It's time for baseball to install netting around the entire bottom bowl of every stadium.
That's not to protect the fans from players throwing objects into the stands, which is what happened at Fifth Third Field last week. It's to protect fans from foul balls, splintered bats and whole bats flying out of the slippery hands of players.
One study says about 300 people a year are hospitalized after being hit by batted balls into the stands at both minor and major league parks. Just three weeks ago in Chicago, a young boy had his skull cracked open by a foul ball.
Fans say they don't want to look through a net to view a game, but those seats behind home plate — all of them netted — don't go wanting, and the NHL hasn't seemed to suffer after enlarging the netscape in its arenas following the death of a young girl hit by a puck in a 2002 game in Columbus.
It's time to get the net.
Clinton has the protective netting all the around their grandstand. Alliant Energy Field, the trend-setter in baseball.
There is a middle part calling the decision to hold off on the suspensions a good decision.
Then, there is the blame game:
So, who was to blame for the brawl? A little of the blame should fall on everyone. Once three batters had been hit (two of them Dragons), a warning should have gone out from the umpires to both sides.
The umpires should also have nipped an argument between Dragons manager Donnie Scott and Peoria interim manager Carmelo Martinez when Scott protested that Martinez was yelling at his players. Remember, the umpires have about the same amount of experience as the players. After all, they're in the same low A league.
And don't buy the blather from Peoria broadcaster Nathan Baliva, whose voice is over most of the internet video of the incident.
Baliva said, "All (Scott) does is whine and complain. He ripped on the Chiefs last year in the Dayton newspaper."
All Scott said last year after several of his hitters backed outfielders up against the wall, just inches short of homers, "I guess we didn't eat our Wheaties."
Peoria manager and Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg took exception to that, buying a box of Wheaties and placing it in his dugout for the Dragons to see. And it was Sandberg who complained his players were getting no respect from Scott.
Hey, lighten up, Ryno.
When does Dayton play Peoria next year?
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