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are you sure that someone isn't smokin' crack trying to make those analogies all work out
But now, let's get to the meat. Are the parents/coaches who feel that making masks mandatory (or who already require them for their teams) STILL using the highest rated "legal" bats available? Granted, the bats are "approved" and "legal for use", but so aren't many other things we use around our kids.
are you sure that someone isn't smokin' crack trying to make those analogies all work out
Absolutely we're still using them. When our fielders put the masks on we're not worried about OUR bats! What team will voluntarily place itself at a disadvantage by reducing it's offensive weaponry? NONE.
I know you want us all to rise up and create a movement to change the bats and balls. What would such a movement consist of? I really have no idea but you seem to have some answers. You feel so strongly about it, start the movement and see who jumps in. I'm not saying you're wrong but talking about a movement and starting one are two different things.
My point earlier when I asked about why baseball made the change had to do with lawsuits. Isn't that really what causes safety related changes? Past lawsuits or fear of new ones? And for that to happen, someone must be damaged and then willing to take up the legal battle. Often these battles take years and thousands in legal fees. I guess my thinking is - "if it happens, it happens - in the meantime our kids continue to wear the mask."
Insurance companies are eventually going to get in on this and mandate the use of masks. Many rec leagues have had to construct ByLaws to this effect. There is a big push by The American Opthomalogic Assoc. to get this done.
So, after the first KY game today, during highlights, ESPN showed the girl from Baylor fouling the ball off her bat into her face without a protective mask on the helmet. They explained how gruesome it was, and how she suffered MULTIPLE FACIAL FRACTURES. The anchor then throws it over to Stacie Nuveman, NCAA all time HR leader, multiple time Olympian, current SDSU asst coach, yadda yadda yadda, and she basically poo-poos the entire incident in regards to wearing a mask on the batting helmet....I was infuriated!!
She stated how in "youth" levels many organizations are mandating the helmet masks, and then stated how she didn't like them, and thought they were cumbersome. Fine. Leave it at that.
No, she then proceeds with a smirk saying how she makes fun of her players that wear them, and chides them to "toughen up", and that it is "part of the game", and then glazes over the fact that this player BROKE HER FACE, stating that "doctors were going to have to determine if she will be ready to play next weekend if Baylor makes it through".....with a BROKEN FACE!!!
I have posted before, I do NOT agree with the organizational mandate route. I believe it is the individual's or parent's or even a coach's decision. HOWEVER...I think it is deplorable for a giant of the game to use the spotlight of a national forum to deliver that kind of ignorant and misguided message to younger players of all levels during one of the sport's biggest events. Not to mention the validating and putting voice to this ridiculous "unwritten rule" that apparently too many coaches live by.
Shame on you Stacey Nuveman.
OK, soapbox exited.