Another young pitcher hurt by a ball

[SoCalASABlue]

I won't disagree with this. Pitching batting practice last summer, I was hit with a line drive right in my gut. It was a ball I may have caught at a younger age, but I didn't stand a chance to stop it this time. I will be honest when I say it put me to my knees. I will no longer pitch batting practice without a screen.

I have been very interested in this thread for one reason. My DD is a high school freshman. She has pitched for 3 years and has worn a mask since day 1. To this day she is still wearing one, but is the only pitcher (V or JV) out of 4 that is wearing one right now. There is only one other player on her HS roster that wears one (SS). She is under pressure from the other girls and is starting to think about removing it. However, I then take her to TB practice and there are 6 other girls that wear masks on our 16u team. Or she practices with the orgs 18u team and sees masks on the P, 1B, SS, and 3B. Mixed signals for sure, and I know that she is confused by all of it. She mentioned the other day that maybe she will stop wearing the mask during high school ball but then put it back on for travel. It is statements like that which worry me. Wear it or don't wear it, but if you choose not to wear it, make that decision for the right reasons. IMO, peer pressure is not the right reason.

It has been very interesting to see both sides of the fence on this topic. While it seems the majority of folks are somewhere in the middle or "pro choice" (as I am), it is also clear that there are those on both extreme ends. While I am not in favor of a mandate, all it takes is one well publicized lawsuit or extreme situation (such as the base coaches in baseball). At the same time, it is also clear that there are those that look at players with masks as inferior athletes because of it.

This is one of those situations for your DD that always seem to pop up at DFP - and parents are always told "back off, need to let them make their own decisions." B freaking S. If your DD is not 18, it's your call (unless your DD has her own health insurance). Once she's 18, she can do what she wants.

HS ball is reps - nothing more. Reps and preparation for summer tournament season.

My DD is the only player on her HS team that wears a mask (when she pitches). She doesn't wear the mask when she plays outfield. She has made it very clear to anyone that it's her decision to wear it when she pitches and to keep their opinions to themselves.

 

[cuzmail]

At least nobody was telling her or her parents what to do?

Come on BP, persuade us using the merits of your argument. That was a cheap shot at her parents.

I hope the young lady makes a full and speedy recovery.

 

[cuzmail]

When some turd of a person calls out another kid because they are wearing one... or creates a social stigma... I'm not advocating a mandate... I'm advocating a lottery in the style of Shirley Jackson.

Right on! Right on! - Java

 

[bucket pinata]

Come on BP, persuade us using the merits of your argument. That was a cheap shot at her parents.

I hope the young lady makes a full and speedy recovery.

Ok, we played this team One week ago, almost took the pitchers head off then,missed her by about a foot. Serving up meatballs to a national level team getting crushed wearing no mask. I do feel for the parents and that poor girl, But I also feel sorry for her teammates and the opposing players and fans, I feel sorry for the kid that hit the ball, I feel sorry for all that had to witness it. I've always stated the whole " It only affects them" argument is garbage. I hate all the straw man arguments about they are in more danger driving to the Game. Why Because more Kids are injured in car wrecks? well Duh, How many kids pitch per capita then drive in cars. Look I'm no mask Nazi, But Don't try to convince me that your choice to risk my daughter and my family watching along with everyone else attending having to watch your DD getting her faced caved in only affects you and I am not entitled to be angry having to deal with it.I'm pretty sure I'm not for mandating them but when tragedy strikes own it,don't come up with a bunch philosophical arguments trying to convince others it was ok she was not wearing one.

 

[riseball]

Ok, we played this team One week ago, almost took the pitchers head off then,missed her by about a foot. Serving up meatballs to a national level team getting crushed wearing no mask. I do feel for the parents and that poor girl, But I also feel sorry for her teammates and the opposing players and fans, I feel sorry for the kid that hit the ball, I feel sorry for all that had to witness it. I've always stated the whole " It only affects them" argument is garbage. I hate all the straw man arguments about they are in more danger driving to the Game. Why Because more Kids are injured in car wrecks? well Duh, How many kids pitch per capita then drive in cars. Look I'm no mask Nazi, But Don't try to convince me that your choice to risk my daughter and my family watching along with everyone else attending having to watch your DD getting her faced caved in only affects you and I am not entitled to be angry having to deal with it.I'm pretty sure I'm not for mandating them but when tragedy strikes own it,don't come up with a bunch philosophical arguments trying to convince others it was ok she was not wearing one.

This does not strike me as a mask/no mask scenario. Given your insight into the situation, do you feel it would be acceptable for her to be in the circle if she had a mask? Or is it possible she had no business in the circle regardless of attire?

 

[FP26]

This is one of those situations for your DD that always seem to pop up at DFP - and parents are always told "back off, need to let them make their own decisions." B freaking S. If your DD is not 18, it's your call (unless your DD has her own health insurance). Once she's 18, she can do what she wants.

HS ball is reps - nothing more. Reps and preparation for summer tournament season.

My DD is the only player on her HS team that wears a mask (when she pitches). She doesn't wear the mask when she plays outfield. She has made it very clear to anyone that it's her decision to wear it when she pitches and to keep their opinions to themselves.

You make several good points. My personal opinion is that DD is on her path to becoming an adult. Other than a birthday, I do not expect any significant changes to occur between the day she is 17 years and 364 days old and the day she is 18 years old. For now, my preference is that she wears the mask, and she is currently in agreement with that. If for some reason she changes her mind, her, DW, and myself will discuss it as a family. We will make a decision as a family. But if she asks 10 minutes before game time, the answer is automatically "wear it!"

 

[RetiredCoach]

The only reason, I believe, why a pitcher wouldn't wear a face mask is because they think that it won't happen to them. In my case, where my youngest DD was hit in a face by a line drive, there is no such stigma. I know that it can happen to them! And, while my DD physically fully recovered, it took her a couple of years to mentally get over it. I am certain that no parent wants to subject their DD to that.

So, I guess that I view it like I do seat belts. The odds are that I'll never need them to save my life in an accident. However, I wear them anyway. My motto is: I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

 

[Rocketech1]

So, I guess that I view it like I do seat belts. The odds are that I'll never need them to save my life in an accident. However, I wear them anyway. My motto is: I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

But the real question is "should it be mandated"? In CA, it is mandatory to wear a seat belt, in some other states it is not. No one will disagree that mandatory seat belt use has saved many, many lives.

The anti-mandatory mask crowd wants it to be a personal decision. They believe that having the "freedom" to choose trumps saving some injured faces that could have been protected. Always a fascinating debate.....

 

[bucket pinata]

Great Question RB, I don't know the level of the Team they were playing so I cant say for sure. But I will say that if you are a experienced pitcher that lives on the edges of the zone facing your level of play it certainly makes things different than if you are playing a team that your level of pitching is merely serving up BP and your leaving everything belt high and down the middle. That's why maybe in the younger ages 14u and under the mask makes more sense simply because the competition varies sooooo much. especially in those early season round robin type affairs. I would never want to tell a player that she should not go out there and battle,even if your badly outmatched but if you do take some precautions for goodness sake. and your right that you can get hit in many places that could be very bad that the mask will not protect.

 

[Rocketech1]

The only reason, I believe, why a pitcher wouldn't wear a face mask is because they think that it won't happen to them.

Some other reasons I have heard are:

"the boys don't wear masks, why should the girls",
"it's highly unlikely that you will be hit in the face with a line-drive";
"if you are a good fielder, you will get your glove up in time"
"travel ball orgs and college coaches think you are weak if you wear a mask"
"if my DD wears a mask she will be ridiculed"
"when I played softball (baseball) we didn't need to wear a mask"

I could go on.....