Give me all your fearless X-gamers, base jumpers and
assorted adrenaline junkies inventing new ways to get hurt and there is still
no more dangerous and nerve-wracking job than pitching a baseball with the suppressed
reality that in an unexpected instant, you might not be able to prevent a liner from hitting your skull at 100+ mph.
It’s amazing Tampa Bay pitcher Alex Cobb came back last year to go 5-1
down the stretch after being hit in the head by a line drive in a June 15th game
versus the Royals. He "only" suffered a
concussion but still required two months of rest and rehab to courageously get back in the game. Many others, amateur and professional alike, have not been so lucky so it seems like a real “duh” moment to tell you that MLB will be testing protective headgear for pitchers in a few weeks, once spring training starts. The company isoBlox is making a padded insert that will be sewn inside caps - it will look like the pitcher is wearing an oversized cap. This is a case where function is more important than form so all we can say is “it’s about time" seeing how hitters have been wearing hard lids since 1940.
concussion but still required two months of rest and rehab to courageously get back in the game. Many others, amateur and professional alike, have not been so lucky so it seems like a real “duh” moment to tell you that MLB will be testing protective headgear for pitchers in a few weeks, once spring training starts. The company isoBlox is making a padded insert that will be sewn inside caps - it will look like the pitcher is wearing an oversized cap. This is a case where function is more important than form so all we can say is “it’s about time" seeing how hitters have been wearing hard lids since 1940.
This got me thinking about the delicate balance in
baseball between the hitter and pitcher and how “progress” has tipped the
scales towards the batter as they've been bulking up at the plate, in more ways than one, for decades. Traditionally, the war is fought on the battle ground that is the
inside part of the plate – who hasn’t heard the saying “pitch in to win?” This is as fundamental to the game as using a
stitched ball, but in the name of player safety, baseball has allowed
hitters to come to the plate looking like extras from “Mad Max." With hockey style elbow pads, wrist guards and the like, along with a lessened fear of getting plunked, these guys gain a confidence and plate coverage that defies the natural laws of baseball's seminal confrontation. While a bean ball to the head should always be severely punished with ejection, fine and suspension, it is supposed to hurt a little when hit on the body with a pitch - there is supposed to be a price to pay. From little league on up, this healthy respect for the pitch makes hitters share the road accordingly, but not so much in the bigs anymore. In fact, some guys lean in so much, the HBP becomes a strategic part of their game. And God forbid if it appears they indeed got plunked on purpose. Then it's "Houston, we have a problem." The offended might start jawing his way up the line, the umpire might issue a warning but then it's a near certainty, the whole game has to stop while the insulted batter dramatically scorns, tugging those velcro straps to remove and pass off the requisite accoutrements to their attendant valets. Geesh!
Look, I’m not completely heartless so
I’ll let hitters keep the foot and shin guards, but how about we make a rule
that says no protective gear on the hands and arms other than batting
gloves. And how about we make another rule that says anyone who charges the mound, leaves the dugout or bullpen gets a 25
game suspension? Oh I know, it's no fun getting hit by a baseball so how about we say that if a batter gets hit by a pitch, as a reward, he gets a free pass to first base. Call me crazy!
Jim Tosches is an amateur umpire and blogger in Encinitas, Ca and author of the book, "The Rules Abide: The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball Rules (With History, Humor and a Few Big Words)"
Click HERE to see reviews and previews of Jim's Book
Jim Tosches is an amateur umpire and blogger in Encinitas, Ca and author of the book, "The Rules Abide: The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball Rules (With History, Humor and a Few Big Words)"
Click HERE to see reviews and previews of Jim's Book
I never thought about the "balance" of power between hitter and batter being tipped in the batter's favor by wearing several pieces of body armor. I also usually assumed that the rules requiring helmets/masks for the pitcher of T-ball/machine pitch leagues was a result of thinking the kids were too slow (or not paying enough attention) to get out of the way or make the catch.
ReplyDeleteBut in the Bigs...I always assumed the big boys could dodge or catch. I've never pitched at even the HS level, so maybe that's a huge (false) assumption.
Interesting thoughts, Jim. Removing the batter's armor and thus his false confidence may tip the balance back in the pitchers' favor, but it doesn't protect his head. I wonder how many head shots pitchers have taken over the years...is the goal to make the batters fear the ball as much as pitchers do, or do we really need to protect the pitchers.
What about accepting inherent risk? Is this simply another example of a culture becoming ever-increasingly risk-adverse??
It's two separate issues that so I simply used one, the announcement, to go after the second, a pet peeve of mine. My point is that the equipment should be to guard against injury, not change the way a batter would naturally react to an inside pitch. Regarding the pitchers, I don't this is a woosification of America issue either. Just watch the video. In fact, there is a macho resistance on the part of the pitchers given the risk. It happens, but not a lot so it's not something a pitcher ever thinks about because if he did, he wouldn't be able to pitch. Who knows, the psychology of wearing the lid might freak some pitchers out. This Cobb kid must be pretty head strong (pun intended) to not let his experience prevent him from be successful again. jt
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