https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/all-30-m...he-2018-season/

 

In a measure to help combat the injuries to fans being struck by screaming line drives in the first few rows over the dugout, all 30 Major League Baseball clubs will now have the protective netting extended to the outfield end of the dugouts in time for the 2018 season. Most of the teams were already there, but in the last few days, the final teams made announcements.

 

"Providing baseball fans with a variety of seating options when they come to the ballpark, including seats behind protective netting, is important," said commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement. "Major League Clubs are constantly evaluating the coverage and design of their ballpark netting and I am pleased that they are providing fans an increased inventory of protected seats."

 

Now, let's be clear about the extensions over the dugout. It appears there's a good compromise between the people wanting the nets extended and those who hated the idea. The nets over the dugouts won't be near as high as those behind home plates in some stadiums.

Once a few teams started doing it, everyone else basically had to follow for liability reasons. If someone got hurt, good luck explaining why you were a holdout.

Just like the nets that were put up behind the goal in hockey, in a couple years, nobody will really notice. It will be weird not seeing kids rush to the dugout between innings to try and snag a ball from a player.

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by SoxFan2003

From the White Sox:

 

As a Season Ticket Holder, we want to make sure you're aware of the extended netting that will be installed from Sections 122-127 and 137-142 and will be 30-feet high, matching the height of the backstop. The state-of-the-art netting above the dugout near these sections will have the ability to lift, allowing interaction with fans pregame and at other times.

From the White Sox:

 

As a Season Ticket Holder, we want to make sure you're aware of the extended netting that will be installed from Sections 122-127 and 137-142 and will be 30-feet high, matching the height of the backstop. The state-of-the-art netting above the dugout near these sections will have the ability to lift, allowing interaction with fans pregame and at other times.

 

Good info thanks. I was wondering if they could just work it like field goal nets. Sounds like they can.

Good

Nets are really needed in Denver. Dugouts are very close to plate.

the replies on Ken Rosenthals tweet about this are so stupid. PEOPLE SHOULDNT BE ON THEIR PHONES THEN THEY WOULD BE FINE. Come on now, little kids have been hit by foul balls and bats, and it has had nothing to do with a phone.

the replies on Ken Rosenthals tweet about this are so stupid. PEOPLE SHOULDNT BE ON THEIR PHONES THEN THEY WOULD BE FINE. Come on now, little kids have been hit by foul balls and bats, and it has had nothing to do with a phone.

The phones definitely are a problem, but you are right, there are other issues. Little kids being exhibit A.

 

FWIW, a little kid in front of me last season made a nice catch of a Buster Posey bat.

As an adult male that played a lot of baseball and has good reactions and actually watches the game when I'm sitting this close I'm disappointed -- but I get it. You gotta protect the kids, older folks, people who aren't paying attention etc. And yea once a few clubs did it it was only a matter of time until they all did.

From the White Sox:

 

As a Season Ticket Holder, we want to make sure you're aware of the extended netting that will be installed from Sections 122-127 and 137-142 and will be 30-feet high, matching the height of the backstop. The state-of-the-art netting above the dugout near these sections will have the ability to lift, allowing interaction with fans pregame and at other times.

Awesome. I love that it seems like they thought of the fan interaction portion and addressed that before it even had time to be an issue. I do wonder if all the teams having nets will now let some technological advances in netting to take place to make it less intrusive. I've heard some suggestions of using clear filaments like fishing line or using stronger. smaller rope so that its easier to see through, but both of those have their problems. If this precedent trickles down to the minors, independent leagues, colleges and high schools, there would seem to be enough money in it for someone to find a better option than what we have now.

the replies on Ken Rosenthals tweet about this are so stupid. PEOPLE SHOULDNT BE ON THEIR PHONES THEN THEY WOULD BE FINE. Come on now, little kids have been hit by foul balls and bats, and it has had nothing to do with a phone.

True, about the little kids getting hit and others just simply not paying attention. However we could start a whole thread on phones. I drove thru campus today and counted 60 percent of all students were on their phones while walking. Six out of 10 is about right. It's crazy how to millenials and those under 25 how their whole worlds are tied into the phone. It's pretty crazy when six out of 10 students on a very cold day were walking on campus using their phone.

the replies on Ken Rosenthals tweet about this are so stupid. PEOPLE SHOULDNT BE ON THEIR PHONES THEN THEY WOULD BE FINE. Come on now, little kids have been hit by foul balls and bats, and it has had nothing to do with a phone.

Right. Phones are a cop-out. Unless the MLB is going to ban vendors (one could easily get hit by a ball while paying for beer), they were always going to put nets in. There are just too many distractions.

How will i catch a fould ball now?

How will i catch a fould ball now?

Look up.

What other distraction is as persistent as phones? We've all watched people sit on their phones for the majority of games. The other distractions like vendors are shorter and less intense. Phones are just one, but probably equals all the other distractions combined. Next time at a game add up all the people distracted by vendors and those watching their phones and we'll have the answer.

 

So teams should accept that phones add to our experience at the games and take steps to help fans who are using their phones, and they have. It's a nice positive step for phone users. Why try to shift blame from a device that is a necessity in our lives?