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As many people know by now, an awful incident at Yankee Stadium earlier this week saw a young girl get in the head by a foul ball traveling more than 100 miles per hour and hospitalized.
The latest update is that she is “doing good” according to her father, but the unsettling occurrence ignited a debate about the need for additional protective netting in parks that don’t have it around the league.
While MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told press that the league is going to “redouble” efforts with teams to install netting, that still doesn’t mean they will push for the mandatory installation of additional netting for every team.
More than half the teams in the league still only have netting from the inside of one dugout to the other — the increased coverage would stretch netting from the outside of one dugout to the other. While a handful of teams have acquiesced to the concept of more netting, the Yankees remain holdouts.
Over the past few days, players have spoken up about the absolute need for more netting to be put in place for the safety of fans.
Multiple Yankees players said their thoughts were with the fan after she was hit.
Hope everything is alright with the little girl that got hit with the foul ball ... her thoughts are with us for a speedy recovery
— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) September 20, 2017
Dozier said he & Matt Holliday (on 2B) were in tears after witnessing. "We said a prayer together. ... I've still got a knot in my stomach."
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) September 20, 2017
Todd Frazier — who hit the foul ball that injured the fan — did that and also chimed in on the need for more netting in every park.
Glassy-eyed Todd Frazier thought of his own young kids after foul ball. 'I just hope she's all right.' Feels all parks should extend netting
— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) September 20, 2017
Twins second baseman Brian Dozier — the team the Yankees were playing when the foul ball happened — also voiced his support for mandatory netting.
Marlins pitcher Brad Ziegler posted an extensive statement on Twitter about the debate, and then followed up with additional thoughts later in the day.
A note to anyone complaining about teams extending netting and not wanting to “pay for an obstructed view”: stay home. pic.twitter.com/CpbXDkjcLp
— Brad Ziegler (@BradZiegler) September 22, 2017
Appreciate the dialogue and response from everyone. A few of my light-hearted observations on a very serious topic... #ExtendTheNets pic.twitter.com/lOyrOj6cb5
— Brad Ziegler (@BradZiegler) September 22, 2017
Blue Jays utility player Jon Berti cited the safety of fans in supporting more netting, and called it a “no brainer.”
People don't realize how fast baseballs can be hit into the stands. For the safety of all fans, the nets need to be extended. No brainer.
— Jon Berti (@jonny_hustle) September 22, 2017
Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams brought flat-Earth truthers into the conversation.
Look... I don't have all the studies or facts but the same people that are anti-nets at MLB stadiums also believe the Earth is flat.
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) September 22, 2017
Look... I don't have all the studies or facts but the same people that are anti-nets at MLB stadiums also believe the Earth is flat.
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) September 22, 2017
One is too many. It's a net, Thomas. The extended net at PNC you can't even notice.
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) September 22, 2017
The players who have spoken out are insistent about the need for more netting. Hopefully the more teams delay the announcement that they will be installing more protective material, the more players will insist that it needs to happen.
The response here is telling and should let teams know that it needs to be done sooner rather than later.