Just Put Up The Netting Already
How anyone can watch this video and not want to immediately put up netting is beyond me.
After Albert Almora Jr. struck a young fan with a foul ball, in between innings he went immediately over to that section to ask about the situation. You can see he is overwhelmed with emotion as him and the security guard have a moment. This is just a terrible & sad situation. pic.twitter.com/Yh3wWmDjhx
— Cubs Live (@Cubs_Live) May 30, 2019
And if that wasn’t enough…Albert Almora’s interview post-game was extremely powerful.
“I’m speechless, at a loss for words. Being a father of two boys.” Albert Almora speaks after scary foul ball incident: https://t.co/wIl0a3TxAr pic.twitter.com/ONxuzw85jA
— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) May 30, 2019
Now, should a net be around the entire stadium? I don’t think so. I think he’s speaking from a very emotional place, which we can all understand. There is plenty of time to react to a home run over the outfield fence, but they should be installed from foul pole to foul pole.
It’s easy, cost isn’t an issue for MLB teams, and even if every fan is paying attention 100% of the time (which is impossible), a 90 mph line drive is more dangerous than it needs to be.
I don’t want to hear about blocking anyone’s view. The best and most expensive seats in the stadium are behind home plate — behind netting. Scouts, who’s attention on the game is far above anyone else’s, sit behind netting. They can see just fine.
I suppose you can make the area’s along the lines but not covered by netting 18-and-over zones, but:
1) adults have been seriously injured as well. Reaction time is sub-1 second with a 90 mph line drive coming at your face,
and 2) I’d rather just put up nets than deprive families a chance at sitting in prime seating.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t have to put your health and safety at risk by attending a baseball game when the solution is so easy and unobtrusive.
This has happened far too many times. Put up the nets.
Want to discuss this or just call me a dufus? That’s cool! Hit me up!