Head shots

[RichMSN]

I wonder how long it is (at the MLB level, at least) before they try to figure out how to make umpires safer with respect to head shots and concussions.

Just something on my mind this morning.

[gnhbua93]

The option is out there and they know it.

[JSam21]

31 minutes ago, RichMSN said:

I wonder how long it is (at the MLB level, at least) before they try to figure out how to make umpires safer with respect to head shots and concussions.

Just something on my mind this morning.

Could just go to robo umps for balls and strikes...

[RichMSN]

Just seems that there's a higher likelihood than ever that umpires are going to get career ending injuries back there.

[Rich Ives]

And catchers. They take more shots than the umpires AND are there more often.

[UMP45]

3 hours ago, gnhbua93 said:

The option is out there and they know it.

What's the option?

[Stk004]

15 minutes ago, UMP45 said:

What's the option?

For starters, stop wearing their masks so tight. Unless it's a force 3. 

[gnhbua93]

2 hours ago, UMP45 said:

What's the option?

 

2 hours ago, Stk004 said:

For starters, stop wearing their masks so tight. Unless it's a force 3. 

There you have your response, but not given by me.

[maineump]

The catchers are taking more shots, but part of the protection where they get the shots, is the helmet under the mask. The catcher's shots are generally higher (personal experience).

I am not sure that there is ONE solution. Shock absorbers in the mask~ wearing the mask loose~ maybe a helmet under the mask~ HSM could all be some solutions. I am sure that folks with lots of concussion (medical) background looking into this. MLB doesn't want to get the same rap as the NFL.

Many of these guys getting injuries are senior guys. They are like the rest of us - stuck in their ways. I think education will be the first step. They will definitely need to involve the unions, as I am guessing that is where their insurance comes from.

Maybe it is a curse that the MiLB guys are putting on them, to get more call-up guys more time in the show  .

[udbrky]

Wasn't there a study that the HSM was involved in more head injuries?

[Rich Ives]

5 hours ago, udbrky said:

Wasn't there a study that the HSM was involved in more head injuries?

There was a rumor of one. Never actually seen a way to review it.

 

[udbrky]

Just now, Rich Ives said:

There was a rumor of one. Never actually seen a way to review it.

 

Yeah, was hoping someone would have a linky or sumpin

[maineump]

9 hours ago, Rich Ives said:

There was a rumor of one. Never actually seen a way to review it.

 

A friend of mine was a AAA catcher. He went from a traditional mask to HSM, because of a hit to the side of his head. He says he took a couple of hits to the HSM and switched back, because he felt the traditional was better protection. He moved back slightly with the batters who had the huge swing, and stuck with the traditional until he retired.

When I asked, he said that the traditional/helmet combination absorbed the impact much better and he didn't feel it nearly as much. BTW, he kept his mask pretty loose, so it would fly off if it hit off center.

[Rich Ives]

"Someone" needs to do studies using both impact measurements and injury reporting.

And then some percentage won't believe the results . 

 

[dumbdumb]

On 8/17/2016 at 9:27 AM, maineump said:

A friend of mine was a AAA catcher. He went from a traditional mask to HSM, because of a hit to the side of his head. He says he took a couple of hits to the HSM and switched back, because he felt the traditional was better protection. He moved back slightly with the batters who had the huge swing, and stuck with the traditional until he retired.

When I asked, he said that the traditional/helmet combination absorbed the impact much better and he didn't feel it nearly as much. BTW, he kept his mask pretty loose, so it would fly off if it hit off center.

Why don't you and some buddies try picture #2 with a black catcher's helmet turned forwards just like a regular hat, wearing it loosely like your AAA catcher buddy did, and report back. Bet you could learn to take the mask off of that helmet with the left hand without the helmet falling off, just like with a hat.

[maineump]

1 minute ago, dumbdumb said:

Why don't you and some buddies try picture #2 with a black catcher's helmet turned forwards just like a regular hat, wearing it loosely like your AAA catcher buddy did, and report back. Bet you could learn to take the mask off of that helmet with the left hand without the helmet falling off, just like with a hat.

It can be done - lots of catchers do it now with their right hand.

[dumbdumb]

8 minutes ago, maineump said:

It can be done - lots of catchers do it now with their right hand.

Yes, but remember that helmet brim is turned backwards for the catcher and would be turned forwards for the umpire. So you have to pull outwards to clear the brim of the helmet, just like a hat.

[dumbdumb]

On 8/16/2016 at 10:50 AM, RichMSN said:

I wonder how long it is (at the MLB level, at least) before they try to figure out how to make umpires safer with respect to head shots and concussions.

Just something on my mind this morning.

 

On 8/16/2016 at 0:05 PM, RichMSN said:

Just seems that there's a higher likelihood than ever that umpires are going to get career ending injuries back there.

And when are professional umpires working amateur players like yourself, going to get and use, the exact same methods and level of care currently in place by MLB for their umpires, concerning the 2 quotes you previously posted. Was that on your mind that morning also? Just asking, because that was the first thing that came to my mind for your particular situation this morning when I read this post. There are tons more professional umpires working amateur players than professional umpires working professional players.

When will I see current MLBU care - for better or worse than what it is now - for all the umpires, including yourself. I am definitely concerned for all and you personally, not just the MLBU's.

[maineump]

30 minutes ago, dumbdumb said:

Yes, but remember that helmet brim is turned backwards for the catcher and would be turned forwards for the umpire. So you have to pull outwards to clear the brim of the helmet, just like a hat.

Not always - here is a catcher who wears his like a hat

 

[MadMax]

That's Jared Saltamacchia and he's known to wear his forwards. Internally, there is no difference within the catcher's helmet whether you wear it forwards or backwards. It's a uniform padded ring with an "island" pad at the top.

But why does it have to stop there? Why hasn't that design been examined and improved? Guys, I won't get into details here, because I've already been working on this, but all it takes is one of the companies to either get off their corporate arses and be proactive about changing and modifying a piece like this, or get with a designer – like me – who will bring new ideas and perspectives to the process. Quit churning out the same lackluster, generic units to the same 15/20-year planform because anything else hurts profit margins. I can confidently say that I have a design that addresses umpire needs of a helmet-hat like this. Is it perfect? No, but it certainly is better than the status quo.

This needs to start being paralleled with automobile racing (especially NASCAR and open-wheel racing, like IRL and F1), in that the top-end gear, for the professionals, should be designed to be "reactively disposable". When an IRL car is in a crash, the car disintegrates, the assaulting energy captured in all those pieces flying off and away until we're left with the core "tub" of the cockpit. So too with NASCAR stock cars, they are designed to be dented and smashed, and if involved in a crash, disposed of. In pedal bikes, we wear helmets that, if involved in a crash, are expected to perform, absorb that energy, and then be retired and disposed of. One significant use, and that's it. Why isn't umpire gear – especially Major League Professional gear – viewed and considered in this manner? Certainly, they're seeing these marquee speeds that are contextually similar to NASCAR and F1. How many times does an umpire get hit in a professional game? Less than 1 a game. All it takes is one, I'm aware of that... but why can't it be, that when that one impact does come, this advanced technology helmet-hat crushes, absorbing all the energy and sacrificing itself in the process to save the skull and brain of the umpire wearing it? Why can't there be another (or possibly even a third) one sitting in the umpire's dressing room, and it's just a matter of sending a ballpark or MLB courier to fetch it within seconds? It would take less time than a replay review!

We think nothing of a wood bat exploding and splintering, overwhelmed or compromised by the immense energy assaulting it. Just pick up the pieces and send the batboy to fetch a new one. We even have a phrase, "It died happy". Well how about, "Huh. Well, my helmet-hat just died, but I'm happy I didn't", after taking a 96-mph blast to the ol' dome?

From where I sit, the reason why this perspective isn't being considered (and I'll adamantly reinforce that it should) is because black-and-red-ink corporate beancounters have too much staked in the status quo and profit rather than protection and progress.

 

[dumbdumb]

4 hours ago, MadMax said:

That's Jared Saltamacchia and he's known to wear his forwards. Internally, there is no difference within the catcher's helmet whether you wear it forwards or backwards. It's a uniform padded ring with an "island" pad at the top.

But why does it have to stop there? Why hasn't that design been examined and improved? Guys, I won't get into details here, because I've already been working on this, but all it takes is one of the companies to either get off their corporate arses and be proactive about changing and modifying a piece like this, or get with a designer – like me – who will bring new ideas and perspectives to the process. Quit churning out the same lackluster, generic units to the same 15/20-year planform because anything else hurts profit margins. I can confidently say that I have a design that addresses umpire needs of a helmet-hat like this. Is it perfect? No, but it certainly is better than the status quo.

This needs to start being paralleled with automobile racing (especially NASCAR and open-wheel racing, like IRL and F1), in that the top-end gear, for the professionals, should be designed to be "reactively disposable". When an IRL car is in a crash, the car disintegrates, the assaulting energy captured in all those pieces flying off and away until we're left with the core "tub" of the cockpit. So too with NASCAR stock cars, they are designed to be dented and smashed, and if involved in a crash, disposed of. In pedal bikes, we wear helmets that, if involved in a crash, are expected to perform, absorb that energy, and then be retired and disposed of. One significant use, and that's it. Why isn't umpire gear – especially Major League Professional gear – viewed and considered in this manner? Certainly, they're seeing these marquee speeds that are contextually similar to NASCAR and F1. How many times does an umpire get hit in a professional game? Less than 1 a game. All it takes is one, I'm aware of that... but why can't it be, that when that one impact does come, this advanced technology helmet-hat crushes, absorbing all the energy and sacrificing itself in the process to save the skull and brain of the umpire wearing it? Why can't there be another (or possibly even a third) one sitting in the umpire's dressing room, and it's just a matter of sending a ballpark or MLB courier to fetch it within seconds? It would take less time than a replay review!

We think nothing of a wood bat exploding and splintering, overwhelmed or compromised by the immense energy assaulting it. Just pick up the pieces and send the batboy to fetch a new one. We even have a phrase, "It died happy". Well how about, "Huh. Well, my helmet-hat just died, but I'm happy I didn't", after taking a 96-mph blast to the ol' dome?

From where I sit, the reason why this perspective isn't being considered (and I'll adamantly reinforce that it should) is because black-and-red-ink corporate beancounters have too much staked in the status quo and profit rather than protection and progress.

 

And its not only the umpires, but the catchers that could also use these throw aways. Oh yea, something like the airbag, or jelly filled helmet that pops the goo on a good hit. Absolutely. But, what else could be made for the whiplash effect so everyone does not have to have C3-C5 surgery. But, I digress and the save the brain swelling/etc. should come first. Hockey, football, lacrosse and wait and see with the soccer and water polo could use something also.

[JaxRolo]

On 8/16/2016 at 0:05 PM, RichMSN said:

Just seems that there's a higher likelihood than ever that umpires are going to get career ending injuries back there.

Yep!

Faster pitching. Faster bat speeds. Better athletes put Umpires at a higher risk. Even on the bases.