New Pitching Caps...

[VAUmp]

MLB has approved these on a voluntary basis.

 

What do you all think?
 

 

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10363291/pitchers-protective-caps-approved-major-league-baseball 

[VAUmp]

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10363291/pitchers-protective-caps-approved-major-league-baseball 

[cyclonehokiece]

Jury is still out but I will bet it will be mandatory in FED within 5 years.

[Richvee]

Jury is still out but I will bet it will be mandatory in FED within 5 years.

This is how it will begin..FED, Little League will mandate it, and as the kids grow and get used to a bigger, heavier hat we'll start seeing them at higher levels. The speed these days that safety precaution rules get passed leads me to think this will happen rather quickly.  

[MB_Ump]

I would be surprised if LL went for it. I would have bet they would be all over the batting helmet face masks and they haven't gone there. I think all of the softball leagues around use them, though

[Kevin_K]

If there is a buck to be made, LL will jump all over it. Otherwise, not so much.

 

As far as safety goes, it wasn't until very recently that LL gave any directive with regard to lightning. So safety by itself does not seem to be a cause for LL to necessarily move .

[jkumpire]

I doubt it with FED in 5 years. NOCASE will find no opinion on their value one way or the other so FED won't mandate them, or prohibit them, just like the new extra padding covers for FB helmets.

 

But in this no-risk bubble wrap world we live in these days parents will jiump on that new hat 15 seconds after it hits the market, especially in kids and travel ball. Ten years from now for better or worse the hats will be common, but it won't be because ruling bodies made it mandatory.

 

Twenty years from now FED will probably mandate pitching machines for BB/SB and a cheap radar set to call ball/strikes, two bases at every base to slide in (runner gets the orange one), or take the tag play out of the game so people don't have to slide. That takes 75-90% of the injuries out of the game and saves schools money. Put in a mandatory no slide/no touch the fielder rule and all plays at all bases are force plays, and the game is as safe as it can be, almost like whiffle ball. Laywers will love it, but nonone else will.    

 

Addendum: Or, instead of padded hats, in 10-20 years baseball ruling bodies will mandate using the new improved version of the old "Incrediball" a soft pillow of a ball you can hit like a baseball, almost as far. then nobody will ever get hurt.

[DVA7130]

From a FED "Preseason Baseball Guide 2014" handout I received at a rules class this year. Larry White, NFHS Baseball Rules Committee chair:

 

Q: "What issues do you see the committee having to tackle over the next few years?"

 

A: "The game is in really good shape. The next thing will be the advent of defensive players wearing helmets, faceguards, and other safety issues. Right now, we know that a specific player can use it. But I can see us mandating that defensively, every player must have helmets and a face shield of some kind, especially since one of our major tenets is risk minimization".

 

What?.......

 

Did you hear Ma? The centerfielder needs a face mask at the high school level now.....

[Richvee]

From a FED "Preseason Baseball Guide 2014" handout I received at a rules class this year. Larry White, NFHS Baseball Rules Committee chair:

 

Q: "What issues do you see the committee having to tackle over the next few years?"

 

A: "The game is in really good shape. The next thing will be the advent of defensive players wearing helmets, faceguards, and other safety issues. Right now, we know that a specific player can use it. But I can see us mandating that defensively, every player must have helmets and a face shield of some kind, especially since one of our major tenets is risk minimization".

 

What?.......

 

Did you hear Ma? The centerfielder needs a face mask at the high school level now.....

Interesting since they haven't even mandated a face mask for a batter, that he'd jump right to facemasks on defensive players. 

[Kevin_K]

 Larry White is one of the directors for one of the most inept organizations I have ever had the displeasure of having to interact with.

 

The governing body of NJ high school athletics is the NJSIAA, which issues guidleines for all member schools about all sports. The ruling body is constantly underfire for exorbinant fees for schools and entrance to athletic events and the failure to enforce the rules that it creates. For example, NJ has a rule that athletes must sit out 30 days if they transfer schools for any reason other than a family actually moving to another district. 

 

Certain schools, through their alumni and booster clubs, have routinely recruited athletes because of their athletic prowess,  and have openly paid for apartments, food, transportation, and other life necessities. The NJSIAA has routinely ignored any call for investigation, stating that schools that have concerns need to do the investigations of anyone suspected of breaking the rules that govern NJ high school athletics.

 

Further, rather than take any action against two schools, coaches, or players who were involved in an ungly race baiting situation in a football game last year, the NJSIAA has mandated that all officials read the ludicrous statement below prior to all athletic events:

 

"There will be no tolerance for negative statements or actions between opposing players and coaches. This includes taunting, baiting, berating opponents, "trash-talking" or actions which ridicule or cause embarrassment to them. Any verbal, written, or physical conduct related to race, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion shall not be tolerated, could subject the violator to ejection, and may results in penalties being assessed against your team. If such comments are heard, a penalty will be assessed immediately. We have been instructed not to issue warnings. It is your responsibility to remind your team of this policy."

 

Therefore, it is my belief that if Mr White has any influence, whatever is least convenient for everyone will be the action taken, unless that means he wold actually have to do something to help protect the interests of the sport, the players, or the officials involved.

 

 

Whew..... that's better.

[noumpere]

From a FED "Preseason Baseball Guide 2014" handout I received at a rules class this year. Larry White, NFHS Baseball Rules Committee chair:

 

Q: "What issues do you see the committee having to tackle over the next few years?"

 

A: "The game is in really good shape. The next thing will be the advent of defensive players wearing helmets, faceguards, and other safety issues. Right now, we know that a specific player can use it. But I can see us mandating that defensively, every player must have helmets and a face shield of some kind, especially since one of our major tenets is risk minimization".

 

What?.......

 

Did you hear Ma? The centerfielder needs a face mask at the high school level now.....

That concept has been discussed before and for many years back when I was more privy to the discussions and the meetings.

 

It shouldn't be a surprise to know it will be or has been raised again.