Comments on: The Rays have a reliever in camp who is blind in one eye

By: IdahoMariner

IdahoMariner — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 06:02:28 +0000

so many awesome stories today. glad he is getting another chance.

By: FrustratedDolFan

FrustratedDolFan — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:24:18 +0000

OG I would rather have a player who is blind in one eye than an owner who is blind in both.

`
~Marlins Fan~

By: tampajoey

tampajoey — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:11:25 +0000

Rays magic can heal the handicapped.

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:44:34 +0000

I see what you did there.

By: mybrunoblog

mybrunoblog — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:26:52 +0000

It’s his body if he wants to risk his health that’s up to him not us.
Either way an interesting story. I’m gonna keep an eye on this guy.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:16:01 +0000

Nonsense. Depth perception in that kind of situation can be the difference between a close call and a dirt nap.

By: cur68

cur68 — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:07:39 +0000

I think Brandon McCarthy agrees with you.

By: flosox

flosox — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:45:55 +0000

I for one think its awesome! There are a lot of people with disabilities that don’t even try out of fear of failure or rejection. I think it sets a good model for others to follow.

And I’ll leave out the pirate jokes.

By: atwatercrushesokoye

atwatercrushesokoye — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:15:00 +0000

You must not have read the article, he’s still got one good eye….

By: tfbuckfutter

tfbuckfutter — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:35:20 +0000

I like to think when they initially devised this sport they planned on using a blind pitcher too and then after one pitch they were like “New plan!”

By: pdefor

pdefor — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:35:05 +0000

About ten years ago I was in a car accident and blinded in my left eye. I can operate very normally. I was driving again a month after the accident. I’ve worked next to people for years who have no idea that only one eye functions. The doctors explained to me that because your eyes are only a few inches apart, you only have true depth perception to about 50 feet. Everything beyond that relies on shading and your memory of how perspective should be.
With some practice, Sandoval should be just fine with normal fielding plays. I doubt he’d be more vulnerable to line drives than any other pitcher since they happen so fast. I’d think that batting would be very tough but obviously he’s in a much better position to tell if that’s the case.
I’ll root for him!

By: pdefor

pdefor — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:28:37 +0000

Any dangerous comebacker would be one with speed. One or two eyes, there wouldn’t be a difference.

By: tfbuckfutter

tfbuckfutter — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:57:47 +0000

If pitching doesn’t pan out he can always become an umpire.

By: cur68

cur68 — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:26:09 +0000

Two functional eyes do improve depth perception but you can function with one eye well enough to drive a car at speed, play most sports and basically live normally. Being a one eyed ball player might be a bit more chancy, though. A comeback shot might put an end to this pretty fast. Still, I like to think that if One Handed Jim Abbott could make it, then One Eyed Juan Sandoval can, too. I wish him luck.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:08:02 +0000

So far, perhaps. It only takes one incident. Like I said, I admire his spirit. But if there’s an accident, it’s going to be very bad.

By: sabatimus

sabatimus — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:45:01 +0000

Was Brandon Phillips physically equipped to deal with putting himself in the way of harm? Having two working eyes didn’t seem to matter that much for him.

By: philliesblow

philliesblow — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:12:38 +0000

Excellent point OG. Aren’t 2 eyes required for depth perception? A liner at his dome could spell big trouble.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:02:59 +0000

Yes, you can root for him – but sentimentality aside, should you really? You also have to hope that he doesn’t give up a line drive towards his head to the right of his limited visual field. I admire his determination and his spirit – but baseball remains a dangerous game, and he’s putting himself into the way of harm with which he’s no longer physically equipped to deal.

By: kirkvanhouten

kirkvanhouten — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:44:05 +0000

By: buckybadgair

buckybadgair — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:26:04 +0000

Thats perspective right there.