MLB Pitchers to Wear Protective Headgear in 2014

[grunewar]

MLB pitchers to wear protective headgear in 2014 | For The Win

"There’s really just no good reason not to protect pitchers’ heads if it doesn’t affect the game in any other way."

[ozzy6900]

S I G H !!!!! We may as well close the parks because someone is going to get hurt, somewhere.... either on the field or the stands. Lord knows, we can't have any more injuries for one reason or another, so why even bother playing the damn game anymore? Maybe I should turn back all of my games because someone (or even me) might get hurt. The sport is finished!

[Welpe]

I love McCarthy's tweet about the whole thing.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

S I G H !!!!! We may as well close the parks because someone is going to get hurt, somewhere.... either on the field or the stands. Lord knows, we can't have any more injuries for one reason or another, so why even bother playing the damn game anymore? Maybe I should turn back all of my games because someone (or even me) might get hurt. The sport is finished!

Geez, Oz... why would you be opposed to this at all. It's not like they are mandating it - they're just allowing it.

[Manny A]

Just out of curiosity, because I don't have any copies of the latest OBR authoritative interpretations, but was there ever anything written that prohibited MLB pitchers from wearing protective headgear in the past?

Remember John Olerud? He wore a helmet on defense, similar to the ones base coaches today wear, to provide protection after he suffered an head injury of some sort. Did he need a special authorization to do that? Or can anybody wear such a helmet, including pitchers, on their own without the need for a new rule?

Seems to me this is a lot ado about nothing, unless there were prohibitions prior to this edict.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Geez, Oz... why would you be opposed to this at all. It's not like they are mandating it - they're just allowing it.

Only a matter of time, MD.... only a matter of time.

[maven]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Only a matter of time, MD.... only a matter of time.

Yeah, and sports just lose all of their entertainment value unless someone is at risk of potentially lethal brain trauma.

[kylejt]

It'll be interesting to see how LL reacts to something like this. Although, their knee-jerk time usually lags by about 10 years. Plus, they never did mandate helmets for adult base coaches, which was a total, IMO, overreaction by MLB.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by maven

Yeah, and sports just lose all of their entertainment value unless someone is at risk of potentially lethal brain trauma.

Stop being a rectal orifice. We are talking about a game where a round object traveling at 80 mph +, being hit by a stick being swung between 45 to 55 mph (in the opposite direction). Human beings diving, sliding and running. Someone is going to get hurt no matter what you do! People play this game because they want to, no one is forcing them to be in this position.

[kylejt]

Easy now, everyone. No need to get excited.

All sports have evolved over the years, and this may, or may not stick. I'm sure there were plenty of football players that thought rigid, non-leather helmets were for wimps, and took away from the game. And I'm sure the first guy to wear a cup was chastise by his manly pals.

I do think the headline should read:


MLB Pitchers will be allowed to Wear Protective Headgear in 2014

Oh, when my Dad raced stock cars, seat belts had just become mandatory, buy not helmets. One arm cocked in the window frame, and a white t-shirt were standard. a cigarette or toothpick was optional.

[grunewar]

MLB approves protective caps; Brandon McCarthy won't wear it

[Publius]

Originally Posted by kylejt

...their knee-jerk time usually lags by about 10 years...

Say again?

[CT1]

I believe FED had an interp a while back that pitchers could wear helmets if they weren't so shiny that they caused problems for the batter.

ETA: Actually, it's a codified rule, 1-5-5. Any defensive player may wear a non-glare protective helmet.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by CT1

I believe FED had an interp a while back that pitchers could wear helmets if they weren't so shiny that they caused problems for the batter.

For many years. Also would be generally allowed under OBR and NCAA.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by grunewar

MLB approves protective caps; Brandon McCarthy won't wear it

He's not the only one that won't wear it, a lot of MLB pitchers have voiced their negative opinion about these caps.