Another child was "sent to the hospital Saturday night after being hit by a foul ball" during a Triple-A Int'l League Indianapolis Indians game, just days after another child was hit with a foul ball during Cubs-Astros last Wednesday, according to Emma Kate Fittes of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The child was "treated by on-site EMT personnel before being transported to an area hospital," and witnesses "reported seeing the child taken away on a gurney." The girl was "sitting in field-level stands down the third base line" when she was hit (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/3).
VOCAL MINORITY: In Detroit, Anthony Fenech noted Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire believes that the netting should "extend even further -- from foul pole to foul pole." He said, "I've seen too many balls hooked and sliced, and people have no chance when it goes in the crowd, they're going to get hit." Fenech noted a "small-but-vocal segment of fans have railed against protective netting, saying that it affects their viewing experience and their ability to get foul balls or pregame autographs." Gardenhire said that they are "out of touch" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/1).
NOT WORTH THE RISK: In Chicago, Rick Morrissey wrote netting "should be in place from foul pole to foul pole in the lower bowl, not just from the end of each dugout, as it is now," and the netting "should be higher." When an MLBer "steps to the plate, there shouldn't be a thought in his head that he might hurt a fan in the stands" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/1). In Boston, Peter Abraham wrote some teams "remain hesitant" to extend protective netting "because of complaints from season-ticket holders." Abraham: "Perhaps a person who is more concerned about his or her view being slightly impeded than the prospect of somebody dying is not worth having as a customer" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/2).
CAUTIONING CORRECTION: In Seattle, Matt Calkins wrote he can "understand why some fans would protest" additional netting, and he does not think those fans "should be dismissed." Calkins: "We should always strive to correct problems, but should be wary of overcorrection, too." Teams should "extend the nets to better protect their fans," but they are not "monsters if they don't" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/2).
