Perspective

by Chris... on Jun 26, 2008 1:54 AM EDT in News

News flash:

O'Nora was injured in the bottom of the second inning when Olivo's bat snapped on a groundout to shortstop. With blood pouring down his face, O'Nora rushed to Kansas City's dugout, where Jose Guillen quickly covered the umpire's head with a towel. O'Nora came out of the game and was treated by Kansas City trainer Nick Swartz. The Royals later announced that the umpire had a small cut on his forehead and was taken to St. Luke's Hospital for further evaluation.

Buster Olney, ESPN:

[The maple-bat issue] ...needs to be addressed ASAP, because something really, really awful is just one pitch away from happening while the chances of something awful could be greatly diminished. Pirates coach Don Long was gouged in the face by a broken bat in April, and this is what everybody knows: His injury could have been much, much worse.

Curtis Granderson, ESPN:

The major concern is with fans. There usually is very little room to escape from flying objects coming into the stands. One suggestion is to extend the netting from the home plate area down the first- and third-base lines.

A small cut? From getting hit by a piece of wood? And now it's time to coat the entire sport in protective netting? Are you fricking kidding me?

Right. And then there's Cycling:

Guy who fell off the bridge? He's starting the Tour. Yo, baseball... HTFU!!!

0 recs | Comment 24 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

that really

pisses me off

"it's about time people started looking for themselves and started creating themselves." - G.B Shaw

by randie on Jun 26, 2008 5:39 AM EDT 0 recs

To quote

the late, great George Carlin:

“In baseball, the object is to go home. ‘Cmon everyone – we’re going home!’ “

Cyclists ride with injuries every day that would shelve a baseball player for the season.

"Hey, hey, settle down boys and girls or Krusty will have to bring out his old friend Corporal Punishment again."

by Drew... on Jun 26, 2008 6:12 AM EDT 0 recs

Is this a case of:

How about them apples?

You can't lose against Italy, we can only fail to win - Johan Cruijff

by DZI on Jun 26, 2008 7:16 AM EDT 0 recs

This baseball you speak of

Is it mainly played by five year old girls?

by Jens on Jun 26, 2008 7:32 AM EDT 0 recs

You're missing the point

It’s all about the fans. Yes, the scratch on the umpire was way over the top in the drama department, and the player’s reaction to it was over the top as well.

However, the netting is there to protect the fans, not the actual players or umpires. It’s about the fans, and it makes sense. If there is a fear of death/injury of being a spectator, your league better do something to alleviate this fear. A couple of years ago, a small child was killed at a hockey game after a puck flew into the stands. The NHL reacted accordingly by putting up nets along the goal line.

I’ve sat front row behind the dugout at a baseball game with my three year old niece and it was the most terrifying game I’ve ever watched. Every swing of the bat had me flinching to grab her if a ball came screaming her way at more than 100mph. Not the most fun I’ve had at the ballpark, and I wouldn’t sit that close again with a small child I was responsible for.

Also, lets not forget, or gloss over the threat to players from flying bats and balls. Last year alone, a minor league coach was killed by a foul ball and a St. Louis Cardinals player had his career ended when a foul ball hit him in the eye, breaking all of his orbital bones and causing him to lose most of his vision in that eye.

But, like I said earlier, it’s all about the fans. If there was a potential for a cycling spectator to be severely injured while simple watching the sport, then there would be a reaction similar to baseball’s on behalf of the sport.

For example, if team cars start hitting and killing spectators on mountains where the streets are lined with spectators, the race organization would probably mandate barriers protecting the fans.

It’s not about the players/riders. When they sign the contract to play, they accept the responsibility that they may be injured. It’s all about the fans and protecting them. So, I think the point of “baseball players are sissies” is a tad off. Baseball is merely protecting its investment . They would be stupid not to.

by PopUp Rolen on Jun 26, 2008 8:16 AM EDT 0 recs

?!

You may be taking Chris’ post a wee bit too seriously.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jun 26, 2008 8:32 AM EDT up 0 recs

definitely not taking it too seriously

as I rarely take anything too seriously. Just thought it was a bit unfair to be piling on baseball players when they are not the ones complaining about the threat.

Also, I work with and among ball players, and while I agree that 99% of them don’t have anywhere near the grinta as a cyclist, I just don’t want to overlook the fact that every day, they stare down a little white ball coming at them at 90+ mph from 60 feet, 6 inches. There are definite job risks.

As you can tell, I loves me some baseball as much as I loves me some Ricardo Ricco.

by PopUp Rolen on Jun 26, 2008 8:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

Cubs or Sox?

Inquiring minds… :) Did you got to the cross town classic? I had to pass on tix to Sat’s game because of family stuff back home. They were sweet too. 3rd base, about 10 rows up. I almost cried. :(

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jun 26, 2008 9:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

Neither!

Grew up in St. Louis, so I’m a Cardinals fan. I root for the South Siders though mainly due to my disdain for all things Cubdom

by PopUp Rolen on Jun 26, 2008 10:08 AM EDT up 1 recs

I grew up a Brewers fan

but I love going to games down here. I currently work with a mix of die hard Cubs, Sox, and Cardinal fans. Always fun times here when they play each other. I stay out of the taunting as it’s not my sport but I do enjoy the giggles from it all!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jun 26, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

same here

go cards

Viva la Lactique

by nrs5000 on Jun 26, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's my god given right as a European to make fun of baseball

by Jens on Jun 26, 2008 10:40 AM EDT up 0 recs

Can I opt into that one as a Canadian?

by Hons on Jun 26, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

how about as a Western Canadian?

we get really really tired of hearing about the Blue Jays as if they’re “Canada’s home team” – I don’t live in Toronto and I don’t particularly enjoy watching baseball!

by guidemd on Jun 26, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Imagine..

if Ricco took up baseball. Oi.

by ursula on Jun 26, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up 0 recs

I'll agree

that the balls issue is one fans live with. We’ve all lived with line drives since the game opened its doors. And nobody’s complaining… quite like Cycling, where we accept the risk. Which makes this national outcry over wooden bats, a far less likely threat, all the more ridiculous. Even by baseball’s ridiculous standards.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jun 26, 2008 10:34 AM EDT up 0 recs

+1

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jun 26, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up 0 recs

You're right

It’s a matter of kinetic energy…
I’d rather get hit by the broken head of a maple bat than the baseball that gets ejected from an aluminum one. I’d expect that the wooden bat is actually safer in the long run (splinters and all) than a comparable aluminum one.

by cavortingEagle on Jun 26, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

CHOPPER REID...

could not have said it better!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on Jun 26, 2008 8:35 AM EDT 0 recs

fyi

@ the d3 school I work at, the sport year-in/year-out with the most injuries is baseball.

Repetitive motion and overuse injuries. They’re not glamorous and they don’t get a lot of sympathy, but they happen and most of the time the kids try to play through them. Tough comes in all sorts of flavors.

Next on the list of injury-prone sports: swimming.

Luckily for the training staff, we don’t offer competitive rodeo . . .

by R Mc on Jun 26, 2008 8:55 AM EDT 0 recs