The Cleveland Indians have announced that they will be joining the rest of Major League Baseball and extend the protective netting along the foul lines.
This has been a long time coming. The Cleveland Indians will be extending the protective netting down the foul lines.
As Mandy Bell of MLB.com notes, the netting will not go all the way to the foul pole, but most of the way. Sections 125 and 117 will not have netting in front of it in right field. Left field sections 175, 178, and 179 will not have netting either. The way the ballpark is constructed, a protective net is not necessarily needed in front of those sections. The net leading up to them will provide protection to those sitting in those areas.
Bell mentions that the height of the net will increase by 10 feet. Going from 23 to 33 feet. The Indians will also be removing the canopy behind home plate. More fans will have the chance to catch a foul ball with the removal of the canopy.
At the end of the day this is about safety for everyone attending a baseball game
It is about making the ballpark safer. A concept that should not have much opposition, but does for some bizarre reason. A common misconception is that simply paying attention to the game and not being on their phone will lead to improved safety. That is the main argument against the netting. “Millennials being on their phone too much” is a completely nonsensical argument that only those far out of touch with reality make, (cough, cough, Kent Sterling). It’s great that you protected your young child at a baseball game, but wouldn’t the entire experience be much more enjoyable not having to play superhero in the event a ball comes your way? Just a thought.
The reality is that there are sometimes people who are incapable of properly protecting themselves in the event a screaming line drive comes in their direction. The elderly and small children do not have the reaction time required to dodge a line drive. Some may not be entirely able to comprehend what is happening. Instead of having to constantly worry about whether or not a ball capable of causing injury is coming your way, you will be able to properly spend time with your friends and family.
If baseball players (current and former) are barely able to get out of the way, what chance does the average person have? Here’s a hint, not a good one. It’s great that some fans in the stands played baseball in high school, college, etc., but there is a reason that they are in the stands and not on the field.
The Indians want to make sure that every fan that attends a game at Progressive Field is safe. There is nothing wrong with safety.
