04/24/24
June 22, 2014
Alex Torres First Pitcher to Wear Protective Cap: San Diego Padres reliever Alex Torres became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to wear the new protective padded cap in a game. The league has been testing different protection since Oakland A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy was struck by a line drive and suffered life-threatening brain injuries 17 months ago. The look inspired comparisons to Dark Helmet and Super Mario on Twitter, but Torres said, "It doesn't feel like how it looks on my head."
So Alex Torres becomes the first pitcher to wear the new protective hat. Thoughts? Ridiculous comments? pic.twitter.com/H3TsYtZM7p
— Covers.com (@Covers) June 22, 2014
I REALLY don't want to make fun of it because it is a step in the right direction, but it does look like someone has entered only half of the "big-head" code from NBA Jam.
posted by grum@work at 11:42 AM on June 22, 2014
Style-wise, it's a big of a step back from John Olerud's field helmet. I'd think convincing people to wear a low-profile helmet vs. what effectively looks like an overstuffed couch would be easier.
posted by dfleming at 12:15 PM on June 22, 2014
They should have introduced the cap a few years ago. It would have looked proportionately correct perched on Bonds' econo-dome.
posted by beaverboard at 04:38 PM on June 22, 2014
Like the idea. Who cares what it looks like if it works. How will this protect against a line drive to the face a la Herb Score, Bryce Florie, and others?
posted by Howard_T at 08:29 PM on June 22, 2014
I mean, I'm glad pitchers have this option for protection if they want it, but... Yeah, it's-a me, Mario!