Pitchers - Wear your masks

[MarkJMillsap]

Define the word often and anomaly. If it happened to my dd ( or anybody's for that matter) once is too often!

There, you have given your definition of often.

That would be correct. However, I have not once said masks should be mandated. What I would like to see is more educating of parents so they can make an informed decision.

[anonlooker]

In all the many years girls have been playing softball, of all the millions of pitches thrown, how many pitchers have suffered truamatic head injuries that would have been prevented by a mask?

Please cite your source(s).

I too have been around a good many games over the years and have never seen an injury that a mask would have prevented.

Even so, a few years back my DD tried a mask. She said it was uncomfortable, hot, sweaty, would slide on the sweat, impair her vision of the ball, get tangled in her hair, was dirty, caused her to break out, etc, in short it distracted her mentally and hindered her performance.

Do I worry? Not any more than when she's surfing, snowboarding, jet skiing, sky diving, hiking through Death Valley, snorkling or scuba diving.

Edited to remove a statement that would be spun endlessly by the vociferous velociraptors.
(see below)

[JCates]

anonlooker:

If you believe any adult would take satisfaction in getting online and saying I told you so in satisfaction over a kid being injured you are the sick one!!! Believe what you want about the mask, but that statement was nothing short of complete ignorance on your part.

On the contrary, the LAST thing I want to do is to have to identify or learn about another hurt player! I am very confident that no one, on either side of the issue is looking at this as a WIN or LOSE situation. If arguing on the side of protecting a child is sick in your view then so be it...I can live with that.

Looks like anonlooler edited his or her post since I posted this response. Glad to see it. However, I will keep my response because if anyone thinks an adult would take satisfaction in saying I told you so over a kid getting injured you are just plain ignorant. Argue either side of this issue...no problems. Thinking an adult in the softball world would be that vindictive is sick!

[Sftbll4ever]

So why are we not talking about the girls that have worn the mask and STILL have very serious head injuries?

The only time I have been at a field where a pitcher got hurt (HS) was when the girl was WEARING a mask. She almost died. I did not hear one person come on here and say that the masks are deadly. Actually, not one word was said.

So, while everyone is trying to get their stats on the injuries WITHOUT masks, make sure to calculate the injuries WITH the masks as well.

I bet you won't find a lot as most people decide not to talk about the injuries when they are WEARING them.

If you and your child feel this is the best course of action for you to wear a mask. KUDOS. If you and your child feel that it is best for them not too....KUDOS.

[JCates]

So why are we not talking about the girls that have worn the mask and STILL have very serious head injuries?

The only time I have been at a field where a pitcher got hurt (HS) was when the girl was WEARING a mask. She almost died. I did not hear one person come on here and say that the masks are deadly. Actually, not one word was said.

So, while everyone is trying to get their stats on the injuries WITHOUT masks, make sure to calculate the injuries WITH the masks as well.

I bet you won't find a lot as most people decide not to talk about the injuries when they are WEARING them.

If you and your child feel this is the best course of action for you to wear a mask. KUDOS. If you and your child feel that it is best for them not too....KUDOS.

Never seen a documented case to support that (i.e. article). That said, based on what you have stated you could easily make an argument that the mask actually saved her life (i.e. what would have happened had she not been wearing it). HArd to prove that it was the mask that caused her to almost die.

[MarkJMillsap]

If you're talking about the girl in HB last year, the word is she would have died without it!

[Sftbll4ever]

Considering it was the second time she was hit too.

That brings people back to the argument that had she been taught proper mechanics to field the ball defensively after a pitch, it would probably not have happened TWICE.

On a side note, thank God she was ok.

[JCates]

Considering it was the second time she was hit too.

That brings people back to the argument that had she been taught proper mechanics to field the ball defensively after a pitch, it would probably not have happened TWICE.

On a side note, thank God she was ok.

I would agree completely that good mechanics need to be taught. I am also thankful the kid is okay (according to your post...not familiar with the situation personally).

However, that is why I push for the mask. All kids are not going to be taught the proper mechanics...this kid was HS age? Coaches at the lower levels often get the kids 2 days a week and they have 9+ to coach. The premier players do a lot of work on their on, but most do not put in the effort to get to that level because not all have a scholarship as a goal. Who is to say this kid was not taught the proper mechanics? She could have slipped on one or both of the plays, she may have been tired, she may have not been feeling 100 percent and her reactions were a little slow. Who knows?

Even premier players do not always make the play needed. Roy Oswalt took a shot in spring training and he is a professional and one of the best in in major league baseball. The pitcher in the College World Series last year had been pitching for years yet she had how many illegal pitches called on her? And we are expecting a young kid to do everything perfect? I sure am not taking that bet.

[why not?]

???? Side Note ?????? How bout first /foremost? I see the problem here....

[americandad]

If a parent wants their kid to wear a mask,who cares it's their decision.My daughter is a freshman in college ,no batting gloves,no face mask on helmet,no mask at third base.She 19 and that is her decision..I don't think attacking anyone's parenting skills is needed.