastic, as a helmet would not have helped Lasorda either. Ha. But, I was under the impression that a single-A coach was hit in the head by a foul a few years back. Is this why they now wear them in A - MLB?

He was hit in the neck, not the head.

The helmets that are now mandatory would have done nothing to prevent or ameliorate the base coach's injury.

JM

Yes, Mike Coolbaugh, Double A Tulsa

Coolbaugh, 35, dies after being struck by ball - Minor Leagues - ESPN

This was the incident involving a base coach.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3100278

As already noted, he was struck in the neck - the helmet probably would not have helped.

Bob and JM,
"Neck" sounds like nowhere near the head, but the preliminary autopsy (which I can no longer find a copy of) said that he was struck about 1/2 inch behind and below the left ear, causing a rupture of a blood vessel near the brain. It is hard to say if a helmet would have helped or hurt, but very likely a helmet would have changed the nature of the impact.

From the AP report:
A preliminary autopsy report shows that a burst blood vessel in Mike Coolbaugh's neck, near his brain, killed the Tulsa Drillers hitting coach when he was hit by a batted ball on Sunday.

"It hit him in the back of the left side of his neck, kind of right below the ear," Pulaski County coroner Mark Malcolm said.

The ball compressed the left vertebral artery, which travels up the left side of the spinal column and provides blood to the brain. The artery compressed against the vertebra at the top of his spine, right at the base of the skull, and a hemorrhage was the result, Malcolm said.

Malcolm said the full autopsy report has not yet been completed. He would not address whether a helmet would have saved Coolbaugh or whether, in general, a helmet could provide protection from a similarly batted ball.

Dave,

Base coaches wear helmets that do not have ear protection and provide virtually zero protection below the temples.

http://multimedia.detnews.com/pix/sp...gs-BJs-348.jpg

JM

I may be mistaken but the Coach Helmet Rule adopted at the General Manager's Meeting a few years ago allows helmets with or without flap(s) to be worn. I don't see anything wrong with a coach protecting his plate side ear with a flap. If a runner is expected to be able to hear his coaches while wearing one then Bowa and the others who hate having to wear it have no reason to cry foul. I remember one coach saying that wearing his helmet was uncomfortable and he couldn't chew gum because it kept popping up when he did. Sheesh.