Will MLB Now Extend The Netting Down The Foul Lines?

[DFSNOLE]

Young fan injured after being hit by ball in Bronx

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | @BryanHoch | September 20th, 2017
NEW YORK -- A young girl in the stands was struck by a batted ball in the fifth inning of the Yankees' 11-3 win against the Twins on Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, briefly delaying play on the field while players looked on, clearly shaken by the situation.

Facing Minnesota left-hander Nik Turley, New York's Todd Frazier hit a foul ball down the left-field line that went into the stands. Frazier stepped out of the batter's box and crouched, saying a silent prayer and kissing his bat as medical personnel provided assistance and transported the fan from the seating area.

"I hope she's all right," Frazier said later, his voice cracking. "It's just something that I wish never happened. It was tough to watch and tough to be a part of, to be honest. I thought of my kids. I have two kids under 3 years old. I just hope she's all right."

<snip>

Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed the broader matter of fan safety at a previously scheduled news conference in Seattle.

"It remains an ongoing discussion in the industry," Manfred said. "We gave some guidelines two years ago and what we've done since then is encourage the individual clubs to engage in a localized process, look at their own stadiums -- every stadium is different -- and try to make a good decision about how far the netting should go in order to promote fan safety. If you look at what's happened, there has been a continuous forward movement in terms of increased netting in stadiums around the leagues, and I expect that process will continue this offseason."

Several Yankees players, including Brett Gardner, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Judgeand Frazier, said that they would be in favor of expanded netting to the ends of each dugout at Yankee Stadium. In August, the Yankees said that they were "seriously exploring" such an extension.

Twins manager Paul Molitor did not see it happen live from the visitors' dugout, but it's moments like these that the Twins want to avoid after installing protective netting that extends to the far end of their dugouts prior to the 2016 season at Target Field.

"I saw the reaction of people around there, our third-base coach, our players," Molitor said. "I'm not sure what's going on [when] that happens. But it stops you in your tracks and gives you perspective."

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/255252248/young-fan-hit-by-foul-ball-in-twins-yanks-game/

 

[seminole97]

It seems trivially simple to do, and honestly I've never noticed the net at Howser interfering with my view or anything.
I'm not sure what the con arguments even are...

 

[LikeaG5]

As long as they make it like hockey where it doesn't effect viewing.

 

[DFSNOLE]

It seems trivially simple to do, and honestly I've never noticed the net at Howser interfering with my view or anything.
I'm not sure what the con arguments even are...

The only con I could think of would be some type of obstructed view. But I agree, I look right through the net at Howser like it's not even there.

 

[NJDoak]

I think the Mets installed netting this year at Citi Field. Its necessary now. Too many people not paying attention to the game, as well as these insane exit velo stats.

Im really surprised a pitcher hasn't taken one off the head this year.

 

[mcgrawfsu]

I think the Mets installed netting this year at Citi Field. Its necessary now. Too many people not paying attention to the game, as well as these insane exit velo stats.

Im really surprised a pitcher hasn't taken one off the head this year.

I'm amazed at how many people in box seats don't pay attention. They are on their phone constantly. My son is 12 and a good baseball player, and I still make sure I'm between him and the batter so I can stop anything coming at him.

And the exit velo is crazy. I watched a 14u Perfect Game tournament a couple weeks ago that clocked a 14 year old kid at 100mph with a wood bat.

 

[NDallasRuss]

This is a really dumb thing to me. I've been to a lot of baseball games, and I've taken my kid to most of them. Any time we site down one of the base lines, I sit in the seat closer to home plate, and she sits on the other side of me. If a foul ball comes at us, it hits me, and not her.

Child safety is the parents' responsibility. Foul balls aren't a new thing - the parents should know about them after 100+ years. Either protect your kid while you're sitting there, or sit somewhere else where there's not the same risk.

But McGraw is right - the people that sit there now seems to spend most of the game with their heads in their phones, and have no idea what's going on around them. A) Why did they come to the game? B) It's predictable that one of them is going to get drilled with a ball. As long as baseball is covering their A's from liability, it's on the individuals to keep themselves from being hit by a foul ball.

It sucks for the kid that got hit, but the parents should be held liable for negligence.

 

[321Nole]

Given that stadiums are now equipped with WiFi there is no expectation that fans are going to pay attention to every pitch. Seems like there is no downside to extra netting.

Agree with the others saying they don't even notice the netting when they're behind it.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Given that stadiums are now equipped with WiFi there is no expectation that fans are going to pay attention to every pitch. Seems like there is no downside to extra netting.

Agree with the others saying they don't even notice the netting when they're behind it.

This is a good point. Tough to ask why people have their heads buried in phones when stadiums are adding Wifi, which they have to do b/c without it fewer fans would show up.

There's no reason not to augment netting except for a few callous trolls who'll freak out about tradition, the wussification of America, and "if you can't keep your eyes on the game, you deserve it".

 

[skramer100]

This is a really dumb thing to me. I've been to a lot of baseball games, and I've taken my kid to most of them. Any time we site down one of the base lines, I sit in the seat closer to home plate, and she sits on the other side of me. If a foul ball comes at us, it hits me, and not her.

Child safety is the parents' responsibility. Foul balls aren't a new thing - the parents should know about them after 100+ years. Either protect your kid while you're sitting there, or sit somewhere else where there's not the same risk.

But McGraw is right - the people that sit there now seems to spend most of the game with their heads in their phones, and have no idea what's going on around them. A) Why did they come to the game? B) It's predictable that one of them is going to get drilled with a ball. As long as baseball is covering their A's from liability, it's on the individuals to keep themselves from being hit by a foul ball.

It sucks for the kid that got hit, but the parents should be held liable for negligence.

To be fair, in today's society if you do not post it on Facebook were you really there?

 

[PoopandBoogers]

As soon as I saw that little girl get knocked out, I knew the netting was going to be an issue. (And a positive one at that). But jeez, if youre sitting along the foul lines by the dugouts, keep your damn head on a swivel, especially with a small child. Seems like common sense.

 

[CC0492]

It doesn't take 2 damn years to "discuss" and "explore" the idea of extending netting on the field! This BS needs to be mandated by the Commish and every owner who hasn't extended the netting yet (after 2 damn years) needs to be pressured and called out publicly.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

It doesn't take 2 damn years to "discuss" and "explore" the idea of extending netting on the field! This BS needs to be mandated by the Commish and every owner who hasn't extended the netting yet (after 2 damn years) needs to be pressured and called out publicly.

they'll all do it once the lawsuits start

call be jaded but i hardly think mlb cares about fan safety, they dearly care about financial liability though.

 

[F4Gary]

They did a segment on this on 60 minutes last year I think. Even fans that are in tune with the game have been hit and injured.
In Japan they have the netting and they have a few rows in front of the netting. Anyone that wants to sit there, pays extra and is required to wear a batting helmet and a baseball glove.
There is no excuse not to have the netting like Howser does. So what if a few fans don't get to keep a foul ball.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Anyone that wants to sit there, pays extra and is required to wear a batting helmet and a baseball glove.

 

[DFSNOLE]

They did a segment on this on 60 minutes last year I think. Even fans that are in tune with the game have been hit and injured.

No doubt. The ball that hit the little girl came off the bat at 105mph and was hooking. Very few people on earth have any experience with that situation. I know every father would do all they could to protect their child but they aren't dealing with anything most have dealt with before.

 

[F4Gary]

Just what I said. The ball park in Japan that 60 minutes showed, had a few rows that weren't protected and the fans that wanted to sit there had to wear helmets.
Plus their fencing goes all the way down the baseline. The overhead netting ends at about the far end of the dugout.
Google some Jap. baseball parks and you'll see the netting/fencing.

 

[FSUdawg]

I have no issue with adding the netting, but I think they should offer seats in front of the netting. As for the requirement to wear helmets and have a glove, screw that. By having a seat in front of the netting you should be agreeing to the added risks.

Comparing Howser to an MLB ballpark is like comparing apples to oranges to me. It isn't the same to interact with college kids as it is with major league players, not that a majority are even paying attention anymore at MLB games.

Would it make it safer? Yes
Would it detract from the overall experience? IMO Yes

Also, regarding the velocity of the balls coming off the bat, they really aren't that much different than they were, 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. It is just that now almost every player hits that hard instead of only a few in the middle of the lineup, and we are more aware of it these days.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Just what I said. The ball park in Japan that 60 minutes showed, had a few rows that weren't protected and the fans that wanted to sit there had to wear helmets.
Plus their fencing goes all the way down the baseline. The overhead netting ends at about the far end of the dugout.
Google some Jap. baseball parks and you'll see the netting/fencing.

Were the helmets the white ones they always wore in the Godzilla flicks?

 

[DFSNOLE]

Also, regarding the velocity of the balls coming off the bat, they really aren't that much different than they were, 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. It is just that now almost every player hits that hard instead of only a few in the middle of the lineup, and we are more aware of it these days.

Baseballs have changed a lot throughout the years and that adds to the velocity off the bat tremendously. As the players have gotten bigger and stronger, the balls have become less juiced. Now, all the talk is the balls are juiced again. Homeruns are being hit a a record pace, especially in a non steroid era.

 

[F4Gary]

Were the helmets the white ones they always wore in the Godzilla flicks?

They do have some pretty weird balloons for their crowds.

 

[Fijimn]

This is a really dumb thing to me. I've been to a lot of baseball games, and I've taken my kid to most of them. Any time we site down one of the base lines, I sit in the seat closer to home plate, and she sits on the other side of me. If a foul ball comes at us, it hits me, and not her.

Child safety is the parents' responsibility. Foul balls aren't a new thing - the parents should know about them after 100+ years. Either protect your kid while you're sitting there, or sit somewhere else where there's not the same risk.

But McGraw is right - the people that sit there now seems to spend most of the game with their heads in their phones, and have no idea what's going on around them. A) Why did they come to the game? B) It's predictable that one of them is going to get drilled with a ball. As long as baseball is covering their A's from liability, it's on the individuals to keep themselves from being hit by a foul ball.

It sucks for the kid that got hit, but the parents should be held liable for negligence.

I mean no offense, but this is classic blame the victim based on confirmation bias. You have no idea how much "look out" the parents were giving. You assume that they were distracted because they were looking at their phones or something else. You do not recognize that the reaction time is sub-2 seconds. People like to believe that they would be able to protect themselves or their kids but that simply is bias.

 

[DFSNOLE]

 

[DanC78]

I hope so, its long over do.

Was at a Rays game 2 years ago where they carted of TWO people in the same section. They got hammered!!!! After seeing I vowed to never sit lower level again if not directly behind net.

I'm telling you, those balls were hit hard and on a line right to the face.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I mean no offense, but this is classic blame the victim based on confirmation bias. You have no idea how much "look out" the parents were giving. You assume that they were distracted because they were looking at their phones or something else. You do not recognize that the reaction time is sub-2 seconds. People like to believe that they would be able to protect themselves or their kids but that simply is bias.

I guess I don't see them as "victims". There's a warning on the tickets. There are signs posted about foul balls. There's 100+ years of baseball history. To me, it's just parents that took a risk at the expense of the kid. Now, as a result, they're going to change the experience for everyone else.

And, having gone to plenty of games, and sat in similar seats, I'm familiar with the reaction time.

 

[DanC78]

Real Sports did a piece on this.

 

[DanC78]

 

[F4Gary]

Real Sports did a piece on this.

View embedded media

That's the piece I mistakenly thought was on 60 minutes. It was very eye opening.
Thanks for finding that.

That second video shows the helmet and glove, unprotected seats I was talking about.

 

[squiffynole]

I shudder when balls kareen into the bleachers at Howser.

 

[mcgrawfsu]

Baseballs have changed a lot throughout the years and that adds to the velocity off the bat tremendously. As the players have gotten bigger and stronger, the balls have become less juiced. Now, all the talk is the balls are juiced again. Homeruns are being hit a a record pace, especially in a non steroid era.

The MLB network guys keep trying to say the increase in bat speed and homeruns is due to players having a better understanding of launch angles. While that may be the case for some of the homeruns, the top to bottom increase in exit velo is absolutely due to the baseballs. Before spring training even started, a friend of mine involved at a high level with MLB was having beers with a Rawlings exec during the winter meetings. The Rawlings guy told him this year's baseball is the hardest they've ever made. Again, this conversation took place before anyone would see the offensive production this year.

 

[tarheelinfl]

It seems trivially simple to do, and honestly I've never noticed the net at Howser interfering with my view or anything.
I'm not sure what the con arguments even are...

There are no logical con arguments!
My avatar is the AA park here in Pensacola, taken from behind the netting, you don't even notice it at the games!

 

[cmanole]

I hope so, its long over do.

Was at a Rays game 2 years ago where they carted of TWO people in the same section. They got hammered!!!! After seeing I vowed to never sit lower level again if not directly behind net.

I'm telling you, those balls were hit hard and on a line right to the face.

Due. Overdue. Seriously bro, how did you graduate HS?

 

[DanC78]

Due. Overdue. Seriously bro, how did you graduate HS?

Go pop a pill

 

[cmanole]

Go pop a pill

Got one? I'm just ribbon you bro, lighten up...

 

[DanC78]

Got one? I'm just ribbing you bro, lighten up...

Im sorry Cman, didn't mean to upset you, I was just throwin a little jab back, no big deal

You okay? We cool?

 

[DFSNOLE]

Im sorry Cman, didn't mean to upset you, I was just throwin a little jab back, no big deal

You okay? We cool?