this coulda been worse

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/He-s-OK-folks-Indians-David-Huff-takes-A-Rod-?urn=mlb,244510

Man, that sucks. I know that had to scare A Rod to death.

Hopefully this will get MLB off their butts and put a hard cap on the pitcher.

That Hurts!! I still have the crooked nose to prove it. I can't imagine taking one from A-Rod.

Kia_racer wrote: Hopefully this will get MLB off their butts and put a hard cap on the pitcher.

I don't think you'll ever see that happen.

I think you will see the players union mandate something, or at least start seeing individual pitchers begin doing something before Bud Selig gets off his can to do anything remotely responsible or positive - about the only positive behavior the commish participates in is adding more positive deposits to his checking account. I know if I was working at the position held by the only on the job death in my profession in the last century, I personally would take some safety measures into my own hands, but thats just how I roll.

1 death in the last 100 years?

The players are adults. If they wanted to protect themselves, they'd be doing it.

John Olerud wore a helmet while playing first base, as additional protection after suffering a brain aneurysm and hemorrhage in college.

Back in the late 70's, Gary Roenicke wore a batting helmet with a chin guard after being struck in the jaw by a pitch.

The Pirates' Dave Parker even played with a goalie's mask after a similar injury.

Baseball has shown some allowance for personal protective equipment of the players' choice (just look at the elbow guards), but I don't think you'll see anything mandated for years. The ability to pitch at the major league level is such a unique skill (thus the designated hitter), and anything that adds a pound to the pitcher's head could throw off his mechanics enough to affect his control.

You will see this mandate in Little League, and probably soon, but until an entire generation grows through the system and it becomes second nature, you won't see it in the bigs. If they won't stop a basebal game when the pitcher, catcher and batter are amidst a swarm of bugs, they're not going to make the pitcher wear a helmet.

Thinking that the player's union will mandate this is insane. The only thing that they would mandate is more money for the players.

This could be the perfect application for a shear thickening fluid hat - normally soft, turns solid when hit.

GameboyRMH wrote: This could be the perfect application for a shear thickening fluid hat - normally soft, turns solid when hit.

d3o is some interesting stuff alright. They already use is in beanies and stocking cap for snow boarding. I could easily see it in use for a baseball cap.

cycling was very anti-helmet as recently as the 90s. I think the death of one of Armstrong's team-mates had some part in the push for mandatory use. as for baseball, congrats to L.S.U., suck it Bama