MLB Off-Topic

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So why isn't the netting there, then? I thought every MLB organization was consciously aware of this and have made best efforts to prevent this very thing.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So why isn't the netting there, then? I thought every MLB organization was consciously aware of this and have made best efforts to prevent this very thing.

That's the question everyone wants solved.

I don't see why people are so opposed to something that doesn't effect the game in any sort of negative way.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That's the question everyone wants solved.

I don't see why people are so opposed to something that doesn't effect the game in any sort of negative way.

I'm not asking in hopes that it will happen, I'm asking out of the idea that virtually every stadium extended their netting the past two offseasons. Why wasn't this child protected from it? They clearly knew they wanted to prevent this.

A long while back, we had a 100+ post thread about changing baseball rules, and not one individual spoke up about extended netting. The rules didn't apply to game-based things only, since I voted on things like bullpens out of the playing field in all new stadiums (safety issues actually being one of the reasons), and on top of that I even brought up the stadium netting at that time, sarcastically suggesting that we mount it throughout the ballpark!

https://forums.operationsports.com/f...post2041027738

It actually surprises me that more fans aren't injured by foul balls. With all of those arms reaching up, it could easily go right through all of them and nail someone in the dome. So when a fan dies, should I expect that there is going to be netting around the entire park? We might as well do it now to prevent such an incident.

No one had a thing to say about it. I was never quoted. It didn't seem like a good idea. Not sure what changed people's views on it. And this isn't a "toughness" debate for me, it's the experience I get as a fan. I say this selfishly, hoping that little girl is very okay in the long run. The only valid reasoning I've conjured is the broken bat flying in the stands situation, but I find it too rare to be value-effective.

This is my opinion, which I am allowed to have. I understand everyone else's differing opinion, but I'd like to be allowed to speak mine as well and not sound stupid in the process. After all, no one quoted me back when, so what changed? I'm legitimately curious. I'm the guy who still thinks helmets should be optional for base coaches (and if they all choose to wear them, yay for them).

By the way, the beginning of that quote of mine still stands. Nets or not, I'm surprised more people aren't hurt badly or killed by foul balls.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm not asking in hopes that it will happen, I'm asking out of the idea that virtually every stadium extended their netting the past two offseasons. Why wasn't this child protected from it? They clearly knew they wanted to prevent this.

A long while back, we had a 100+ post thread about changing baseball rules, and not one individual spoke up about extended netting. The rules didn't apply to game-based things only, since I voted on things like bullpens out of the playing field in all new stadiums (safety issues actually being one of the reasons), and on top of that I even brought up the stadium netting at that time, sarcastically suggesting that we mount it throughout the ballpark!

https://forums.operationsports.com/f...-one-rule.html



No one had a thing to say about it. I was never quoted. It didn't seem like a good idea. Not sure what changed people's views on it. And this isn't a "toughness" debate for me, it's the experience I get as a fan. I say this selfishly, hoping that little girl is very okay in the long run. The only valid reasoning I've conjured is the broken bat flying in the stands situation, but I find it too rare to be value-effective.

This is my opinion, which I am allowed to have. I understand everyone else's differing opinion, but I'd like to be allowed to speak mine as well and not sound stupid in the process. After all, no one quoted me back when, so what changed? I'm legitimately curious. I'm the guy who still thinks helmets should be optional for base coaches (and if they all choose to wear them, yay for them).

By the way, the beginning of that quote of mine still stands. Nets or not, I'm surprised more people aren't hurt badly or killed by foul balls.

But why/how though...?

It doesn't diminish the view at all. 0%. If you're in the first row you can still see everything absolutely perfect. The further away you sit, the less you see of the net.

How does a safety net (that's already been in place for decades and decades) affect your experience as a fan?

Just so we're on the same page, if you take a kid to a game (or even by yourself) and you take a foul ball off the face at 105 MPH, it's your fault because you weren't paying attention? Let's say you were paying attention, and you duck and it completely shatters the shin of the person sitting behind you. Again, their fault, they should've been paying attention?

If you ask me, not having to worry about 105 to the forehead no matter where I sit VASTLY improves my experience as a fan.

As for deaths, a fan literally died last year after a foul ball got her directly in the dome.

http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/25926592/fan-struck-head-foul-ball-dodgers-game-died-blunt-force-injury

Here's some quotes from that story.

He suggested that the nets go all the way to the foul pole, as in Japanese ballparks. "Why did they stop where they stopped?" he said. "It seems arbitrary."

"I'd love to see the netting extended vertically, and we know it doesn't block the view," Brody said. "Raise it a little higher -- what's the hurt in that?"

"My mom went to the game and never came home," Brody said. "People need to be aware, and we'd really like them to be protected in the future."

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Not that I said anything about paying attention (though I have in the past, but that had much more to do with "getting your head out of your phones" and wasn't really related to netting), but yes, a net is a physical barrier between myself and the field. Arguably, it's just as psychological as it is visual: knowing that that thing is separating me dampens that connection I'm having with myself and the ballpark (given the view, of course).

I was just at a playoff softball game and had a great front row view behind home plate. Eventually, I saw my old pal down the third base line just past the dugouts and said hello, and I ended up staying there. Not because of my friend, but because of the openness of that part of the environment. I do think that the net diminishes my experience (again, given the angle; behind home plate, I understand it).

Personally, one experience I also like about going to the ballpark is the "interaction with the playing field," including the occasional foul ball. I don't want to call that a "toughness" thing, more so of an eagerness. I know there is a difference in speeds among the lot of them. Even if you are out of ball retrieval range, so long as that net isn't in front of you, I'm seeing yet another reason why I paid to attend the game rather than choosing to comfortably watch and listen to it at my house for free.

Thanks for the article, though. In thirty years of living, that's the first professional baseball foul ball impact death by a fan sitting in the stands that I had heard of. EDIT: Just read the article stated the only other two reported instances being in 1943 and 1970.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

You don't want a net in your way, sit in the outfield. Problem solved. That gives you at least 3-4 seconds to react to a batted ball.

The ball that hit the girl last night got there in 1.2 seconds. The vast majority of people aren't going to be able to avoid that.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Was thinking, this is an important story to cover and it should be covered and it has. But is this what we (baseball) have become? Are we 1 step above hockey (mostly covered when there's a fight). God forbid if ESPN were ever to loose the MLB rights.

Be lucky they cover you even when theres no fight.

I'm sure ESPN doesn't realize the finals are on in NHL even though it features Boston.

Both sports do face same problem. Lack of being able to market their stars. Partially because of the way games are played.

MLB stars get hits 30% of time. NHL top stars get goals in 40% of games.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I still don't get why dugouts don't have nets, then. The players are closer than anybody else.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I still don't get why dugouts don't have nets, then. The players are closer than anybody else.

They do. What do you think players lean on 90% of the game and duck behind when a foul ball comes their way?

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

They do. What do you think players lean on 90% of the game and duck behind when a foul ball comes their way?

Fair point, but they still sit closest, which means it's the most difficult to avoid. Hell, players that are sitting in the dugout beyond those places are technically more vulnerable, especially when the players in front get out of the way.

At Coors Field, you can be leaning over a dugout rail and be 55 feet away. We know that pitchers can't always avoid line drives, and they're more so anticipating something oncoming. The camera well is only 100 feet away, and although they have a massive hunk of equipment in front of them, they too are exposed and absolutely can't expect anything coming in their direction to prevent it.

This protection should not be exclusive to fans. If a player or camera operator dies from a line drive foul ball, know that this wasn't on me.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Fair point, but they still sit closest, which means it's the most difficult to avoid. Hell, players that are sitting in the dugout beyond those places are technically more vulnerable, especially when the players in front get out of the way.

At Coors Field, you can be leaning over a dugout rail and be 55 feet away. We know that pitchers can't always avoid line drives, and they're more so anticipating something oncoming. The camera well is only 100 feet away, and although they have a massive hunk of equipment in front of them, they too are exposed and absolutely can't expect anything coming in their direction to prevent it.

This protection should not be exclusive to fans. If a player or camera operator dies from a line drive foul ball, know that this wasn't on me.

Players get hit with foul balls, too, but they can also retreat behind something. Fans can't do that if there isn't netting, unless they just retreat behind whomever is sitting near them.

Camera operators have equipment in front of them, and the ones most vulnerable also have plexi-glass or netting similar to the dugout in front of them as well.

You can't put a screen in front of the pitcher during a game, but I'm sure you throw behind a screen during BP, right? And pitchers that throw live BP throw behind a screen to reduce the risk of injury. You're making ridiculous arguments for the sake of trying to make a ridiculous point.

These things are avoidable and MLB/stadiums are simply not doing what they can to avoid them. Minorly obstructing someone's vision of the field or making the game slightly less engaging with the field, or whatever language you used, is worth saving someone from injury.

I don't know why you're trying to make this about you somehow. I don't think anyone expects you to be out to all 30 stadiums this week to install netting. Your narcissism with this issue is sickening.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't know why you're trying to make this about you somehow.

Yuck, when you put it that way, it makes me want to retread.

Still not a fan, and this isn't going to prevent everything. If peace of mind is what people wanted by organizations' decision to act in the past two years on extending their netting, I guess we have to ask if it worked yesterday and to the fan who was unfortunately killed from it. We extend, then someone else is badly hurt, then we extend again, then someone else is hurt, then a player in the dugout is killed, then they'll finally get them protection...

I guess I'm equally as bewildered to the idea that people have suddenly opened their eyes to this idea in just the past two years. I literally spoke on this in the rules thread, and not a single person batted an eye at the time. I guess, much like pace of play, it needs to be an openly public conversation for people to actually care.

I'm glad you have your safety, really I am. My selfishness does not supersede my gratitude toward that. Just know that I likely won't be spending my hard-earned money sitting next to you there. I'll find my other locale (outfield, next deck up, or maybe just stay home).

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't think there's anything in this world that is as annoying to me right now as Quick Pitch producers thinking I give even the slightest **** about what vapid unfunny garbage random losers on Twitter say about their stupid ****ing team while watching their game's highlights.

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Quick Pitch's quality has declined considerably.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Quick Pitch's quality has declined considerably.

I fear the day Heidi Watney leaves