baseball nets foul pole to foul pole

[chapman]

They should issue everyone helmets.

Problem solved.

People who are really worried could bring tier own helmet.  Oh, wait, not enough room in the Prius for a helmet.

Brilliant. 

How about plexiglass around the dugouts, and making the players walk from the far end to get to the plate?  They must be protected too; can't ask them to pay attention when they're busy with dip and sunflower seeds.   

[Warrior Code]

An eagle-eyed viewer might be able to see the wires. A pedant might be able to see the wires. But I think if you're looking at the wires you're ignoring the story. If you go to a puppet show, you can see the wires. But it's about the puppets, it's not about the string. If you go to a Punch and Judy show and you're only watching the wires, you're a freak.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I have read every comment here and have yet to see one to convince me that putting up nets for the entire lower deck is anything but a no-brainer.

One person says he hates nets and could never, ever, ever adjust to them being in place. Another keeps arguing about statistical vagueness because he loves arguing and he's never been wrong about anything in his life.

Some of the same folks who talk about how precious EVERY human life is are against netting that could -- almost surely would -- save lives.

No team will lose more than .001% of fans if this happens. But a life or two might be saved.

Nets. No-brainer.

HONESTLY MU82, IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH YOU WHEN CONSTANTLY LIE.  IT REALLY IS...OR IS LYING JUST EXAGGERATION. 

I'VE ADMITTED TO BEING WRONG MANY TIMES.  HERE'S A SUGGESTION FOR YOU, GO TO THE GAMES YOURSELF WITH A BEEKEEPER SUIT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A NET.  YOU CAN SHOW HOW MUCH SMARTER YOU ARE THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

[CTWarrior]

Edit: I guess the one good thing that can come out of this would be less fan interference. As a Cubs fan I think maybe if there was a net Bartman wouldn't have happened

Except that ball would have hit the net.  Net result would have been the same, but Bartman would not be a goat.

You also lose all those plays where players reach or dive into the stands to catch a ball.  Another small thing, but those are often great, exciting plays.

[StillAWarrior]

You also lose all those plays where players reach or dive into the stands to catch a ball.  Another small thing, but those are often great, exciting plays.

That is the most compelling argument I've seen in this thread to not extend the net.  Although I think extending the net to the end of the dugout would substantially reduce the risk but preserve that part of the the game.  But it would leave the risk of the screaming line drive foul ball.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The reasons not to put them up

Tradition
Chance to get a ball as a souvenir which has been part of the fabric of baseball since the game began
Serious injuries are almost non-existent....extremely rare
Could impact the game itself (outs that happen now by players reaching into the stands)
Continued softening of America


The hockey comparison is poor.  I go to many hockey games every year.  Following the puck is difficult because of its color and the background of the crowd, the variability of where the puck is in a fluid game.  The puck can come into the stands from anywhere on the ice at high speed.

In baseball this is completely different.  The baseball ALWAYS comes from one location, the batter's box.  If you pay attention to that small 5 foot area, you see the source of the ball every time.  It is also white, not black.  It is also round, not with edges like a puck.

[LAZER]

In baseball this is completely different.  The baseball ALWAYS comes from one location, the batter's box.  If you pay attention to that small 5 foot area, you see the source of the ball every time.  It is also white, not black.  It is also round, not with edges like a puck.

Even if you see the the source, the ball is flying 100mph into the stands.  It's going to hit someone even if 100% of the fans are paying attention. The safety of fans shouldn't be dependent on how quick of hands they have.

And please stop it with the "softening of America" BS.  It's ridiculous.

[real chili 83]

Mods,

I request that you issue me a Scoop helmet.  I find myself banging my head against the desk when I read some of these threads.  You have a responsibility to protect me from myself when logged in to Scoop.

[GooooMarquette]

Mods,

I request that you issue me a Scoop helmet.  I find myself banging my head against the desk when I read some of these threads.  You have a responsibility to protect me from myself when logged in to Scoop.

+1

I'd also add that a Scoop bubble-wrap suit would be helpful, as I often resort to various forms of self-mutilation.

STOP THE CARNAGE!

[muwarrior69]

HONESTLY MU82, IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH YOU WHEN CONSTANTLY LIE.  IT REALLY IS...OR IS LYING JUST EXAGGERATION. 

I'VE ADMITTED TO BEING WRONG MANY TIMES.  HERE'S A SUGGESTION FOR YOU, GO TO THE GAMES YOURSELF WITH A BEEKEEPER SUIT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A NET.  YOU CAN SHOW HOW MUCH SMARTER YOU ARE THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

Watch it, Chicos. They'll have to issue a beekeeper suits to every fan that enters the ball park plus have a net from foul pole to foul pole. Can't ever be too safe.

Isn't there an executive order implementing this as part of Obamacare?

[brandx]

HONESTLY MU82, IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH YOU WHEN CONSTANTLY LIE.  IT REALLY IS...OR IS LYING JUST EXAGGERATION. 

Candidate for ironic post of year?

Chicos calling someone else a liar?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Even if you see the the source, the ball is flying 100mph into the stands.  It's going to hit someone even if 100% of the fans are paying attention. The safety of fans shouldn't be dependent on how quick of hands they have.

And please stop it with the "softening of America" BS.  It's ridiculous.

I was pointing out the difference with hockey and baseball.

The ball rarely flies out at 100mph.  Sure, guys like Trout, etc, but that is not the norm.  It's still travelling fast, don't get me wrong.

Yes, the softening of America is alive and well.  You can call it BS, men are rolling in their graves at the continued softening.  I'm all for safety, but I'm also for balancing very little risk vs the reward, tradition, etc.   This is a complete overreaction to put nets foul pole to foul pole.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I was pointing out the difference with hockey and baseball.

The ball rarely flies out at 100mph.  Sure, guys like Trout, etc, but that is not the norm.  It's still travelling fast, don't get me wrong.

Yes, the softening of America is alive and well.  You can call it BS, men are rolling in their graves at the continued softening.  I'm all for safety, but I'm also for balancing very little risk vs the reward, tradition, etc.   This is a complete overreaction to put nets foul pole to foul pole.

America's standing in the world started downhill when the NFL installed pulley nets for extra points and field goals.  About this time Viagra was also introduced.

[brandx]

America's standing in the world started downhill when the NFL installed pulley nets for extra points and field goals.  About this time Viagra was also introduced.

Slippery slope

[keefe]

Yes, the softening of America is alive and well...men are rolling in their graves at the continued softening.

Speak for yourself, Bail Bondsman!

Every morning I emerge from my circus tent standing tall, proud, and erect. I usually have to wait about an hour before I can take my morning piss.

[ChicosBailBonds]

America's standing in the world started downhill when the NFL installed pulley nets for extra points and field goals.  About this time Viagra was also introduced.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Speak for yourself, Bail Bondsman!

Every morning I emerge from my circus tent standing tall, proud, and erect. I usually have to wait about an hour before I can take my morning piss.

Morning moose is always a good way to know you are alive.  We agree.

I'll be at the game tonight, Red Sox v Halos.  In foul ball line drive territory.  It is a risk we are comfortable with. 

And yes, if my dad were able to come back alive today and I took him to a game with nets from foul pole to foul pole, he'd ask to be reinserted into the ground.  He wouldn't be alone.  He was pragmatic as hell, and certainly didn't shun safety, but there is a point where things just go over the top to the level of ridiculousness. 

[naginiF]

Morning moose is always a good way to know you are alive.  We agree.

I'll be at the game tonight, Red Sox v Halos.  In foul ball line drive territory.  It is a risk we are comfortable with. 

And yes, if my dad were able to come back alive today and I took him to a game with nets from foul pole to foul pole, he'd ask to be reinserted into the ground. He wouldn't be alone.  He was pragmatic as hell, and certainly didn't shun safety, but there is a point where things just go over the top to the level of ridiculousness.

My dad would be in the exact same situation, but............he'd also not see much wrong in Mike Rice's motivational techniques. 

I don't like the idea of extending the nets either as I pay attention to what is going on around me but i don't think it's softening of people.  The nature of the experience is changing with ballpark apps and distractions, I don't see an issue with the environment changing in response to that.

The in-game experience that has changed is the ump now tosses a new ball out at the start of every side of an inning.  They've killed Mound Ball and nobody cared.

[GGGG]

An injury or hospitalization is a small price to pay when the "softening of America" is at stake.

[keefe]

An injury or hospitalization is a small price to pay when the "softening of America" is at stake.

You need to ask your wife or mistress(es) that question...

[ChicosBailBonds]

Happy to report that despite raining weather, the family wasn't injured (mildly or seriously) by any foul balls last night.  Nor was anyone else in the stadium.

[Coleman]

Home plate makes sense though. A foul tip off the bat straight back is scary as hell. How about a compromise bu extending the netting to the dugout. Once it gets past there the ball slows way down.

Seems reasonable.

[Benny B]

Just throwin' it out there....

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/in-split-second-9th-inning-stray-ball-fouls-fans-life-b99547082z1-319556091.html

I'm surprised that this thread started 7 days after the incident, yet nobody cited it.

Goes to show you that these things are happening more often than we realize.  And not just in our backyard, but as we're discussing it.

[tower912]

A net stretching at least past the dugouts seems such a small price to pay to avoid this. 

[GGGG]

A net stretching at least past the dugouts seems such a small price to pay to avoid this. 

Not when the softening of America is at stake.