In less than one year four Yankee outfielders have been seriously injured crashing into walls. Three of them were rookies, possibly trying too hard to impress and become permanent members of the active roster of 25.
For years I've been advocating a simple solution, which is unacceptable to average fans and league officials alike because it would be too much of a departure from traditional historic barbarity. Catching a fly ball on the warning track should not be a put out. The ball should be in play is if caught on a bounce. See how simple and effective that is? No padding. Just push the area for a catch of a fly ball back onto the grass, a safe distance from the walls. It also removes much of direct fan interference with the players.
Come on. Come. You know that football receivers have been doing this for decades, stopping near the sideline and catching a pass. And that with a defender about to tackle them and the ground not different as it is with the dirt warning track in baseball.
Any chance that will be considered? Will commissioner Manfred, the A-Rod Slayer, give it a second thought?
Here are the four Yankee outfielders injured:
Jacoby Ellsbury: Born: September 11, 1983 (Age: 34 and 202 days)
May 24, 2017; 1,162nd major league game. Missed 30 games with a concussion suffered when he crashed into the center field wall in the second inning.
June 4, 2002: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 23rd round of the 2002 amateur draft, but did not sign.
June 7, 2005: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 2005 amateur draft. Player signed July 1, 2005.
October 31, 2013: Granted Free Agency.
December 7, 2013: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
_____________________Dustin Fowler: Born: December 29, 1994 (Age: 23 and 93 days)
June 29, 2017; First and ONLY major league game. Playing right field Fowler ran into a low fence in foul territory in the first inning. He was removed from the game and never batted. Still hasn't. Injured leg.
June 8, 2013: Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 18th round of the 2013 amateur draft. Player signed July 10, 2013.
July 31, 2017: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for Sonny Gray and international bonus slot money .
_____________________Clint Frazier: Born: September 6, 1994 (Age: 23 and 207 days)
Spring training 2018: crashed into the left field wall and suffered a concussion. Has yet to play in either major or minor league games in 2018. Played in 39 major league and 74 minor league games in 2017.
June 6, 2013: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 2013 amateur draft. Player signed June 15, 2013.
July 31, 2016: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Ben Heller to the New York Yankees for Andrew Miller.
_____________________Billy McKinney: Born: August 23, 1994 (Age: 23 and 221 days)
March 31, 2018. Second major league game. McKinney had just been brought up to replace injured center fielder Aaron Hicks, who suffered a pulled rib muscle. McKinney had been 1 for 4 in his one full game. But in game two playing left field in the bottom of the first inning in Toronto Blue Jay Josh Donaldson hit a long drive to left center. McKinney crashed into the wall, failing to make the catch. Donaldson had a double. McKinney was examined and remained in the game. The next batter Justin Smoak lined a single to left scoring Donaldson. McKinney threw the ball back in weakly and was removed. McKinney's left shoulder is injured and he will not play for a few weeks. McKinney both throws and bats lefty.
June 6, 2013: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 2013 amateur draft. Player signed June 14, 2013.
July 5, 2014: Traded by the Oakland Athletics with Addison Russell and Dan Straily to the Chicago Cubs for Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija.
July 25, 2016: Traded by the Chicago Cubs with Adam Warren to the New York Yankees for Aroldis Chapman.
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Fly caught on warning track should be in play, not an out, for safety. Friday, June 30, 2017
I've suggested this previously but two incidents this season cry out for this common sense safety change to the rules. Once a player steps onto the warning track, he may not record a putout. This removes any incentive to try to catch a fly near a wall.
Two Yankee outfielders have been seriously injured this season crashing into a wall try to catch a fly ball.
Center field veteran Jacoby Ellsbury crashed into the wall catching a ball and suffered a concussion. He just returned after missing weeks.
Last night rookie Dustin Fowler in his first game crashed into a low wall and injured his leg, which will require surgery.
Both injuries could have been prevented if my rule change had been implemented. It's basic common sense.
There is no Olympic event that requires the athlete to sprint into a wall while looking in the opposite direction. Asking baseball players to do it is absurd and irresponsible.
Fly caught on warning track should be in play, not an out, for safety. Friday, June 30, 2017
I've suggested this previously but two incidents this season cry out for this common sense safety change to the rules. Once a player steps onto the warning track, he may not record a putout. This removes any incentive to try to catch a fly near a wall.
Two Yankee outfielders have been seriously injured this season crashing into a wall try to catch a fly ball.
Center field veteran Jacoby Ellsbury crashed into the wall catching a ball and suffered a concussion. He just returned after missing weeks.
Last night rookie Dustin Fowler in his first game crashed into a low wall and injured his leg, which will require surgery.
Both injuries could have been prevented if my rule change had been implemented. It's basic common sense.
There is no Olympic event that requires the athlete to sprint into a wall while looking in the opposite direction. Asking baseball players to do it is absurd and irresponsible.
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