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NEW YORK -- Big league pitchers might feel safer on the mound this season. jerseys from china . Major League Baseball has approved a protective cap for pitchers, hoping to reduce the damage from line drives to head that have brought some terrifying and bloody scenes in the last few years. The heavier and bigger new hat was introduced Tuesday and will be available for testing during spring training on a voluntary basis. Major leaguers and minor leaguers wont be required to wear it -- comfort is likely to be a primary concern. "Obviously, itd be a change," two-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers told the MLB Network. "Im definitely not opposed to it." "I think itd take a lot of getting used to," he said. "You dont look very cool, Ill be honest." The safety plates made by isoBLOX are sewn into the hat and custom fitted. They weigh an extra six to seven ounces -- a baseball weighs about five ounces, by comparison -- and offer protection to the forehead, temples and sides of the head. Theyll make the hats about a half-inch thicker in the front and around an inch wider on the sides. Several pitchers have been hit in the head by line drives in the recent seasons. Brandon McCarthy sustained a brain contusion and skull fracture after being struck in 2012 and Doug Fister was hit during the World Series that October. Torontos J.A. Happ and Tampa Bays Alex Cobb were sidelined after being hit last year. McCarthy tweeted that he had already tried out the fortified cap and that it was "headed in right direction but not game ready." Said Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler: "I think theyre on the right track, but the hat they approved isnt remotely close to comfortable enough to wear in games." In an email to The Associated Press, he said, "If youre not 100 per cent focused on executing your pitches, you have almost no chance of success. And that hat is uncomfortable enough that it would be a big distraction to wear it." "We talked to a lot of guys who had been through this, and they provided a wealth of information to help us," said Bruce Foster, CEO of the 4Licensing Corporation, parent company of isoBLOX. "We went through a myriad of different designs to develop this." Foster said the cap went through extensive testing and provided protection from line drives up to 90 mph in the front of the head and 85 mph on the side. Line drives in the majors have been clocked at even faster rates. While the hat is "slightly bigger" than a regular baseball cap, Foster said: "Its not going to be a Gazoo hat." Several years ago, MLB introduced larger batting helmets that offered increased safety. But big leaguers mostly rejected them, saying they looked funny and made them resemble the Great Gazoo, a character on the "The Flintstones" cartoon series. In recent seasons, pitchers have said they would try padded caps, provided they werent too cumbersome. "You see guys get hit with line drives. I know in the last couple of years there have been several of them. So it happens. You want to be wary of it," All-Star closer Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins said. "Player safety is important. I think finding a solution is good." "But by the sounds of what they have, I dont know if thats entirely feasible to go out there with basically a helmet on your head and pitch. Without seeing it or trying it on, I hate to make a blanket judgment. But just thinking out loud, that seems a little bit much. Just the bulkiness," he said. In December 2012, MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green presented ideas on protective headgear to executives, doctors and trainers. The prototypes under study included some made of Kevlar, the high-impact material often worn by military and law enforcement and NFL players. Several companies tried without success to make a product that would be approved by MLB and the players union. While isoBLOX was first to get the OK, other firms still might submit proposals. Foster said the caps design diffuses the impact of being hit, rather than only absorbing the shock. The technology will be available on the retail market for ballplayers of all ages in a form of a skull cap. A memo from MLB will advise teams that the caps are available in spring training, and pitchers who express interest in testing will be fitted. MLB can require minor leaguers to wear it, but has no plans now to do that. "I think it will be one of those things that people will wear them when they have to wear them. Maybe a guy here or a guy there," Perkins said. Star closer Grant Balfour said, "I am always appreciative of anything that will make the game safer. That being said, I may try it. Just not sure yet until I see it. Has to fit with a cap and be comfortable." MLB didnt make the use of helmets or protective cap inserts mandatory for batters until the National League required them for the 1956 season. Helmets werent required until the 1971 season and, even then, they werent mandatory for players already in the big leagues. An earflap on the side of the head facing the pitcher was required for new players starting in 1983. "Its nice to see any sport take precautions to prevent injury," San Francisco reliever Javier Lopez said. "That being said, I look forward to seeing what the finished product looks like. And if it helps just one pitcher, then its worth it. Its always nice to have safety nets." Added Boston reliever Craig Breslow: "Im not certain how many players will be testing the new equipment, but I think all at least appreciate the effort. " jersyes nfl wholesale . After reports emerged on Tuesday that the Toronto FC midfielder would head to Vancouver on loan, the team confirmed on Wednesday that they had, in fact, traded for the Argentine designated player. wholesale nfl jerseys . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. VANCOUVER -- When the Vancouver Canucks signed forward Marco Sturm on the first day of NHL free agency many people believed it was just the appetizer. The main course, the impact player that would mend some of the tears shown during the Canucks Stanley Cup loss, would be added during the summer. With training camp just over two weeks away Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis doesnt see any major trades or signings on the horizon. He believes the team that lost Game 7 to the Boston Bruins has the talent and desire to win the Stanley Cup this season. "We think we have a really strong team," Gillis said Thursday. "We dont really see a tremendous weakness. "Of course there are certain players that you would love to have that are on other teams and (you) think they would fit in well here. They are impossible to get at this point. We are really confident in the group we have." Gillis remains open to any deals that might come along. "If something comes our way between now and the start of the season we are going to act upon it," he said. "You cant manufacture it. "Its either there or not there." Boston pushed Vancouver around in the final. The Bruins were the school yard bully while the Canucks were the A student having their lunch money robbed. Gillis isnt prone to rash moves. Hes analytical in his approach to making his team better, whether its finding the right third-line centre or hiring a sleep doctor to determine the best travel arrangements. Thats why Gillis dismisses suggestions the Canucks need more grit in their lineup. Maybe a big, powerful forward that can bring a physical presence. "We played the best teams in the league through the playoffs," said Gillis, who was named the NHLs top executive last season. "No one suggested we needed to have a different look. "We got into a series with Boston. You can debate as long as you want. They were the better team. We had a lot of injuries and were unable to respond to certain situations." Speed and skill are the foundation the Canucks are built on. Gillis doesnt plan on changing that. "You dont build a hockey team to face one issue and think once you surmount it you are going to win," he said. "You have to have a complete balance in a lot of different ways. "We are confident in our skill and toughness is there." The Canucks signed Sturm to a one-year, US$2.25 million deal. The 32-year-old forward is a former 20-goal scorer who has undergone two major knee operaations. cheap jerseys. History isnt on the Canucks side when it comes to returning to the Stanley Cup final. The last two teams to play in back-to-back finals were Pittsburgh and Detroit in 2008 and 2009. Prior to that the last team to play for the Cup two years in a row was the New Jersey Devils in 2000 (beat Dallas) and 2001 (lost to Colorado). The last Canadian team to play for consecutive Cups was the Edmonton Oilers who won in 1987 and 1988. There are lessons to be learned, said Gillis. "Weve looked back at teams, especially Canadian teams," he said. "There have been things that occurred that we have tried to avoid and things we have tried to follow. "For our team we have set it up so there is real consistency." The Canucks have managed to keep their core players in tact. They lost high-scoring defenceman Christian Ehrhoff and rugged forward Raffi Torres to free-agency. "We havent lost many players," Gillis said. "We have tried to create more competition on our third and fourth lines. "We still maintain the depth we had last year on forward, defence and goaltending. I think as we move along to training camp . . . we will have a couple of unique things we are going to try and do. We think we have a strong group and we think we are determined." The Canucks will start the season without a couple key players. Selke trophy-winning forward Ryan Kesler had hip surgery over the summer and is expected to miss training camp. "Ryan is hopeful to be ready for the start of the season," Gillis said. "Well see." Speedy forward Mason Raymond is still recovering from a vertebrae compression fracture suffered in Game 6 against Boston. Raymond didnt require surgery but isnt expected to return until sometime in November. "I saw him two weeks ago," said Gillis. "He said he was feeling great. He was eager to do more stuff but the medical guys are holding him back a little bit." Defenceman Dan Hamhuis and forward Mikael Samuelsson both had surgery but are expected at training camp. Last years journey to the final was a huge learning curve for both players and management. Gillis said those lessons can be applied this season. "We learned different things every series, different ways to approach things," he said. Things like "being able to remain calm and think through issues. "Hopefully, when we get back there, we will have that experience and well be able to utilize it." cheap nfl jerseys ' ' ' |
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