the coaches must also wear fluorescent pink body suits.

That only makes them easier targets for hitters.

That only makes them easier targets for hitters.

Not to mention attractive mates for flamingoes in heat!

Would a helmet have saved Coolbaugh, or did the injury occur to an area of the neck that would not have been covered by a helmet? From the AP:

A preliminary autopsy report showed a burst blood vessel in his neck killed Mike Coolbaugh, the Tulsa Drillers hitting coach, when he was hit by a batted ball Sunday.

The coroner said the ball compressed the left vertebral artery, which travels up the left side of the spinal column and provides blood to the brain. The artery compressed against the vertebra at the top of his spine, right at the base of the skull, resulting in a hemorrhage.

That only makes them easier targets for hitters.

Not to mention attractive mates for flamingoes in heat!

Finally, a way to attract more bodies to Florida's baseball parks.

If they actually feel some pressure to make a change, make it a rule that coaches must have their eyes on the batter as soon as the pitcher starts his delivery to the plate. I'm sure Coolbaugh would have dodged the ball easily if he was paying attention.

I'm sure Coolbaugh would have dodged the ball easily if he was paying attention.

That would make for a cool safety-slogan on a t-shirt:

Natural Selection: It always pays attention which is why you should too.

Best Regards

John

I support batting helmets for base coaches and first basemen. So far the only 1B and only coach to wear helmets are both Blue Jay draftees from the 1980's.

What's to stop a coach from wearing a helmet now if he wants?

What's to stop a coach from wearing a helmet now if he wants?

Peer pressure?

Right now, if a coach wore one, he would probably be mocked. If it becomes a MLB rule that he do so, then the league gets mocked instead.

Right now, if a coach wore one, he would probably be mocked. If it becomes a MLB rule that he do so, then the league gets mocked instead.

I believe the Rockies' base coaches (Glenallen Hill, at least) began wearing helmets as a result of this. I've not read of him being mocked by anyone (and announcers have gone out of their way to point it out as a good thing), but I have no idea what's being said behind closed doors.

How about instead of wearing helmets they have a choice to wear either construction or cowboy hats? Or an Indian headdress...or a police hat?

What's to stop a coach from wearing a helmet now if he wants?

Nothing. Rene Lachemann started wearing one right after Coolbaugh was killed.

I believe the Rockies' base coaches (Glenallen Hill, at least) began wearing helmets as a result of this. I've not read of him being mocked by anyone (and announcers have gone out of their way to point it out as a good thing), but I have no idea what's being said behind closed doors.

At home while watching a game on TV I called him a f****** f***** p**** but I was quite inebriated at the time.

When I saw the headline, this was the image that popped in to my head.

Not a pretty picture.

General Patton? I knew I'd seen that movie the other day...

Yes, I believe it’s a stupid overreaction.

Over-reaction, sure. But one that has no negative consequences unless a groupie along the 3rd base line wants to admire the back of Larry Bowa's head.

I believe the Rockies' base coaches (Glenallen Hill, at least) began wearing helmets as a result of this. I've not read of him being mocked by anyone

Would you mock Glenallen Hill?

I've not read of him being mocked by anyone (and announcers have gone out of their way to point it out as a good thing),

I don't think anyone, including Jim, is opposed to coaches wearing helmets if they want to. I assume Jim is just opposed to making it mandatory.

It has always seemed to me that someone could design some sort of lightweight interior lining/device to make caps themselves safer without making them too cumbersome, and could make a lot of money doing so.

I don't know how well that would work, actually. I'm no physicist, but isn't the point of helmets to absorb impact without transmitting the associated force to the noggin? Any thing lining, no matter the substance, that sits right against the head isn't going to do the trick. At least, that's my assumption, given that all similar helmets--for bikers, construction workers, drivers, etc.--add considerable bulk.

I don't know how well that would work, actually. I'm no physicist, but isn't the point of helmets to absorb impact without transmitting the associated force to the noggin? Any thing lining, no matter the substance, that sits right against the head isn't going to do the trick. At least, that's my assumption, given that all similar helmets--for bikers, construction workers, drivers, etc.--add considerable bulk.

Yeah, I have zero knowledge base in this area--just idle supposition. There was an NFL Player named Mark Kelso who had an outer covering on his helmet--like a big shell on top of the helmet itself, with the Buffalo Bills team logo. It added, as you said, "considerable bulk." However, with the money that could be made from such a device, were it physically possible, it seems people would be trying (unless it is impossible).

some sort of lightweight interior lining/device to make caps themselves safer without making them too cumbersome

A number of players wore lined caps like that in the 1940s and 50s, starting with Pete Reiser.

A number of players wore lined caps like that in the 1940s and 50s, starting with Pete Reiser.

Not exactly a great testimonial for a safety device.

Weird things happen every hundred years or so, and in today's society we thing that doing something reactionary makes sense. Its doesn't. Sometimes #### happens.

In fact, I'd say its entirely likely that I'd be killed by a car on my daily walk to work before someone in MLB is killed by a foul ball again. That doesn't mean I'm going to wear a sumo sumo suit to work each day. I've been hit twice in ten years.