MLB: Affeldt, Romo not proponents of newly approved caps

Well, you can tell everybody
Down in ol’ Frisco
Tell ‘em
Bob Montgomery says hello.

The new caps will be optional for the 2014 season. For the Giants, it’s just as well. They expressed skepticism, at best—and negativity, at worst—regarding the caps, which are a half-inch thicker in front and an inch thicker near the temples than what they’ve been wearing. Also, the padding adds seven ounces to the heft of the traditional caps, which weigh three to four ounces.

For most of the Giants contacted, old habits die hard.

“I won’t wear it. No chance,” left-hander Jeremy Affeldt said. “The thing is huge and bothersome. I don’t want to try and figure out how to keep it on my head and throw a pitch with conviction at the same time.”

Right-hander Sergio Romo was slightly more diplomatic.

“I’m not going to wear one unless they make me,” Romo said with a laugh. “But I’m all for it. I’m big on substance versus style. I think it’s a great idea from a safety standpoint. Obviously, it doesn’t really say a whole lot, fashionably. But it’s all about protection. We’re trying to put on a show for the fans, and the last thing we want is for anyone to get hurt in any way.”

...Yet Righetti believes that overcoming fear of being hit by the ball is part of the challenge that separates Major Leaguers from other athletes.

“Being old school, I think that the big leagues should be tougher and, in a sense, a little bit dangerous,” said Righetti, who pitched for 15 years in the Majors. “That’s what separates you. It’s a cat-and-mouse game as it is. If you make somebody blink. ... I know, firsthand, hundreds of guys who were scared to death to throw pitches out over the plate to certain guys because they didn’t want the ball coming back at them and getting themselves killed. I’m sure it’s the same thing for hitters. They won’t admit it, but there are some guys that don’t like the ball coming up near their head and freak out when it does.”