Video: OTL – MLB Efforts To Protect Pitchers On The Mound

6 comments

1. 

   Stick

   2/22/2013-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   Just tell them to duck. What else can you possibly do? foam bats? SPonge balls? A permanent L screen in front of the mound?

   maybe later from home I will try to watch the video. I suppose that would make sense before getting all riled up about it!

   1. 

      TRS86

      2/22/2013-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)

      Reply

      Seemed to be much more about throwing some gruesome pictures out there for shock value than an actual quality video discussing solutions.

2. 

   srt

   2/22/2013-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)

   Reply

   I didn’t know Chris Young got hit in the face by a Pujols line drive. Ouch..that looked painful.

   The padded caps they’re suggesting wouldn’t have helped Young with his injury. Nothing short of a face mask would – but I can’t see that ever happening.

   1. 

      HobokenMetsFan

      2/22/2013-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)

      Reply

      I could see the possible introduction of a face mask way down the road.

      All its going to take is one or two bad high profile injuries (god forbid) and it’ll get the ball rolling, especially with football taking a good deal of heat over the concussion issues and such.

      People are getting bigger and faster and stronger due to better foods, healthcare, etc., and as such the sport will only get faster.

      I’m not advocating one way or another, but I could definitely see a case being made (again, down the road) for players to wear helmets in the field and for pitchers to have protective head gear. Especially since a lot of kids in little league now wear those chest protector things to protect the heart.

      1. 

         Stick

         2/22/2013-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)

         Reply

         could happen for the pitcher (some kind of light helmet/shield) but you know they will fight it tooth and nail. I can also see it being a functional issue for a pitcher (being able to see what it going on).

         though maybe Olerud was a man ahead of his time!

      2. 

         gategem

         2/22/2013-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)

         Reply

         Goal tenders in the NHL don’t seem to have problems following a puck with their masks so perhaps they could introduce similar type masks in baseball. I don’t think it will be well received. The players will view it as an attack on their manhood or some such silly viewpoint.