Pitchers - Wear your masks

[MarkJMillsap]

Its not an argument, its a question.
Either way, why is it idiotic?

Do you really need to ask??? If you don't know, you won't understand.....

Another non-responsive reply. If you do know, please respond to the question.

Here. let me answer for them. Ever hear of the "comparing apples to oranges analogy?"

[JCates]

@Blind:

I have attempted three times to respond to your point and everytime it is blocked.

[Trophy Hunter]

Its not an argument, its a question.
Either way, why is it idiotic?

Do you really need to ask??? If you don't know, you won't understand.....

Another non-responsive reply. If you do know, please respond to the question.

Here. let me answer for them. Ever hear of the "comparing apples to oranges analogy?"

Yes, I have.
Let's say the apple is the topic at hand - "child safety"... what is the orange?

[Blind Squirrel]

@Blind:

I have attempted three times to respond to your point and everytime it is blocked.

If you'd like, send me a PM. I'll post it if you like or keep it confidential if that is your wish. You may just find that, though my posts suggest that I'm a bit of a dumba$$ douche bag, that I am capable of at least acting like a normal adult/parent who actually loves my kids and is concerned about their safety the same way you are.

Best Regards,
John

[MarkJMillsap]

Its not an argument, its a question.
Either way, why is it idiotic?

Do you really need to ask??? If you don't know, you won't understand.....

Another non-responsive reply. If you do know, please respond to the question.

Here. let me answer for them. Ever hear of the "comparing apples to oranges analogy?"

Yes, I have.
Let's say the apple is the topic at hand - "child safety"... what is the orange?

Actually, it's comparing the dangers of softball with that of driving in a car. There are several variables you have no control over. Ie; other drivers. Does your dd wear a seatbelt? Does she sit in the front if she's under 12? There are many more, but I'm sure you get the point. I'm sure we all do everything we can to ensure the safety of our children. Why not on the softball field?

[Blind Squirrel]

Its not an argument, its a question.
Either way, why is it idiotic?

Do you really need to ask??? If you don't know, you won't understand.....

Another non-responsive reply. If you do know, please respond to the question.

Here. let me answer for them. Ever hear of the "comparing apples to oranges analogy?"

Yes, I have.
Let's say the apple is the topic at hand - "child safety"... what is the orange?

Actually, it's comparing the dangers of softball with that of driving in a car. There are several variables you have no control over. Ie; other drivers. Does your dd wear a seatbelt? Does she sit in the front if she's under 12? There are many more, but I'm sure you get the point. I'm sure we all do everything we can to ensure the safety of our children. Why not on the softball field?

Since you happen to be engaged in this at the moment, care to respond to my post regarding safety in a softball dugout? Do you plan on requiring your daughter to wear a helmet in the dugout? Or am I delusional in my belief that my question has some relevance to the topic being discussed in this thread?

John

[JCates]

@Blind:

I have attempted three times to respond to your point and everytime it is blocked.

If you'd like, send me a PM. I'll post it if you like or keep it confidential if that is your wish. You may just find that, though my posts suggest that I'm a bit of a dumba$$ douche bag, that I am capable of at least acting like a normal adult/parent who actually loves my kids and is concerned about their safety the same way you are.

Best Regards,
John

I have never thought those things of any person that has made these posts, even Spaz. I have questioned the use of common sense when there is an inexpensive means to protect our DD's that will not in any way, shape or form change the game. Some of the most brilliant people I know do not utilze common sense. It does not mean I think any less of them as a person, I just question the decision at hand. My ONLY GOAL is seeing that these girls do not receive serious injury when there is a great way to protect them without damaging the game. If that makes me a bad person in someone's view I think I will be able to survive.

I will attempt to respond by PM and if you can post you are welcome to do so.

[Trophy Hunter]

Actually, it's comparing the dangers of softball with that of driving in a car. There are several variables you have no control over. Ie; other drivers. Does your dd wear a seatbelt? Does she sit in the front if she's under 12? There are many more, but I'm sure you get the point. I'm sure we all do everything we can to ensure the safety of our children. Why not on the softball field?

You can't stake out the moral high ground one a matter of child safety with extremely rare incidence and completely ignore one of relatively common incidence. Unless you're a hypocrit.

You bring in variables you have no control over, such as other drivers, but wouldn't that point toward imposing even greater safety measures while in a vehicle?

Your child is at much greater risk in a car than on a softball diamond. Why don't you make her wear a crash helmet in the car?

[TexasSoftball]

Trophy, she does wear a seat belt.

[JCates]

@Blind:

I figured out why my previous posts did not make it. This should.

You bring up a logical argument to the facemask issue. Here is my view for whatever it is worth.

These are somewhat different circumstances. My daughter has played in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Florida and Indiana. On every field, except one, there was a full fence protecting the players. By rule, during a game, the players are required to be in that dugout with the only exception being the hitter and the girl in the on-deck circle, both of whom are required to wear a helmet. The only field we have played on that did not have a full fence protecting the dugout was the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, and it had a half fence with a step down dugout. The girls in these dugouts are much more protected than a pitcher standing less than 43 feet from a batter, coming off a ptich and trying to react to a screaming line drive coming back at her head at 100+ miles per hour. It is also much safer than standing as close as 30 feet to a hitter (1st and 3rd) and reacting to the same kind of hit.

The girl playing for the Wildcats was not paying attention to the game as she was reviewing scouting reports. Had she been paying attention, she probably would have had time to react or deflect the ball in some way. Even then, those in favor of no rule for facemasks have often used the argument that because the injuries do not occur at a rate they feel reasonable then there should be no rule. I have not checked the stats, but if I were to do so I would do so with a strong confidence that the rate of injuries from being hit by batted balls in the dugout would be much, much lower (especially at the lower age levels).


To directly respond to your question...no, I would not advocate for a rule to wear a helmet in this case because of the safety measures already taken with dugouts and the rules about players remaining in them. However, if the governing bodies of softball elected to enact a rule for players in the dugout to wear helmets I would not argue against it because it would not change the game in any way and would offer additional protection to the players. Absolutely no one would be hurt by such a rule and the game would not be compromised in any way. Just like requiring those playing pitcher, 1st and 3rd to wear a Rip It mask would provide safety without compromising the game in any way.

As for the person asking about having my child wear a helmet in the car. She wears a seatbelt as required by law. If for some reason she had to dodge 100+ mph softballs in the car she would wear a helmet. Good enough answer for you?