OBR citation requested...base coaches requirements for helmets? (Mike Coolbaugh)

[SeeingEyeDog]

In 2007, minor league base coach Mike Coolbaugh was struck in the neck by a batted ball while standing in the coaches box at 1B and was killed. After the season, MLB GM's declared that all MLB base coaches would wear helmets beginning in 2008.

I presume this is still in the OBR book, yes? If so, could I please have the citation. If not, could you please provide more context.

~Dawg

[noumpere]

3.08 Helmets
A Professional League shall adopt the following rule pertaining to
the use of helmets:
(a) All players shall use some type of protective helmet while at bat
and while running the bases.
(b) All players in the Minor Leagues shall wear a double ear-flap
helmet while at bat.
(c) All Major League players must wear a single ear-flap helmet (or
at the player’s option, a double ear-flap helmet).
(d) All catchers shall wear a catcher’s protective helmet and face
mask while receiving a pitch.
(e) All base coaches shall wear a protective helmet while performing
their duties

[MadMax]

3 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

I presume this is still in the OBR book, yes?

Can I venture a guess as to what inspired this request? 

You encountered a base coach who doesn’t wear one and/or refuses to? 
🪖 

I find it… intriguing 🤔… that Coolbaugh’s injury was to his neck, but yet, skullcaps were imposed. Skullcaps do not cover anything below the tops of the ears. And while Coolbaugh’s tragic death needed to be addressed and responded to, I think the implementation of existing skullcaps was nothing more than token “good optics”, to make it appear they (TPTB) were doing “something”. 

Not one of the skullcaps manufacturers have had their feet held to the fire to improve the skullcap design; you’d think they would be! Only Rawlings and All-Star have done any internal improvements beyond the standard, paltry foam puck and leather edge ring (Wilson, Easton, everybody else). It’s not like you can, or even need to, test to NOCSAE certification. NOCSAE is only in place for amateur (less than 18 year old) purposes. Can they (the manufacturers) really be bothered to improve them? Pffft, heck no. No one cares, cuz there’s no profit margins in it. 

[SeeingEyeDog]

@MadMax, I was working 12U under OBR with some mods. We had a pre-tournament umpire meeting with the administration during which the mods were reviewed. We covered a lot. There was a 12 page handout of rules. I took notes. There was no mention of disengagement limitations. (We're under OBR with mods and there is no mod written or stated for disengagement limitations...) So, I ask the question, "Are there limits on disengagements? OBR says if F1 doesn't make an out on the 3rd disengagement per at-bat, it's a balk and a one base award for all runners. Also, F1 is not required to make a throw...if they disengage, they disengage whether they make a throw or not."

The director said, "We are not playing disengagements. Thank you for the question."

To which I responded, "Of course...you're welcome. Disengagements were not mentioned in your presentation nor are they discussed in your handout. Umpires are weird, man...if you tell us there are mods, we apply the mods as directed. Literally EVERYTHING else? We go nuts and default to the OBR book rules. So, if you don't tell us we are not enforcing disengagements written or otherwise...then we're going to enforce disengagements as written."

Fast forward...

Several days later having worked 3 games, my partner says, "You know...being that we are under OBR, I believe there is a rule about base coaches are required to wear helmets when they are on the field of play." We asked the coaches about it at the plate meeting (for what that's worth...) and they said no, that's not a thing. We checked in with the TD again and he confirmed, no that's not a thing. So, of course, the part-time barrister in me wondered if they are having the coaches signing waivers and if waivers even have any legal value anymore in 2024. Regardless, you know the umpires will be subpoenaed if a base coach wears one and is seriously injured. I have an aversion to time in court for any reason if it's preventable...

Max, I don't know why they implemented the rule after Coolbaugh was hit in the neck when helmets don't protect the neck...

~Dawg 

[MadMax]

3 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Max, I don't know why they implemented the rule after Coolbaugh was hit in the neck when helmets don't protect the neck...

Why do they – TPTB – do anything regarding us peons? 

 

[Thomas Van den Eynde]

On 8/20/2024 at 3:43 PM, SeeingEyeDog said:

OBR says if F1 doesn't make an out on the 3rd disengagement per at-bat, it's a balk and a one base award for all runners. Also, F1 is not required to make a throw...if they disengage, they disengage whether they make a throw or not."

Can you give the rule number in the OBR, I can't find it myself. 😶‍🌫️🤔

[Velho]

On 8/19/2024 at 8:09 AM, noumpere said:

3.08 Helmets
A Professional League shall adopt the following rule pertaining to
the use of helmets:
(a) All players shall use some type of protective helmet while at bat
and while running the bases.
(b) All players in the Minor Leagues shall wear a double ear-flap
helmet while at bat.
(c) All Major League players must wear a single ear-flap helmet (or
at the player’s option, a double ear-flap helmet).
(d) All catchers shall wear a catcher’s protective helmet and face
mask while receiving a pitch.
(e) All base coaches shall wear a protective helmet while performing
their duties

Page 9 in 2024 OBR

https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/mlb/official-information/2024-official-baseball-rules.pdf

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, Thomas Van den Eynde said:

Can you give the rule number in the OBR, I can't find it myself. 😶‍🌫️🤔

 

29 minutes ago, Velho said:

Page 9 in 2024 OBR

https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/mlb/official-information/2024-official-baseball-rules.pdf

I think he was asking for the disengagement cite which is not in the OBR rules. So OBR does not "say it", MLB says it.

[Thomas Van den Eynde]

3 hours ago, Jimurray said:

 

I think he was asking for the disengagement cite which is not in the OBR rules. So OBR does not "say it", MLB says it.

Correct, thanks for this information. Now I know I'm not completely getting mad 😀

 

Follow up question: do you (all who is playing under OBR rules) enforce the rule or not?

[Jimurray]

6 minutes ago, Thomas Van den Eynde said:

Correct, thanks for this information. Now I know I'm not completely getting mad 😀

 

Follow up question: do you (all who is playing under OBR rules) enforce the rule or not?

It would depend on the league/org. PONY makes it clear:

"10

O. PONY Baseball will not be utilizing a pitch clock.
P. PONY Baseball will not be utilizing the MLB disengagement rule."

[SeeingEyeDog]

1 hour ago, Thomas Van den Eynde said:

Correct, thanks for this information. Now I know I'm not completely getting mad 😀

 

Follow up question: do you (all who is playing under OBR rules) enforce the rule or not?

It's a mixed bag...American Legion ball uses OBR with mods and they do NOT limit disengagements. I work several men's leagues and the younger leagues (20+ and 30+) use the MLB disengagement limitation.

It's VERY important if you are playing OBR that you clarify this at the plate meeting. If you are indeed using limited disengagements, then you need to pre-game signals with your crew to insure disengagements are being observed and tallied. And remember it's 3 for the at-bat so, a stolen base in the middle of an at-bat is still the same at-bat. If a pinch hitter is sent in to bat in the middle of an existing at-bat, you are still on the same at-bat.

~Dawg