MLB Base Coaches to Wear Head Protection

its unnecessary. maybe college and high school baseball should make sure all dug outs have protection from foul balls. I have seen some dug outs that are really close to the home plate and have no sort of netting in front. that would be my first concern.

dont worry about the 1st and 3rd base coach they are always watching the game. guys in the dugout are'nt. IMO

I'm digging out an old catchers's hard hat and cleaning it up. I suspect they will be mandated one day, hopefully not with earflaps.

It does make sense for some third base coaches. A lot of the coaches are facing towards the runner when he is on second with their sides or backs to the plate. The White Sox third base coach last season always did that. The guy was nuts in my mind. There is no way I would take my eye off the batter.

Some random thoughts....

It does sound like a good idea however...

Ironcially, since he was hit in the neck, I am not sure a helmet would have saved Mike Coolbaugh...

I wonder why pitchers don't wear helmets with face protection?

Baseball is a dangerous game.... even wearing helmets cannot completely prevent fatalities or serious injuries...

Better safe than sorry.

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maybe college and high school baseball should make sure all dug outs have protection from foul balls.

I agree with this.....I have seen lasers hit into dugouts, the kids are like WOW and laugh. Also alot of times kids are hanging out in front of or side of duggout. I like it when a consciencious ump tells them to get back in.

As far as helmets for base coaches, if MLB does it, I think college and high school will follow suit quickly. From a policy standpoint, it is an easy decision to error on the side of safety.

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And what about the fans?

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A fan here or there is expendible.

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Originally posted by observer44:
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And what about the fans?

44
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A lot of fans already have headgear.

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dont worry about the 1st and 3rd base coach they are always watching the game. guys in the dugout are'nt. IMO

Rock, they may always be watching the "game" but they're not always watching the infielders take grounders and the throws to 1st between innings.

Case in point...last summer in high school ball the SS threw it over the 1B head and the opposing coach just happened to turn around INTO the throw and hit him right in the head. He stayed in the hospital for days and was suppose to go to Hawaii the next day on a vacation with his family which obviously got cancelled.

Kudos for MLB for taking the lead on this!

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Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
It does sound like a good idea however...
Ironcially, since he was hit in the neck, I am not sure a helmet would have saved Mike Coolbaugh...

The coroner was quoted as saying the ball struck Coolbaugh just below the ear. He would not speculate on whether a helmet would have prevented the death. But obviously part of the blow would have been absorbed by a typical batting helmet.
ESPN report of the preliminary autopsy

I think the reason MLB is taking action is that Mike Coolbaugh was a person (ball player in the prime of life) who had the best chance of avoiding a foul ball, and he didn't. So his death demonstrates that base coaches can be hit, and a helmet could help in some instances. It is hard for me to see any downside to the requirement, other than violating tradition. It won't impair a base coach's perfomance.

I feel really bad for Tino Sanchez. Can you imagine how he feels?

I'm not opposed to the idea of helmets everywhere. I just haven't embraced it yet for professionals. Don't the runners have to keep their helmets on until they are retired? There must be some value to that.

I do favor something for the pitcher's protection, but I can't imagine what that would be. I suspect that anything worn might compromise a pitcher's ability.

John Olerud will soon be appointed a base coach.

In the last 100 years of baseball 1 base coach has been killed. Why does it have to be a rule. Can't a coach decide for himself.

Dugouts are more dangerous in my opinion.