A hitter is ganted protection for the elbows, (allowing them to get closer to the outside corner and taking away the brushback resource from the pitchers (even though they are facing 92mph average speed) wrist guards,special batting gloves and chin guards, but a pitcher that is exposed to balls coming to him at over 150 mph is not allowed to use any visible protection. Even they are accepting 32oz. bats ( I use to swing a 32oz bat when i was 12 years old) and I see that all the advantage has been given to the hitters.
2007-12-08 05:02:40 · 7 answers · asked by candyman 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
It really is not a question of the batters being "granted" protection while pitchers are not. The fact is that there are no rules in baseball specifically prohibiting them. The biggest reason pitchers don't wear protection is that wearing any would make it too hard to pitch.
I am not sure if baseball is looking into making a ruling regarding what can be worn and what cannot be worn, but I suspect not. Scoring attracts greater fan interest and thus money. A batter crowding the plate creates a competitive advantage that, theoretically, will result in more offense.
If an owner was not also the commissioner Baseball might actually make rules that are in the best long term interest of the league, not just the owners, but that day will come again
2007-12-08 05:20:24 · answer #1 · answered by j_gatsby94 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Pitchers really don't any gear. I mean they get hit every once in a while but batters get hit at a higher rate. The real danger for a pitcher is getting hit in the head and if they want they could wear a helmet like John Olerud used to wear. And to you, I don't think you swung a 32oz when you were 12. That's hard to believe considering most high school and college players today swing between 30-31 oz bats.
2007-12-09 16:15:53 · answer #2 · answered by adogg_9 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pitchers are less likely to get hit by a batted ball, whereas a batter is more prone to errant pitches, brush backs, high and tight pitches, etc. The whole concept of protective gear for a batter started back in the 1920's after Ray Chapman SS for the Indians was beaned and killed by a Carl Mays submarine pitch. Protective head gear entered the scene in the 1930's, but wasn't made mandatory attire for years after that.
Putting protective gear on a pitcher is like putting perfume on a pig --- it doesn't make any sense. A pitcher relies on mobility and ball movement to be successful. If that mobility is restricted in any way, he can't pitch well. Hence the fact that they do not use gear like the batters.
2007-12-08 13:45:03 · answer #3 · answered by no1nyyfan55 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I do understand the frustration of hitters armoring up. On the one hand, I don't want injuries that can be prevented easily.
On the other hand, hitters with lots of protection can crowd the plate with impunity. If I were Czar of baseball--e.g. unlimited powers--you could wear all the protection you wanted BUT a ball which hits you on the optional protection (anything but the helmet) would not be counted as a ball or strike and would not allow you to get a free base. That would be the trade-off a hitter would have to face.
2007-12-08 13:59:57 · answer #4 · answered by Bucky 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well some wear a lot of gear i.e. nomar
and some don't wear AS much i.e. Vlad
at least NL pitchers can wear a jacket in freezing weather when they reach a base :)
2007-12-09 00:20:51 · answer #5 · answered by ♥ mimi ♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you see the glove on the pitchers hand? That's what I'd call a visible protection device.
2007-12-08 13:08:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
It would be to constrictive for a pitcher and most wouldnt want anything.
2007-12-08 13:23:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋