MLB Looks to Protect Pitchers

[grunewar]

MLB looks to protect pitchers from line drives - ESPN

From the article:

MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green has been talking to companies about protective headgear for pitchers, Halem said. A report is on the agenda at baseball's winter meetings in December.

A cap liner with Kevlar, the high-impact material used by military, law enforcement and NFL players for body armor, is among the ideas under consideration.

[bob jenkins]

And FED has considered having all infielders wear helmets with face masks.

[DG]

I think I will see pitchers wearing helmets long after instant replay on almost anything is implemented. If they want to work on something they should elimininate malicious contact at the plate.

[ozzy6900]

Pitchers are going to always be in a bad position. You are 60' away, throwing 80+ mph, to an object that can reverse the direction at almost the same speed. You are a target and that is all there is to it.

So what do we want to do, suit up all the players in gear like football players? How is a pitcher going to pitch? How is a fielder going to have the dexterity do dive, roll and come up throwing if they are clad in protective suits?

We go through this every time someone gets hit with a baseball. It is part of the game and if you don't want to get hit, play in the outfield.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Pitchers are going to always be in a bad position. You are 60' away, throwing 80+ mph, to an object that can reverse the direction at almost the same speed. You are a target and that is all there is to it.

So what do we want to do, suit up all the players in gear like football players? How is a pitcher going to pitch? How is a fielder going to have the dexterity do dive, roll and come up throwing if they are clad in protective suits?

We go through this every time someone gets hit with a baseball. It is part of the game and if you don't want to get hit, play in the outfield.

Typical over-reaction. Stretch the point out to the absurd... and then ridicule the absurdity. No one is saying they need to be in protective suits. It's a mask. Catchers use them (and a little body armor too!) yet are not deemed incapable of moving or seeing. Umpires wear them and are still able to see. Why in the world would you think this would make it impossible for a pitcher to pitch?

[Adam]

I think having the infielders wear helmets and masks may be a bit overkill, but having the pitchers do it seems easy enough. I'm sure they would adjust quickly. Even having modified helmets, less than a batting helmet, for example, would be an improvement.

I would expect it to happen at the aluminum levels within a few years if they don't get rid of the bats themselves. MLB? I don't know.

I've always said players should take the field with whatever suit of armor they wear to the plate anyway, so it might be an improvement.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Umpires wear them and are still able to see.

That's never been the way I've heard it.

[Tim C]

"Something similar to what some softball players wear in the infield would work at a minimum"

Of course, lets change the game into the game as played by little girls.

T

[briancurtin]

Kevlar lined hats will be helpful when pitchers start taking gun fire or someone charges the mound with a knife. That's about it.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Of course, lets change the game into the game as played by little girls.

T

Amen

[RPatrino]

I didn't know that about John, Sam!

I am just getting my gear inventoried and brought out of storage. I would have loved to do fall ball.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Of course, lets change the game into the game as played by little girls.

You obviously don't do a lot of softball, hey Tim?

I umpired an 18U Gold National qualifier this summer, doing the plate for the loser's bracket final. There was nothing "little" about those girls.

That said, I do think it's ridiculous to consider making it mandatory for FED baseball infielders to wear masks. That's not even mandatory in girls softball at any level.

[nopachunts]

But in softball you see some girls wearing face protectors in the infield at almost all ages. I haven't seen any type of head protection at almost any level of baseball other than John Olerud. I hope I spelled his name right.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by nopachunts

But in softball you see some girls wearing face protectors in the infield at almost all ages. I haven't seen any type of head protection at almost any level of baseball other than John Olerud. I hope I spelled his name right.

And he wore it because he had already had a brain aneurysm - not because he was afraid just out of the blue.

[john5396]

NHL went through this a couple of times, first requiring helments for all players, then several years later adding required facemasks.

Once a change is made requiring a head protector of some sort for the pitcher, within a year or two fans/players will be saying "what was the big deal".

A protective headgear for pitchers at all levels will not significantly change the game, but will save a few young men a year (including NFHS/NCAA/Pro) from a life altering injury.

I see no reason to object to protective headgear for pitchers.