Comments on: MLB to fast track head protection for pitchers

By: louised3o

louised3o — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:13:29 +0000

Hi all, I work at D3O impact protection… this is a really interesting topic for us. Our technology is used in body and hand protection for baseball players, but not currently in head protection. We have however been developing solutions for military helmets – maybe this could work for baseball too?

By: ultimatehitcoach

ultimatehitcoach — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:35:11 +0000

why not impress upon the over paid idiots that they do what they’re supposed to do: GET YOUR DAMN GLOVE UP IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE AFTER YOU RELEASE THE PITCH. MORON!

jesus christ. talk about stupidity to the nth degree. a pitcher who gets whacked on the face has ABSOLUTELY NO ONE TO BLAMES BUT HIS OWN STUPID SELF.

SINCE PITCHERS DON’T HAVE DESIGNATED FIELDERS (yet), YOU MUST PROTECT YOURSELF! PRETEND YOU’RE A REAL BASEBALL PLAYER AND FIELD YOUR POSITION. o my god .. just shoot me.

anyone who can’t remember this.. either give back some of your pay,OR MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TOPGRADE VEGETATIVE DISABILITY INSURANCE

By: avietar

avietar — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:50:08 +0000

A cap liner of Kevlar may stop a bullet, but without a rigid shell and some padding, it won’t be much use against a baseball going 130 miles per hour.

The problem is that such a liner would then be fairly bulky and heavy, and would probably fly off pitchers’ heads after every pitch. Then there’s the matter of the pitcher’s face, which is by far the biggest target for any line drive, and something that no cap liner will be able to protect.

We may see the day when pitchers start wearing catchers’ masks, and no one will know where home plate is…

By: phalatek6

phalatek6 — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:21:33 +0000

I feel like I should have read this article a while ago – like closer to Brandon McCarthy’s incident. Not that there isn’t merit to it, because there are all sorts of fantastic reasons to make a change to protect the pitchers, but I feel like this coming out now is more for PR (as more people were watching the Series than a late summer game) than it would have been following what happened earlier.

My full disclaimer is that they could have and I missed it, but I don’t remember any. I do hope for something to be done since there are usually a few pitchers hit every year. I’d hate to see anything else life threatening when things can be done.

By: lazlosother

lazlosother — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 02:59:05 +0000

Gee, it would be excellent if they were as serious about maple bats. Like maybe requiring the “Bat Glove”, a coating tested and shown not to affect the batted ball while preventing bat shards from impaling players and fans.

Until they actually do something about protection for pitchers I’m going to chalk it up to nothing more than lip service.

By: jaysjunkie

jaysjunkie — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 02:26:40 +0000

Although I don’t like a lot of changes to the game, this one is probably a good idea. MLB shouldn’t wait until a pitcher is killed before taking a proactive measure towards their safety. I’ll never forget the line drive Chris Carpenter took off the face in Chicago when he pitched for the Jays…maybe the scariest thing I’ve ever seen on a ball field.

By: hojo20

hojo20 — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 23:22:07 +0000

I’d like to see the IB & 3B coaches use ball gloves – They could catch liners instead of trying to dodge them.. Pitchers should wear a hard hat like Olerud.

By: indianbob

indianbob — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 22:33:21 +0000

How about the batting practice net!

By: cur68

cur68 — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 22:14:58 +0000

Leaving aside the whole “tragic injury” & “lifetime debilitation” stories, the investment protection angle couldn’t be stressed enough (because getting MLB to do something that isn’t about the bottom line can be chancy). Pitchers involve the investment of millions of dollars, especially good ones. Hell, yes protect them a bit more.

By: crnvic847

crnvic847 — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 21:06:46 +0000

Wouldn’t that make a great sound taking a ball to the nads with a cast iron cup!! Clink!!!

By: sailcat54

sailcat54 — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:28:24 +0000

Head protection for pitchers makes a lot of sense. The mound can be a dangerous place at times. A cast iron cup would be a good idea, too.

By: cephyn

cephyn — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:18:45 +0000

Kevlar seems relatively pointless. Why not d3o foam?

http://www.d3o.com/2012/01/d3o-beanies-for-skiers-and-snowboarders/