A few years ago, I invented something I called "The Pitcher's Cap." I never got it patented since that process was long and I didn't have the money to do so. I approached a bunch of different sporting goods manufacturers about my invention but got zero response. No company was interested.
With much talk these days, finally, about protecting pitchers, I thought I would share with you what I came up with.
If a manufacturer sees this or anyone from baseball does, feel free to pass along some royalties if this invention actually gets made. Take a read and feel free to tell me what you think. Thanks...
THE “PITCHERS CAP”
What is it?
It is a protective device for baseball pitchers. It shields the face from line drives and also protects the skull and ears.
Why?
Baseball pitchers are in a vulnerable position once they release the baseball. Upon completing their throwing motion, pitchers are approximately 55-feet from home plate. A batted ball can reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour, leaving the pitcher with very little reaction time to avoid a baseball hit at his head. As it now stands, the only protection a pitcher has is his glove, his athletic cup and his reflexes. Batters are bigger and stronger than ever and the speed upon which the ball comes off the bat is staggering. In most amateur leagues, including college and high school, the batters use aluminum bats. Studies show the ball comes off the bat even faster off aluminum than wood.
Examples?
There are hundreds upon hundreds of examples of pitchers getting hit by a batted ball to the head. If one goes to www.YouTube.com, you can find some very chilling and frightening examples of pitchers getting drilled in the head by a baseball. Here are a couple of well know cases of pitchers getting hit by a batted ball....
Indians pitcher Herb Score was hit in the face with a line drive in 1957. He broke numerous bones in his face and although he returned in 1958, he was never the same pitcher again.
In 2000, Red Sox pitcher Bryce Florie was hit in the face with a liner. His face was bloodied, he suffered eye damage and multiple facial fractures.
In 2008, Notre Dame pitcher Wade Korpi took a line drive off the face and suffered facial injuries.
In 2009, Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was hit by a line drive and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.
In 2003, an 18-year old pitcher throwing in an American Legion game in Montana was stuck in the face from a line drive and died a few hours later.
Explanation/Design:
The Pitcher's Cap is not like a football helmet or a hockey helmet. It is basically a baseball cap with protective additions. It basically looks like a baseball cap, is light-weight but offers key protections.
The Pitcher's Cap has a visor similar to that of a hockey player’s visor. It is clear plastic and hangs off the brim of the cap. It will also have a flip up capability so when a pitcher is wearing the Pitcher's Cap but isn’t pitching at that moment, he can simply flip up the visor.
The sides of the Pitcher's Cap will have protective steel earflaps, in a “V” shape, coated in a protective, sponge like coating, with padding on the inside of the flaps.
This will protect the ears should a pitcher duck out of the way of a line drive.
As for the hat panels, in most caps there are six panels to the cap. The front two panels and the side two panels would be the most likely to be hit by a batted ball. There will be a form fitted, plastic shell that will fit inside the cap.
It will also be important for the cap to fig snugly on the pitcher’s head. The Pitcher's Cap would lose much of it’s protective capability if it became dislodged or was loose when a pitcher delivered the ball. The Pitcher’s Cap will be designed in such a manner that a small knob will be on the back of the cap that can be turned to tighten the cap, via the inside cap band, and to insure that it will stay in place during the act of pitching.
Looks?
The Pitcher’s Cap would look as much like a baseball cap as possible. I don’t think a football helmet style protective device would go over very well. If the Pitcher’s Cap is designed in an attractive “cool” manner it would only encourage it’s use.
Practical?
Given the choice of getting hit in the face with a screaming line drive without the Pitcher’s Cap or getting hit in the face while wearing the Pitcher’s Cap, I think most pitchers, their teammates and coaches, the opposing batter and the friends and family of the pitcher would choose option B.
While it may look odd at first, the Pitcher’s Cap, without a doubt, would catch on quickly. Eventually, it would lose it’s novelty effect and become a standard and necessary piece of equipment for the pitcher.
Remember, there was a time when batters didn’t wear helmets. It wasn’t long ago that wearing helmets in hockey wasn’t mandatory. At one time hockey goaltenders didn’t wear a mask. When football started, players didn’t wear helmets. Then they used leather helmets. When plastic helmets came into existence they didn’t have face masks. When the first players started using facemasks they were ridiculed. Can you imagine football today without the modern helmets and facemasks?
The evolution of baseball dictates that pitchers become properly protected when on the mound.
Who would purchase a Pitcher’s Cap?
Any concerned parent would want their son to wear the Pitcher’s Cap while on the mound. The same goes for softball where a pitcher is even closer to home plate leaving very little reaction time in the event of a hard line at someone’s head.
I could see little leagues, summer leagues, high school and college level teams all having their pitchers use a Pitcher’s Cap. Eventually, I see the pitcher’s cap filtering into the professional level, first in the minor leagues and then into Major League Baseball.
At first I’m sure that a Pitcher’s Cap would be by choice only. One day though it is feasible to think that the Pitcher’s Cap would be a mandatory piece of equipment, such as a batting helmet or in some places bike helmets for youths.
If you were a pitcher, would you wear the Pitcher's Cap?
For many pitcher's their biggest fear is getting drilled in the head with a line-drive. While the Pitcher's Cap is not a failsafe for injury, it would certainly minimize or eliminate catastrophic facial and head injuries in many cases. That alone would prompt me to wear the Pitcher's Cap.
So there you have it. My invention, The Pitchers Cap.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Real Estate Mogul
While Alex Rodriguez has been taking hits in the media for alleged performance enhancing drug use, while he hasn't played this season due to another hip surgery, and while his legacy and image takes a major beating, there is one thing that hasn't taken a beating. And that is A-Rod's bank account.
It was reported yesterday that a Miami home that Rodriguez had built for 15-million a couple of year ago was sold for 30-million. Hold on, let me get out my calculator. Ok. According to my math, that's a 15-million dollar profit. Not bad in this economic climate.
Which leads me to think, why doesn't A-Rod just retire from baseball and go into the real estate business?
Many people are taking shots at Rodriguez in the comments section of the story. Not me. Hey, if the guy can make a 15-million dollar profit on a home, why not? Good for him. But now, where is he going to live once he vacates the home? I hope Rodriguez thought that through.
It was reported yesterday that a Miami home that Rodriguez had built for 15-million a couple of year ago was sold for 30-million. Hold on, let me get out my calculator. Ok. According to my math, that's a 15-million dollar profit. Not bad in this economic climate.
Which leads me to think, why doesn't A-Rod just retire from baseball and go into the real estate business?
Many people are taking shots at Rodriguez in the comments section of the story. Not me. Hey, if the guy can make a 15-million dollar profit on a home, why not? Good for him. But now, where is he going to live once he vacates the home? I hope Rodriguez thought that through.
The Weiss Guys
Last year they lost a franchise worst 98 games under manager Jim Tracy. The Rockies were a team that was not only atrocious they were hopelessly boring.
In the offseason they brought in Walt Weiss to manage. He might be the only person in baseball history to go from coaching high school ball to piloting a major league team.
Anyway, Weiss has an impressive baseball resume, from playing on a World Series winning team with the Athletics in 1989 to playing under Hall of Fame to be managers Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox.
While we can still spout the "it's early" line, there is no doubt that the Rockies of 2013 are miles better than last year's disasterous bunch.
At 27-21 the Rocks are tied for first in the National League West with the Diamondbacks. The defending World Champion Giants are a game behind after last night's 5-0 win by the Rockies. That was a significant win since it broke a 9-game losing streak at San Francisco and it was also the first four game winning streak over the Giants since 2007.
While Weiss should get a lot of credit, it should be pointed out that the team is relatively healthy. Last year, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was out for most of the season with a groin injury.
When Carlos Gonzalez and Tulo are on the field together the Rockies are a dangerous team. Michael Cuddyer, a pro's pro, is back from a two week stint on the disabled list. They are also getting solid, if not unspectacular pitching. The starters are keeping them in games and the bullpen has been efficient. Last year the pen was gassed by mid-June.
A year ago at this time the Rockies were 19-29, 13 games out of first place. The season was over. This year a much different picture for the Weiss Guys.
One of the guys to keep an eye on is rookie third baseman Nolan Arenado. He's got power and will drive in runs. But it's his defense that truly is remarkable. I would be shocked if he doesn't turn into a perennial All-Star.
I mentioned in a previous post that Joe Girardi should be given early American League Manager of the Year consideration.
I would also venture to say that rookie skipper Walt Weiss should also be considered an early front runner for NL managerial honors. He's well respected around baseball but especially so in the Rockies clubhouse. He's been the stabilizer for a team that was in dire need of someone to guide them.
Now, it's up to the Rockies to extend his one-year contract and get out of the way and let him do his job. And trust me, Weiss has been doing a phenomenal job so far.
In the offseason they brought in Walt Weiss to manage. He might be the only person in baseball history to go from coaching high school ball to piloting a major league team.
Anyway, Weiss has an impressive baseball resume, from playing on a World Series winning team with the Athletics in 1989 to playing under Hall of Fame to be managers Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox.
While we can still spout the "it's early" line, there is no doubt that the Rockies of 2013 are miles better than last year's disasterous bunch.
At 27-21 the Rocks are tied for first in the National League West with the Diamondbacks. The defending World Champion Giants are a game behind after last night's 5-0 win by the Rockies. That was a significant win since it broke a 9-game losing streak at San Francisco and it was also the first four game winning streak over the Giants since 2007.
While Weiss should get a lot of credit, it should be pointed out that the team is relatively healthy. Last year, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was out for most of the season with a groin injury.
When Carlos Gonzalez and Tulo are on the field together the Rockies are a dangerous team. Michael Cuddyer, a pro's pro, is back from a two week stint on the disabled list. They are also getting solid, if not unspectacular pitching. The starters are keeping them in games and the bullpen has been efficient. Last year the pen was gassed by mid-June.
A year ago at this time the Rockies were 19-29, 13 games out of first place. The season was over. This year a much different picture for the Weiss Guys.
One of the guys to keep an eye on is rookie third baseman Nolan Arenado. He's got power and will drive in runs. But it's his defense that truly is remarkable. I would be shocked if he doesn't turn into a perennial All-Star.
I mentioned in a previous post that Joe Girardi should be given early American League Manager of the Year consideration.
I would also venture to say that rookie skipper Walt Weiss should also be considered an early front runner for NL managerial honors. He's well respected around baseball but especially so in the Rockies clubhouse. He's been the stabilizer for a team that was in dire need of someone to guide them.
Now, it's up to the Rockies to extend his one-year contract and get out of the way and let him do his job. And trust me, Weiss has been doing a phenomenal job so far.
The Ike Davis Mystery
Baseball is a game of adjustments. Many young players have initial success but then the league figures them out and they cool off. Until they adjust to the adjustments.
In his rookie season with the Mets, first baseman Ike Davis shined. At 23, he belted 19 homers, drove in 71 runs and hit a respectable .264. Looks like the Mets had their first baseman of the future.
He was hitting .302 after 36 games the following season. But his 2011 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury.
Back at first last year Davis smacked 32 homers and drove in 90 runs although his average was a puny .227.
Oh what Davis would do for a .227 average this season. He would kill for an average that high. Kill as in figuratively, not literally.
Davis may be the worst player in the big leagues this season. He's hitting just .143. He has 4 homers and 9, that's right, 9 RBI's in 43 games.
Every player goes into slumps. But so far it has been a season long slump, not a 10 or 15 game slump. He's killing the Mets. It really is shocking at how far he has fallen.
There has been talk of sending him to the minors. That would be a good start. No player wants to be send down to the minors but in this case it would be merciful for the guy.
I'm not a Mets fan by any means. They are my least liked professional sports team and I pull for them to lose every game. But my compassionate side tells me that they need to send him down just to give him a chance to breathe and get away from the pressure of New York. At 26 he certainly can't be finished. Now it's time for Davis to make adjustments and doing it at the big league level isn't working.
In his rookie season with the Mets, first baseman Ike Davis shined. At 23, he belted 19 homers, drove in 71 runs and hit a respectable .264. Looks like the Mets had their first baseman of the future.
He was hitting .302 after 36 games the following season. But his 2011 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury.
Back at first last year Davis smacked 32 homers and drove in 90 runs although his average was a puny .227.
Oh what Davis would do for a .227 average this season. He would kill for an average that high. Kill as in figuratively, not literally.
Davis may be the worst player in the big leagues this season. He's hitting just .143. He has 4 homers and 9, that's right, 9 RBI's in 43 games.
Every player goes into slumps. But so far it has been a season long slump, not a 10 or 15 game slump. He's killing the Mets. It really is shocking at how far he has fallen.
There has been talk of sending him to the minors. That would be a good start. No player wants to be send down to the minors but in this case it would be merciful for the guy.
I'm not a Mets fan by any means. They are my least liked professional sports team and I pull for them to lose every game. But my compassionate side tells me that they need to send him down just to give him a chance to breathe and get away from the pressure of New York. At 26 he certainly can't be finished. Now it's time for Davis to make adjustments and doing it at the big league level isn't working.
Here Come The Halos! Maybe.
The Angels have won 6 in a row and are now 21-27. That shows you how big a hole they've dug for themselves.
They are still 10-games behind the first place Rangers but at least they are showing life.
I'm surprised at how bad they've started this season. I would have thought they learned their lesson from last year when they started out horribly and it ended up costing them a spot in the post-season.
Obviously the injury to ace Jered Weaver, after just two starts, hurt tremendously. Also, the slower than slow start of free agent pickup Josh Hamilton didn't help. He's picked up the pace a little but I don't think Arte Moreno gave him a 106-million dollar contract to hit .222. But where was Albert Pujols? Oh, having another awful start. He's hitting a mediocre .254. We all knew when Pujols signed as a free agent that in the latter years of his 10-year contract there would be some decline. No one expected him to start that decline in year two with the Angels.
The Angels simply strike out too much and the bullpen has been in disarray.
But things are picking up. Mike Trout the other day became the youngest player in American League history, at the age of 20, to hit for the cycle. Weaver is due to come back soon.
Still, is this 6-game winning streak a tease or are the Angels actually ready to make a move?
I've always felt that teams that are under .500 shouldn't even think about the standings. Just get above .500 and go from there. From being 12 under to 6 games under .500 is a good start. If they can get to .500 mark by the end of June that will be a nice accomplishment and will give them three month's to make a move.
They are still 10-games behind the first place Rangers but at least they are showing life.
I'm surprised at how bad they've started this season. I would have thought they learned their lesson from last year when they started out horribly and it ended up costing them a spot in the post-season.
Obviously the injury to ace Jered Weaver, after just two starts, hurt tremendously. Also, the slower than slow start of free agent pickup Josh Hamilton didn't help. He's picked up the pace a little but I don't think Arte Moreno gave him a 106-million dollar contract to hit .222. But where was Albert Pujols? Oh, having another awful start. He's hitting a mediocre .254. We all knew when Pujols signed as a free agent that in the latter years of his 10-year contract there would be some decline. No one expected him to start that decline in year two with the Angels.
The Angels simply strike out too much and the bullpen has been in disarray.
But things are picking up. Mike Trout the other day became the youngest player in American League history, at the age of 20, to hit for the cycle. Weaver is due to come back soon.
Still, is this 6-game winning streak a tease or are the Angels actually ready to make a move?
I've always felt that teams that are under .500 shouldn't even think about the standings. Just get above .500 and go from there. From being 12 under to 6 games under .500 is a good start. If they can get to .500 mark by the end of June that will be a nice accomplishment and will give them three month's to make a move.
The Rag Tag Underdog Yanks
Earlier this month I had a rare chance to see the Yankees when they came to Coors Field. Unlike in 2007, their last visit, they took 2 of 3 from the Rockies. Back in 2007 they were swept in three games by the Rocks who went to their only World Series that year.
It's been a rough start to the home schedule for the Rockies weatherwise. It has been a brutal spring in Colorado with snow all through April and into May.
For the Yankees-Rockies series, it rained all three games and I felt bad for my radio cohort Casey Bloyer. The Caseman is a diehard Yankees fan and for three games he sat in the rain. Certainly he could have taken cover but he didn't. He took his daughter Bailey to her first ever Major League game. He waited until he could take her to a Yankees game and she loved it. Even the rain.
As for the Yankees, they were playing guys like Jayson Nix, Lyle Overbay, Ben Francisco, Chris Nelson and Austin Romine. Nowhere to be seen was Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira or Alex Rodriguez. Actually, it was nice that A-Rod wasn't there and I hope to never see him in a Yankees uniform again. But he'll likely be back this season, unfortunately.
The Yanks currently reside in first place, a game ahead of the Red Sox, another team that was supposed to battle the Yankees to stay out of the AL East basement.
Looks like the experts were wrong again.
But as they say, "it's early."
But it isn't too often the Yankees are underdogs. And with the lineups they've been throwing out there, yes, they are underdogs.
You would have to say that Joe Girardi is doing his best managerial work with the Yankees this season and has to be given early consideration for the Manager of the Year award.
It's been a rough start to the home schedule for the Rockies weatherwise. It has been a brutal spring in Colorado with snow all through April and into May.
For the Yankees-Rockies series, it rained all three games and I felt bad for my radio cohort Casey Bloyer. The Caseman is a diehard Yankees fan and for three games he sat in the rain. Certainly he could have taken cover but he didn't. He took his daughter Bailey to her first ever Major League game. He waited until he could take her to a Yankees game and she loved it. Even the rain.
As for the Yankees, they were playing guys like Jayson Nix, Lyle Overbay, Ben Francisco, Chris Nelson and Austin Romine. Nowhere to be seen was Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira or Alex Rodriguez. Actually, it was nice that A-Rod wasn't there and I hope to never see him in a Yankees uniform again. But he'll likely be back this season, unfortunately.
The Yanks currently reside in first place, a game ahead of the Red Sox, another team that was supposed to battle the Yankees to stay out of the AL East basement.
Looks like the experts were wrong again.
But as they say, "it's early."
But it isn't too often the Yankees are underdogs. And with the lineups they've been throwing out there, yes, they are underdogs.
You would have to say that Joe Girardi is doing his best managerial work with the Yankees this season and has to be given early consideration for the Manager of the Year award.
Long Time Coming
Good heavens, it's been more than a month since I last posted on Mysterious Walker. My apologies.
Why haven't I been posting?
Well, I've been writing a book and have been immersed in that.
The name of the book is, "Still Pitching...Dark Days, Baseball and Salvation. The Story of The Fish."
What's it about Bill?
It's a biography on a most interesting character named Rick Fisher. His story is one that will make you shake your head at times. It will make you laugh. It will hopefully be an inspirational book, especially for someone who is down and almost, but not quite out.
I could tell you more but then, why would you buy the book?
And yes, I said "buy" the book.
Every publisher knows that free books have to be given away. Mostly to media people in hopes they interview you and put you on their program or write about it in the newspaper on online.
I also give my wife a free copy of the book which she'll glance at and then stick on the shelf.
But I don't understand why so many people, especially those whom I'm not that close with, ask, "where's my copy?" As in free copy. When I tell them where they can buy the book, I usually get a look of, "really? I gotta buy it? No thanks."
I give away a couple of books to true and close friends...but they usually insist on buying the book anyway.
The book will be out, hopefully, in early October. There will be book signings and such.
"Still Pitching..." is close to being finished. I'll keep everyone posted.
I'll also try to post more on Mysterious Walker.
Why haven't I been posting?
Well, I've been writing a book and have been immersed in that.
The name of the book is, "Still Pitching...Dark Days, Baseball and Salvation. The Story of The Fish."
What's it about Bill?
It's a biography on a most interesting character named Rick Fisher. His story is one that will make you shake your head at times. It will make you laugh. It will hopefully be an inspirational book, especially for someone who is down and almost, but not quite out.
I could tell you more but then, why would you buy the book?
And yes, I said "buy" the book.
Every publisher knows that free books have to be given away. Mostly to media people in hopes they interview you and put you on their program or write about it in the newspaper on online.
I also give my wife a free copy of the book which she'll glance at and then stick on the shelf.
But I don't understand why so many people, especially those whom I'm not that close with, ask, "where's my copy?" As in free copy. When I tell them where they can buy the book, I usually get a look of, "really? I gotta buy it? No thanks."
I give away a couple of books to true and close friends...but they usually insist on buying the book anyway.
The book will be out, hopefully, in early October. There will be book signings and such.
"Still Pitching..." is close to being finished. I'll keep everyone posted.
I'll also try to post more on Mysterious Walker.
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