Protective Headgear for Pitchers: Would You Wear It?

kq76 · 02-13-2016, 08:10 PM

MLB to debut protective headwear for pitchers | SI.com

Without it being mandatory, I think this has zero chance being accepted by pitchers who have yet to be hit hard in the head. Instead of just shown on a dummy, I would have liked to have seen what it looks like on a real person.

I don't know weights very well. The article says they wear 10-12 ounces. I imagine that's light, but is it light enough that it won't annoy pitchers?

I looked up the weights of some bicycle helmets and they seem to be around the same range or a bit lighter. I tried mine on (10.4 oz) without strapping it on and it didn't feel that annoying though so maybe some will go for it. Maybe it doesn't take having to get hit in the head first, just a real close call.

EDIT: See PP's post for a pic of a person wearing it.

cephasjames · 02-13-2016, 08:38 PM

When this idea was first floated my initial thought was: pitchers throw with such force how will a helmet not shift around on their head and get in their faces on every pitch, thus getting the way of their fielding? After watching the video I can see how they'll stay, but now I wonder how it's really going to protect the pitcher. Yes, this helmet covers their brain, but it doesn't cover their faces. Where on the pitcher head do most line drives hit? Isn't it the face?

RchW · 02-13-2016, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cephasjames

When this idea was first floated my initial thought was: pitchers throw with such force how will a helmet not shift around on their head and get in their faces on every pitch, thus getting the way of their fielding? After watching the video I can see how they'll stay, but now I wonder how it's really going to protect the pitcher. Yes, this helmet covers their brain, but it doesn't cover their faces. Where on the pitcher head do most line drives hit? Isn't it the face?

JA Happ and I believe Cobb were hit on the skull. Line drives provoke a duck response so the line ringing the skull around the ears is critical.

kingcharlesxii · 02-13-2016, 10:35 PM

I'd imagine teams will start providing bonuses or mandating that pitchers would wear them. It's the best way to protect their investments.

Le Grande Orange · 02-13-2016, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingcharlesxii

I'd imagine teams will start providing bonuses or mandating that pitchers would wear them. It's the best way to protect their investments.

Only, I would suggest, if they think the potential decrease in performance is less of a cost than the (very low) risk of injury to a pitcher from a hit ball.

PotatoPeeler · 02-14-2016, 10:15 AM

The non-sports world equivalent.

PotatoPeeler · 02-21-2016, 10:01 AM

...

Breckinridge · 02-21-2016, 05:38 PM

As far as appearances, it looks far better than the Elmer Fudd model sporadically used last year....just my opinon...

Regards,
Breck

kq76 · 02-26-2016, 06:32 PM

It looks better than I thought it would. If I was a pitcher, I'd wear it. Hmm, that gives me an idea for a poll...

kq76 · 02-26-2016, 07:55 PM

Well, this is discouraging:

Quote:

Minnesota Twins pitcher Ervin Santana is one of the pitchers testing out the new product, but he doesn't seem to be a big fan just yet. Santana told Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he had a few criticisms of the new protective helmet.

“Two things,” he said. “The visor is pointing down too much. When you do the windup and finish the pitch, you can barely see home plate. And the other (problem) is the top part.”
Unlike the protective lining worn by reliever Alex Torres in recent seasons, this model does nothing to protect the top of a pitcher’s head.
Santana goes on to express that other pitchers in camp who have worn the cap have similar complaints.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ml...201544961.html

Airdrop01 · 02-26-2016, 09:51 PM

No way. Never.

eriqjaffe · 02-26-2016, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kq76

Well, this is discouraging:

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ml...201544961.html

Yeah, at that point why not just mandate they have to wear a helmet like the base coaches do?

ThatSeventiesGuy · 02-27-2016, 12:59 AM

If they mandate it, exceptions will be grandfathered in, just like the NHL helmet rule. I doubt if the union would go for it any other way.

PotatoPeeler · 02-27-2016, 11:02 AM

I wonder what Mark Ellis thinks of this. I say this because Ellis played American Legion baseball for Post 22 here in Rapid City, South Dakota. All players on the team wear a helmet instead of a standard baseball cap. They've done this for as long as I can remember. As a matter of fact, the team is officially know as the Post 22 Hardhats.

PotatoPeeler · 02-27-2016, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatSeventiesGuy

If they mandate it, exceptions will be grandfathered in, just like the NHL helmet rule. I doubt if the union would go for it any other way.

That's pretty standard for an equipment change in any sport. Same thing was done with the no ear flap helmets in MLB.

View Poll Results: Would you wear the new protective headgear?
Yes, definitely. My brain is important to me!	6	40.00%
Maybe. I'd at least try it in a game.	3	20.00%
No way. Beauty before brains I always say!	6	40.00%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

02-13-2016, 08:10 PM	#1
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 11,459	Protective Headgear for Pitchers: Would You Wear It? MLB to debut protective headwear for pitchers \| SI.com Without it being mandatory, I think this has zero chance being accepted by pitchers who have yet to be hit hard in the head. Instead of just shown on a dummy, I would have liked to have seen what it looks like on a real person. I don't know weights very well. The article says they wear 10-12 ounces. I imagine that's light, but is it light enough that it won't annoy pitchers? I looked up the weights of some bicycle helmets and they seem to be around the same range or a bit lighter. I tried mine on (10.4 oz) without strapping it on and it didn't feel that annoying though so maybe some will go for it. Maybe it doesn't take having to get hit in the head first, just a real close call. EDIT: See PP's post for a pic of a person wearing it. __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project) Last edited by kq76; 02-26-2016 at 07:21 PM.

02-13-2016, 08:38 PM	#2
cephasjames Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,736 Blog Entries: 1	When this idea was first floated my initial thought was: pitchers throw with such force how will a helmet not shift around on their head and get in their faces on every pitch, thus getting the way of their fielding? After watching the video I can see how they'll stay, but now I wonder how it's really going to protect the pitcher. Yes, this helmet covers their brain, but it doesn't cover their faces. Where on the pitcher head do most line drives hit? Isn't it the face? __________________ 5000+ Generic Logos Free for the Taking FREE: Uniforms and logos for 500+ teams spanning 1871-present Great Lakes League: 10 Conferences, 100 Teams Pre-OOTP 23 Custom Cap & Jersey Template v3.0 by Deft and NoPepper (with layers from other various artists) that I use: Caps, Jerseys

02-13-2016, 10:35 PM	#4
kingcharlesxii Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,730	I'd imagine teams will start providing bonuses or mandating that pitchers would wear them. It's the best way to protect their investments. __________________ OTBA - Stockholm Royal Squirrels of Sweden OOTP Grand League Champion 2015

02-14-2016, 10:15 AM	#6
PotatoPeeler Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 3,639	The non-sports world equivalent. __________________ 培傑西 I have never taken a lesson on how to talk on TV in my life. - Tim McCarver Guns have only two enemies; rust and liberals. The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.

02-21-2016, 10:01 AM	#7
PotatoPeeler Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 3,639	... Attached Images __________________ 培傑西 I have never taken a lesson on how to talk on TV in my life. - Tim McCarver Guns have only two enemies; rust and liberals. The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.

02-26-2016, 06:32 PM	#9
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 11,459	It looks better than I thought it would. If I was a pitcher, I'd wear it. Hmm, that gives me an idea for a poll... __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project)

02-26-2016, 09:51 PM	#11
Airdrop01 All Star Starter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lenexa, KS / Wilson, WY Posts: 1,354	No way. Never.

02-27-2016, 12:59 AM	#13
ThatSeventiesGuy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 3,424	If they mandate it, exceptions will be grandfathered in, just like the NHL helmet rule. I doubt if the union would go for it any other way. __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...00&postcount=1

02-27-2016, 11:02 AM	#14
PotatoPeeler Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 3,639	I wonder what Mark Ellis thinks of this. I say this because Ellis played American Legion baseball for Post 22 here in Rapid City, South Dakota. All players on the team wear a helmet instead of a standard baseball cap. They've done this for as long as I can remember. As a matter of fact, the team is officially know as the Post 22 Hardhats. Attached Images __________________ 培傑西 I have never taken a lesson on how to talk on TV in my life. - Tim McCarver Guns have only two enemies; rust and liberals. The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel. Last edited by PotatoPeeler; 02-27-2016 at 11:03 AM.