Catcher eye Shields

[concertman1971]

Sooooo.......1st it was jewelry,  then it was eye black. Will the tinted after market eye shield be what we have to enforce this year? I get this one, it's an actual safety concern should there be a head/neck injury. 

 

[SeeingEyeDog]

Yeah...if pro guys want to make it harder for medical personnel to tell if they're conscious or not, that's their choice. Kids should not be given that option. Hopefully, they will still find a way to be motivated to play without their drip being so slay...

~Dawg

[JSam21]

That guy is going to block me since every time I see it on my FYP I make a comment to HS kids telling them that it isn't legal. They aren't legal if they are clear either since NO company manufactures a helmet with the shield. 

[The Man in Blue]

On 12/23/2024 at 7:31 AM, JSam21 said:

That guy is going to block me since every time I see it on my FYP I make a comment to HS kids telling them that it isn't legal. They aren't legal if they are clear either since NO company manufactures a helmet with the shield. 

I am liking this . . . but am I overlooking the language in the baseball book?  I do not see anything for catcher's helmets.  

NFHS Softball does allow NO TINT eye shields on helmets (catcher's and batter's) and masks.

[834k3r]

5 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

I am liking this . . . but am I overlooking the language in the baseball book?  I do not see anything for catcher's helmets.  

NFHS Softball does allow NO TINT eye shields on helmets (catcher's and batter's) and masks.

Baseball's the same if they're OEM. (1-5-4).

[SeeingEyeDog]

I worked with a young guy who had the plate on a turf field and he wore clear Oakley eye shields with no prescription. When I asked him about it he said in a dead serious tone, "The pellets they use on these fields are from recycled tires and are carcinogenic. I don't want those in my eyes."

I wasn't sure whether to tighten my tinfoil hat or get bigger frames myself with more coverage as I do wear a prescription but fairly minimalist frames...

~Dawg

[JSam21]

7 minutes ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

I worked with a young guy who had the plate on a turf field and he wore clear Oakley eye shields with no prescription. When I asked him about he said in a dead serious tone, "The pellets they use on these fields are from recycled tires and are carcinogenic. I don't want those in my eyes."

I wasn't sure whether to tighten my tinfoil hat or get bigger frames myself with more coverage as I do wear a prescription but fairly minimalist frames...

~Dawg

I've switched out my tinted lenses for clear at times when working on turf. I don't care about the cancer causing properties, I do enough of that stuff on my own, I just would rather not damage the most important piece of my job. 

[The Man in Blue]

23 hours ago, 834k3r said:

Baseball's the same if they're OEM. (1-5-4).

I use the 2020 Kindle version to start my search; hadn't grabbed the new book to follow up yet.  Just happened to grab the 2023 which is the year it was added.

 

What is your reply when the coach tells you "He did buy it that way!"?

Back in the days of having to check equipment in softball, I had a team whose batting helmets ALL had gel packs in them, no foam.  I started to toss them all out when the coach swore they bought them that way.

Who am I to say he didn't?  I know he didn't.  You know he didn't.  He knows he didn't.  What evidence do I have while standing on the field to back up my position?  There wasn't any residue left from tearing the foam out and the gel pack installation was uniform and done with care.  Not saying that was fine, but that there was no evidence there had been modifications other than WE ALL KNOW they don't make them like that.

[834k3r]

2 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I use the 2020 Kindle version to start my search; hadn't grabbed the new book to follow up yet.  Just happened to grab the 2023 which is the year it was added.

 

What is your reply when the coach tells you "He did buy it that way!"?

Back in the days of having to check equipment in softball, I had a team whose batting helmets ALL had gel packs in them, no foam.  I started to toss them all out when the coach swore they bought them that way.

Who am I to say he didn't?  I know he didn't.  You know he didn't.  He knows he didn't.  What evidence do I have while standing on the field to back up my position?  There wasn't any residue left from tearing the foam out and the gel pack installation was uniform and done with care.  Not saying that was fine, but that there was no evidence there had been modifications other than WE ALL KNOW they don't make them like that.

My respose would be "coach, my son is a catcher and I have seen exactly zero catcher masks sold with that visor. Based on that, my ruling stands."

That said, I've never seen a visor that attaches to a catcher helmet in my life. Who knows if I'll ever see one.

[834k3r]

15 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

I worked with a young guy who had the plate on a turf field and he wore clear Oakley eye shields with no prescription. When I asked him about he said in a dead serious tone, "The pellets they use on these fields are from recycled tires and are carcinogenic. I don't want those in my eyes."

I wasn't sure whether to tighten my tinfoil hat or get bigger frames myself with more coverage as I do wear a prescription but fairly minimalist frames...

~Dawg

I wear clear, semi-tinted, and mirrored lenses in my Radar EVs depending upon the natural illumination for the game I'm working. The EVs are good enough to keep dust out of my eyes on windy days, as well as turf pellets. Last thing I want is dust in my eyes when I'm trying to track a pitch--or any other play, frankly.

[The Man in Blue]

I don't know about the pellets being carcinogenic to your eyes specifically (never been to California) . . . 😶

but I will wear clear lenses both behind the plate and on the bases.  My eyes are particularly sensitive to the wind, so that is my major reason.  I wear sunglasses on overcast days just to protect my eyes/make me feel comfortable.  I figured making the transition to clear lenses at least looked a little less cheesy.

I usually wear actual safety glasses, as I won't spend the big bucks on a "good" pair.  I lose and break them far too easily and too often.

A guy that I have worked with over the summer will wear a pair of blue lenses at night.  He had me try them on between innings and . . . wow.  They worked similar to the yellow lenses in that the turf looked brighter, but the amazing thing was how much the white ball and white foul lines popped in them.

[834k3r]

17 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I don't know about the pellets being carcinogenic to your eyes specifically (never been to California) . . . 😶

but I will wear clear lenses both behind the plate and on the bases.  My eyes are particularly sensitive to the wind, so that is my major reason.  I wear sunglasses on overcast days just to protect my eyes/make me feel comfortable.  I figured making the transition to clear lenses at least looked a little less cheesy.

I usually wear actual safety glasses, as I won't spend the big bucks on a "good" pair.  I lose and break them far too easily and too often.

A guy that I have worked with over the summer will wear a pair of blue lenses at night.  He had me try them on between innings and . . . wow.  They worked similar to the yellow lenses in that the turf looked brighter, but the amazing thing was how much the white ball and white foul lines popped in them.

Interesting...I might have to try that out myself.

[MadMax]

On 12/27/2024 at 9:59 AM, SeeingEyeDog said:

"The pellets they use on these fields are from recycled tires and are carcinogenic. I don't want those in my eyes."

I wouldn’t say definitively they’re carcinogenic, but they sure are an irritant. 

The concern for cancer-causality stems from several amateur soccer goalies developing respiratory or esophageal complications(?), and doctors attaching turf fields as one of the chief vectors for affliction. Certain? No. Probable? Ehhhh… Possible? Maybe… but then again, California thinks everything causes cancer. 

If you really want to get into tin foil-hat fashion, consider that we’re more likely to develop neurological afflictions and cancers from the hours upon hours we’re on screens and wave-emitting devices rather than the 2-3 hours we’re upon a turf field. 

[The Man in Blue]

I still recall an old Paul Harvey bit (spoof?) where he came in with the headline, "This just in, scientists have determined lab rats cause cancer."

I'm thinking it may be California that causes cancer.  Look for the common element.  😋

[Velho]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:26 AM, MadMax said:

If you really want to get into tin foil-hat fashion, consider that we’re more likely to develop neurological afflictions and cancers from the hours upon hours we’re on screens and wave-emitting devices rather than the 2-3 hours we’re upon a turf field. 

Truth be told, that was my first thought on the heated vest thread. Oh, dear lord, I'm Cali-infected! (that and my mom always hammering not to use the electric blanket for too long)

[BLWizzRanger]

On 1/3/2025 at 11:26 AM, MadMax said:

If you really want to get into tin foil-hat fashion, consider that we’re more likely to develop neurological afflictions and cancers from the hours upon hours we’re on screens and wave-emitting devices rather than the 2-3 hours we’re upon a turf field. 

IDK... I didn't go blind sitting too close to the TV screen nor did I need glasses from watching those squiggly late night programs on early cable.  Probably just wives tales....

[The Man in Blue]

Yeah, but we had little bitty TV screens back then.  We HAD to sit close.

Seriously, I look at the TVs people have today and I wonder how we ever survived, and why you would ever want to watch the evening news on a 70" screen.  

(OK, yes, I do have a projector set up that covers an entire wall.  I'm a movie junkie.)

[concertman1971]

On 1/7/2025 at 12:40 PM, BLWizzRanger said:

IDK... I didn't go blind sitting too close to the TV screen nor did I need glasses from watching those squiggly late night programs on early cable.  Probably just wives tales....

Never got a stomach ache going swimming right after eating. I think Mom just wanted me outside for another 30 minutes