It was announced yesterday that starting on Opening Day of this season, all Major League Baseball teams will be required to have protective netting at least to the far end of each dugout in order to protect fans from foul balls and/or bats that may be launched into the stands during games. In my opinion, this is something that is long overdue.
Going to see a baseball game is an experience that every fan should be able to enjoy. I still remember the first baseball game I ever witnessed in person at Shea Stadium many years ago. Walking up the stairs and into your seating section for the first time gives you an unbelievable feeling. Seeing the freshly trimmed grass and the carefully maintained infield gives young fans a feeling of awe and amazement. No matter how many games a young kid might watch on television, it in no way comes close to the feeling of seeing a game in person for the first time. Hearing the crack of the bat and the snapping of a catcher's mitt is unlike anything else when you are there for the first time. No matter where your seats are, it is something you will never forget. Being able to witness a game from only a few rows back is even better, and is an even more unforgettable experience. However, with that up close and personal experience comes some dangers that now it seems the league is finally stepping up and trying to legitimately prevent.
Forgive me for not remembering who said this, but I do recall a third base coach in recent years saying that he was more concerned with the safety of fans when it comes to hard hit foul balls than his own safety, despite the fact that he is much closer to the action than any fans are. Coaches and players alike, while on the field, are totally focused on the game. Since that is the case, there are constantly aware of what is going on, and in most cases able to escape any danger caused by line drives outside the field of play. The same cannot be said for all fans though. Once again, I apologize for not remembering who said this, but he said that he would look into the stands and see so many people not completely focused on the game that he feared far more for their safety. Whether it was people with their heads buried in their phones, or younger fans just simply with an attention span not long enough to be aware during every pitch, there are many people in the stands who are very vulnerable when it comes to errant foul balls.
Although it does not happen often, there have been some cases of fans being seriously injured by balls or bats flying into the stands. The most recent example was a young girl hit by a scorching line drive just last season. Even if fans are focused on the game, it is sometimes hard to react in time to avoid balls that can be hit at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. For that reason, I am glad that the league is mandating that all teams be required to have protective netting that extends to the far ends of both dugouts. Opponents of this idea will say that it takes away the ability to have the thrill of catching a foul ball, but I think the positives of doing this far outweigh the negatives. If one had to choose between catching a foul ball or trying to avoid a line drive hit directly at them while they may or may not be paying attention, I think any sensible person would choose the safety that the nets will now provide.
Could having front row seats at a baseball game be the thrill of a lifetime? Yes, it could be. The proximity to the players and the field is understandably exhilarating. Being able to sit that close to the field and maybe even getting the autograph of your favorite player makes the price of admission absolutely worth it. But despite that, I still cannot understand how anyone would be against this happening.
The NFL has netting that they lift up behind the goal posts any time a field goal or extra point is being attempted. When neither of those are happening, the netting is taken down, and I think if baseball could institute something like that, it would be good for everyone. That way, prior to any game, fans would still be able to experience the intimacy of being so close to their favorite players. At the same time, once the game started, they would also be protected from possibly fatal occurrences. In this age where so many people have attention spans that are seemingly infinitesimal, everyone would benefit from protective netting, and I applaud Major League Baseball for making sure that this happens in all 30 parks throughout the league.
The fan experience at a baseball game should provide many things. Entertainment and excitement are two of the most important things it should provide, but the safety of the fans should supersede everything else. Traditionalists might argue that this change is not for the better, but after a short period of time, this is something that everyone will get used to, and in the not too distant future, it will be accepted and be considered both normal and necessary. There are many things in this world that exist now but may not have initially been met with complete approval. However, many of those things are now accepted as normal, and I think this change will surely be one of those things. Soon people will stop complaining about netting causing a view that will hardly be obstructed and while it might not protect every fan during every game, I am sure that it will prevent that obscure case of a foul ball causing serious injury to a fan.
As I said before, going to a game is an experience like no other, especially if you are there for the first time. All fans should be able to be guaranteed that the experience is not only fun, but also totally safe, and I think the institution of this rule by Major League Baseball will assure that happens for every fan in the ballpark.
Daily Rangers Update: A disappointing shutout loss at home to Toronto tonight dropped the Rangers out of a playoff spot, but there are still a lot of games left to play. At this point though, my expectations are not very high for the team, even if they do make the playoffs.
Daily NBA Update: James Harden had yet another big night as the Rockets went into San Antonio and got an impressive win against a very good Spurs team. If anyone can knock off the Warriors, I think Houston might be that team.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Alex Avila was signed with an invitation to spring training yesterday, and if nothing else he will at least provide depth at catcher, which was one of the weaker parts of the team last year. It will also be very interesting to see who wins the closer job going into the season, as I think the spot is fully up for grabs with a whole lot of potential candidates to do the job.
Daily Giants Update: Nothing too much to update here, as it is pretty much just a countdown to the draft for the team now. I did see an interview with Sam Darnold this morning, and I was impressed with how he answered the questions that were posed to him. I'm not sure if he will end up being the best quarterback in this draft class, but I initially liked Josh Rosen the best. With the second overall selection, the Giants will definitely have a shot at getting at least one of those guys, and maybe be able to choose between both of them. I expect the new front office to make the right choice, and I could see why they might be impressed by either of those kids.
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