default
Member
Saw a third baseman in a middle school game take a line drive to the mask. She ended up with a pretty good concussion even with the mask on. It's not worth the risk...
default
Member
If ever you don't know the answer to something, say 'money' and you will be correct 95% of the time. The bat manufacturers make insane money on these composite bats and guess who sponsors many of the national and world tournaments. Associations and Organizations continue to put out new bat standards and the manufacturers keep figuring out ways to beat them. In slow pitch, instead of eliminating composite bats, they continued to dumb down the ball to the point where if you didn't have a $300 bat, you would not reach the grass. And, since every Association had their own standards, you had to have multiple bats at $300 a pop. And if the sport is not dangerous enough, you have your heroes that think bat shaving is a good idea. Go back to 1 piece aluminum bats and be done with it already. Softball used to be about the batter, but anymore it is often about the bat. The worst thing that ever happened to the game is when the 'warning track' players got a taste of hitting the bomb. Now, they will never go back....no matter what the cost.
default
Member
You can't wait for the sanctioning bodies to modify anything. Little League still doesn't require face masks on batting helmets at any age. The bats are manufactured to a certain bounce and that isn't going to change. The balls are standardized and they won't change. The offense has won. No surprise there.
You have got to protect the face of your dd's. The threat to their face is not that they will be merely disfigured but that they could be blinded and brain damaged. Each eye has several bones around it that are paper thin and are easily crushed. Trauma to the eye can cause serious nerve damage and her vision can be effected. A $40 face mask can protect her.
A blow to her body or her knee will leave a mark but will not result in this level of trauma. You don't need to wrap them in bubble wrap head to toe. You do need to protect their vision, their face, their teeth and their jaw. The mask doesn't a change the game and although still a personal choice, it shouldn't be optional for your dd. If she is a pitcher or corner make her wear it and avoid a trip to the ER. I have and two players suffer a facial injury. One is now 23 and suffers form blurred vision, the other has had three surgeries to repair her orbitals and restore vision; both injuries would have been prevented by a mask.
Buy a mask and make your dd wear it. No discussion.
You have got to protect the face of your dd's. The threat to their face is not that they will be merely disfigured but that they could be blinded and brain damaged. Each eye has several bones around it that are paper thin and are easily crushed. Trauma to the eye can cause serious nerve damage and her vision can be effected. A $40 face mask can protect her.
A blow to her body or her knee will leave a mark but will not result in this level of trauma. You don't need to wrap them in bubble wrap head to toe. You do need to protect their vision, their face, their teeth and their jaw. The mask doesn't a change the game and although still a personal choice, it shouldn't be optional for your dd. If she is a pitcher or corner make her wear it and avoid a trip to the ER. I have and two players suffer a facial injury. One is now 23 and suffers form blurred vision, the other has had three surgeries to repair her orbitals and restore vision; both injuries would have been prevented by a mask.
Buy a mask and make your dd wear it. No discussion.
default
Member
When I brought up the other injuries I did not mean to associate the trauma of a blown knee to that of a catastrophic head injury. My point was/is that we are talking about a matter of feet between injured areas. That equates to a very small change in launch angle of the ball off the bat. In that regard the issue is still the same. The reaction time caused by the bat and ball specs effects all forms of these injuries. Does the mask help - absolutely. Should it be mandated - probably. But I totally disagree with the assertion that we could not require changes to the ball and/or bat. Parents will still buy bats at the same frequency as they do now - that has NOT changed for 17 years. Heck parents buy new bats when the old ones are still perfectly good because the color combination changed and the player likes it better. Teams and tournaments will still have to buy balls. That is not going to change. The number of balls purchased might go up if the change in composition effects the durability of the ball. To me those arguments against spec changes simply do not hold water.
BTW - for all you engineers out there........has anyone EVER been able to find the specifics of why the exit speeds are set where they are? If so please post them. I would like to know how those that assigned those numbers compared the exit speeds to reaction times at various age levels and release points (pitch) of the sport. I would also be interested in how different ball cores and compressions effect those exit speeds. Maybe knowing those things will help me understand how these bodies are truly testing and regulating the sport with true safety in mind.
BTW - for all you engineers out there........has anyone EVER been able to find the specifics of why the exit speeds are set where they are? If so please post them. I would like to know how those that assigned those numbers compared the exit speeds to reaction times at various age levels and release points (pitch) of the sport. I would also be interested in how different ball cores and compressions effect those exit speeds. Maybe knowing those things will help me understand how these bodies are truly testing and regulating the sport with true safety in mind.
default
Member
Like I said before why wait until you get an injury to protect yourself or your child! Just wear the equipment available to do so.
default
Member
I saw a young lady pitcher (12U) take a line drive to her chest this weekend (NO heart guard). She went out of the game and was not in great shape at all. IMO corners wear masks, an ALL pitchers have masks and heart guards. I don't care great a fleder you think you are, the odds are not in your favor.
default
Member
Just read another article today on this topic- http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/...r-changes-in-the-sport-259867551.html?ref=551 This topic is definitely continuing to get a lot of press but I still think players/parents/coaches should still be better informed. It seems leagues or states are only talking about it if something happens to a player rather than taking action before something happens. Just like Jwes17 said, we shouldn't wait until we get injured to protect ourselves.
default
Member
My comments are not meant to discourage the revising of bat and ball specs but to encourage you to do something proactive NOW to protect your dd's. Waiting for league mandates can be measured in decades and may be in place for your grandchildren, put a mask on your dd's now.
default
Member
Quick question;
Is there anyone out there whose daughter is 15 or younger, Pitches or plays the corner and Does Not wear a mask?
If so just say why.
Is there anyone out there whose daughter is 15 or younger, Pitches or plays the corner and Does Not wear a mask?
If so just say why.
default
Member
I think Corners and Pitchers not wearing masks will be a rare as this:
View attachment 1642
if not now Soon.
default
Member
Hey how did you get my picture. lol
default
Member
I really don't think many will come on here and admit that as they would get crucified by just about everybody on this board.....just saying
default
Member
Safety equipment for some reason seems to be a problem more so in ladies sports. They have to look good while playing... BA has been around a long time in Mens and Boys softball/baseball. The use of other padding including ****** shin guards has been around for decades?
If you need a reason to have pitchers wear a mask...2009 NSA A world series I seen a pitcher from an ILL team get pasted by a player from a Michigan team at Berliner.
Only thing keeping her teeth in her head was her braces on the back teeth. Yes, she was hauled out in the meat wagon and I am sure had a long road back if she even made it back?
While pitching BP at 12U I got drilled..It knocked out a couple teeth, cracked my Jaw and orbital bone. I do not pitch in games / practice anymore? My wife has a picture I will post...
If you need a reason to have pitchers wear a mask...2009 NSA A world series I seen a pitcher from an ILL team get pasted by a player from a Michigan team at Berliner.
Only thing keeping her teeth in her head was her braces on the back teeth. Yes, she was hauled out in the meat wagon and I am sure had a long road back if she even made it back?
While pitching BP at 12U I got drilled..It knocked out a couple teeth, cracked my Jaw and orbital bone. I do not pitch in games / practice anymore? My wife has a picture I will post...
default
Member
I think it is more of an issue in boys baseball because they want to show that they are tough and not afraid of the ball.
default
Member
Baseball players in college or playing high level travel have been using BA for years....Most people cannot even tell the players have it on with the baggy uniforms of today,,,Since the 90s evosheild, hexpads and other protective equipment got their start in baseball and slow pitch and are working there way into fastpitch. My DD has on evosheild in the avatar above and if I did not tell you you would have never known...
Now I do agree when it comes to facemask you will not see it too much in baseball or mens.
However; these sports have the defenders are 80 to 100 feet waay from the batter with the exception of the pitcher so they have additional reaction time unlike fastpitch where a defender can be 30 feet away from a hitter....
default
Member
Heart guards and Rip-it's should be mandatory for pitchers. Also all infield should have a rip-it on! There is to many line drive balls hit straight at the girls to chance it. The price we pay for our daughters to play is little next to nothing if they get hurt it could scare them for life and the love of the game!
default
Member
I agree - just wondered if there is some counter argument that I haven't thought of that makes any sense.
for the record: "She doesn't like them" is Not a good argument
default
Member
As people mentioned in previous posts, college pitchers are starting to wear masks so hopefully will encourage other pitchers and corners to wear masks.
default
Member
We played a team in 12u where 1st didn't wear a mask. 1/2 way through the game the pitcher started to struggle so she took off her mask. My DD was up to bat at the time and I was coaching 1st, my wife said a look of horror crossed my face.
default
Member
Let's not forget the "expense" for facial and dental reconstruction. Those are far greater than your current fees. You can't put a price on being scared due to any situation that takes your drive and love of the sport away.
