The New York Yankees have made a name for themselves in 2017. Relying on young players in Aaron Judge and Luis Severino along with veterans like Starlin Castro and Aroldis Chapman, they are within striking distance of getting a spot in the playoffs. In the midst of their latest win against the Minnesota Twins yesterday, the victory was the least of their concerns.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Todd Frazier of the Yankees hit a foul ball that went into the stands. The reaction was utter shock as it hit someone. Both teams were in disbelief. Camera shots of Frazier and teammate Matt Holliday showed them visibly upset. Broadcaster Michael Kay said that it was possibly a young fan. He was accurate as it hit a little girl, who was taken to a local hospital. Both teams expressed concern about people getting hit and the netting to protect fans.
It definitely is an emotional thing to think about. A number of these ballplayers are married and have kids. That feeling they had hit close to home, especially for Frazier, who grew up near New York in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Whenever something happens to a kid, the question is brought up: Is he/she okay? This is going to go through their heads for a while. While not kid related, I'm thinking back to 2007 when Kevin Everett was paralyzed on a kickoff for the Buffalo Bills. Denver Broncos return man Domenik Hixon was very shaken up about it when Everett tackled him.
There has been pressing matters into protecting the fans. Netting covers to at least the dugouts. After that it's fair game. Some teams have opted for more. The Yankees were in the process of looking into it. In July, Aaron Judge hit a foul ball that resulted in a fan with a serious injury, requiring stitches. There was another incident in May as well with a kid having a head injury from a broken bat from Chris Carter. Only 10 teams have extended their netting to the foul poles, which includes the city rival Mets. Threats have been made by a councilman to force this on the Yankees, with potential voting in October on a bill.
Baseball is also concerned about if fans can watch with the netting. I don't think these teams have much choice. If this forces the Yankees to do better with protection, others might follow suit. They have to treat it like a hockey game. Fans, however, do need to keep eye on the game itself. If they're not watching, they run a high risk of getting hurt. Also, some might get seats for a reasonable price and it is near the foul line on first or third base. You can't necessarily force them into a different seat because of concerns.
Whatever they do, the Yankees have to implement this very quickly. With playoffs coming in two weeks, they are the favorite to host the one game Wild Card in the American League. The last thing anyone wants to see is a fan getting killed.
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