There are several interesting story lines here. The biggest and most worrisome is for Kerwin Danley himself. Danley was struck by a ball last year resulting in a concussion. Now this is his second in less than a year.
How is he a few days later? The Associated Press reported he was at the hospital for 20 minutes but continues with a massive headache and will leave Toronto soon to be evaluated by Major League Baseball soon. Full story is here.
I certainly hope for him a full recovery and that he can return to umpiring soon but it's difficult not to worry about his future and his health after his second head injury. Last year, he was out for a month if my memory serves me correctly.
But there are some important issues I'd like to discuss. I sincerely want your thoughts on anything below that you want to chime in on. I'll hold my thoughts back and let you talk first for once.
Both Hickox and Danley were wearing Shock FX umpire helmets. Is the Shock FX not doing its job or did it prevent more severe injuries?- The concussion last year by Danley led him to changing to the Shock FX. What would have happened if he were wearing a traditional style umpire mask? Fared worse? Fared better? No difference?
- In football, you hear of players with multiple concussions retiring to prevent the threat of long-term consequences. What happens when umpires receive multiple concussions? Are we sadly at a point where this becomes an issue? Has it ever been an issue before?
- Let's say a doctor told Danley it is too risky for him to umpire behind the plate again or he sustains another concussion later (he's been in the majors for 11 years so he could umpire for 20 more years or so), could Major League Baseball or the MLB umpires allow him or any other umpire potentially in such a predicament to only work the bases as an accommodation?
- Last year, the big discussion was breaking maple bats? Do we begin discussing ash bats now as well? Does MLB and/or the bat manufactures need to take drastic measures before things get worse or is this an overblown story?
- In college and below, where most of our customers are, umpires should be immune to broken wooden bats. Have you seen, heard or been the victim of any errant aluminum bat that struck an umpire or you? If so, what was the result?
And I certainly hope we don't have any more MLB umpires injured anytime soon.
31 comments:
After reading your comments and thinking about helmets vs masks, had a thought occur to me. I've never worn a helmet and have no desire to do so as the ones I've tried on were not comfortable, especially since I wear glasses, so I have no experience with the helmet.
Over 35 plus year as a catcher and umpire, I've taken hundreds and hundreds of shots off the mask. Many of them have been real jolts that have rocked and stunned me....something all umpires experience. Many of these shots have dislodged my mask and a few times I've had it almost come completely off.
I'm wondering if maybe some of the force of the blow is dissipated by the mask moving at the time of impact. We've all felt that slight dislocation. I wonder if the helmet doesn't concentrate more of the impact because there is no deflection effect? Make any sense? Should be easy enough to test.
Very very good initial comment. We always talk about not wearing the mask too tight so that it can move after a hit. But we haven't talked about the helmet or how tight you wear it. Should it be worn loosely as well? Can it be worn loosely?
Thanks for sharing. More comments please.
First, the incident in question looks like a total freak accident. It was an ash bat (I believe) and they have been known to break and Kerwin just got caught in the wrong spot.
As for the mask question, I can recall one time, early in my career being hit to hard by a tipped ball that it knocked my mask off and put me on a knee. John Hierchbeck (sic?) also took a shot this past week in Cincinatti. So I'm beginning to think that its just part of the job.
Now the question is, is this happening more often? Umpires being hurt on the field. Do we need to change the mechanics or placement behind the catcher to better protect ourselves? Or is it just a case of we are much more aware of it so we pay more attention to it?
In the grand scheme of data collection, I think that the concussion that Kerwin Danley received the other day should be considered a bit of an outlier. He's already had one concussion, and as Jim has already discussed, once someone has had a concussion, follow-on problems are more serious. I don't think that it matters whether it's a football player or an umpire - the common thread is an injury to the brain. As for what happened to Danley, it was a bit of a freak thing, with the barrel snapping off at just the right moment, and it happened to catch him in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think that for him, the HSM prevented a more serious injury - imagine if he'd been wearing a traditional mask - the bat would have (likely) contacted his skull directly.
The injury to Hickox is quite a bit more of a concern for me... I also wear the Shock FX, and seeing Hickox stumble around the way he did, was worrisome... it seems to me that the Shock should have dissipated some of the force, but of course we'll never know how much force was (if any) dissipated. That said, I don't know if a traditional mask would have been any better for him, as it was a direct frontal shot, and there's little to cause me to think that a traditional mask would have prevented any further injury.
I hope both Danley and Hickox can be back working again soon, but I also have to wonder if Danley's doctors would advise otherwise, given his previous injury.
Signed,
BrianC14
Good comments Arik. I don't know if we are having more issues at the youth through high school or college levels. You don't hear about those, at least I don't.
What I am hearing is MLB umpire supervisors are seeing more injuries to their umpires, especially concussions. The question on mechanics or placement is one someone else might have more expertise than I to answer.
Keep the comments coming.
Brian, good to have a Shock FX wearer comment. I'm sure these issues are of particular importance to you.
What is so great about a hockey style helmet is its protection in the back and its greater angles on the side. Your argument that their could be little difference between the force of frontal shot to a hockey style helmet and traditional mask has validity.
I hope that you are right that what happened to him was a freak thing. I don't want to see that happen again, nor do I want to see anyone get hit that hard to the head where there is no protection at all.
Great comments so far. Would love to hear more.
Concussions are never alike, everyone has a different tolerance to the impact (which may or may not result in a concussion, or complete loss of consciousness), just like people have different rates of recovery to the symptoms.
As for the helmet not doing its job, I disagree. When you look at the Shock FX, it is (more or less) shaped like a triangle, designed to deflect to force coming from head on. In this instance, the bat hits the side of the helmet, a relatively flat part of the mask. There is little or no area to deflect the force of this impact, for the most part it is taken by the only place it is able to dissapate - the user's head. After all, the mask is not designed for impact from this angle.
Here's to hoping Mr Danley makes a full recovery, and that he does not become the Eric Lindros of umpiring.
- Chris Marco
This has been a rough beginning of the season in terms on injury and an all too real reminder how dangerous umpiring can be.
I find Hickox's injury disturbing. It has been said that his Shock FX helmet actually cracked at the forehead. I can only imagine the force required to do that.
Danley's injury as Arik & Brian have said was a freak injury. There isn't any umpire helmet made which is designed to take the force of a bat from the side.
IMO maybe Hickox would have been better served by a traditional mask??? But I can only imagine the horrific damage Danley would have suffered had he been wearing a traditional mask.
Does the league have responsibility to have Danley or any other umpire step down if needed? Absolutely! Brain injury is too serious to risk. Even if Danley is fortunate enough to get to umpire another 20 years, he needs to be able to enjoy his life when he leaves baseball. An independent person should declare his fitness to serve. Unfortunately as in other cases the individual may not think the problem is as serious as it really is.
About the bats, I very much believe that maple versus ash is secondary to the way the bats are cured. They are cured to the point they have zero moisture and therefore are more brittle. Yes, I realize the moisture makes the bat heavier and reduces it's power, but more importantly it makes the bat stronger.
Warren
Umpire-Empire
Chris, very good points on tolerance of concussions.
What you have said about flatness is worth highlighting. A helmet being flat or rounded is relative to the angle in which the ball (or other object) is coming. We tend to discuss them as if everything is coming from the front.
Or let's say you're wearing a helmet or mask and then turn your head in a such a way that you've made your head piece flatter.
I have said before that I thought when Kerwin Danley turned his head before the ball hit him in the right lower part of the mask last year that he took more force because he, in essence, made his mask flatter, relative to the pitch, than if he had not.
Good discussion so far. Keep it coming.
I love this question being brought up. I have played goalie in hockey and caught all the way up through college and now umpire both high school and college baseball. I personally wear a "hockey" style mask. I can tell you that yes you can wear them loose even with a hat under if you so choose. The only problem that i see with the FX is that it's very wide up front. Unlike the Allstar that I wear. If you look at most Hockey goalies their mask have a sharper point in the front so that pucks can deflect off easier and with less effect as well. The other huge thing that i notice is that our umpires mask are made of plastic versus the carbon fiber and or carbon kevlar mask in the NHL. I would think that if MLB or Wilson where to take the fx technology and mix it with a traditional pro goalie mask shell and then a titanium cage you would have a lighter mask that alot more "old school" umpires would like. That would also move with your face and still give you a stronger and tougher mask. Just my two cents.
mike
Everyone keeps talking about it hitting the side of the mask. If you watch the clip, he was hit twice. The barrel hit him in the grill, then it wrapped around and the small end hit the side of his head. He said he thought it hit hit him square and that is where his pain is, dead center in the forehead area.
Obviously the helmet is going to help any side hit but I have never seen an injury to a traditional mask wearer in any college down.
I have been hit once by a metal bat in a college game. The batter swung and let the bat go as he came around. The same batter got the catcher on a backswing the next AB.
Good comments Warren, especially on the bats.
Mike, nice to have a goalie and an umpire comment. I don't think I've ever known anyone to do both. You provide an interesting perspective that the Shock FX is a different animal than other hockey style helmets for good and worse.
You also raise a good point that basically now says it's important to wear either a traditional style or a hockey style helmet loosely. If you look at either Hickox or Danley's hits, the helmets partially come off, which is a good thing. So my guess is they were not wearing theirs too tightly.
Good clarification Michael on Danley's hit. My marketing assistant, Sherry Spalding, also pointed out when I showed her the video that the bat also dropped down and hit the catcher, of course with not as much force, after it hit Danley. So the bat really made the most of its travels.
Thanks to all of you who commented. I believe we've learned several things from your feedback.
Is it just possible that the Umpire injuries have been underreported in the past. Remember how macho we were supposed to be??
It's just a thought, no accusations.
For me the question is not "could," but "must" MLB reasonably accommodate an umpire with post-concussion syndrome. The ADA requires reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees, unless to do so would cause undue hardship.
A short term accommodation appears reasonable, however if an umpire is still exhibiting symptoms, should he be on the field at all? I mean, if he still experiences dizziness, can work second base?
Long term accommodation is the real issue. If an umpire has been concussed to the point that working the plate is a serious health risk, should MLB be forced to allow that umpire to only work the bases? Is that an undue hardship?
Therefump, you make a very good point. With the proliferation of the Internet and the popularity of online forums and blogs, it's more likely you are going to hear or see things.
Pete, great thoughts on the ADA. I don't recall the ADA ever being discussed as it relates to umpiring, but it is a very interesting subject. My first job out of college was a career counselor with adults with disabilities so I am very familiar with the ADA. Casey Martin, and his fight against the PGA to allow him to use a cart as a reasonable accommodation came to mind when I was reading your comments.
Jim,
after looking at the video of danleys shot from the bat i believe that it was a freak accident. in all the years of baseball (38years) i have never seen that type of blow. I do however have an opinion on the bucket. i would never wear that thing. it was made and designed for a hockey puck, not for a baseball. i have read numerous articles that suggest that its not safe for baseball. a traditional mask has been used for years and years and has shown to do its job. just because some think it looks cool (which i dont) doesnt mean that it works well, and for me my noggin is very important. i was a catcher for 30 years and an umpire for 5 years now, and i trust the mask that has gotten me through all those years. i say to anyone out there who wears the bucket go back guys its not worth it. i hope that kerwin and ed recover and that they go back to a mask thats proven and reliable. Last but not least i do believe that not all noggins are the same and that certain individuals cannot take the shots that others can, its that simple to me..
I wore the traditional mask as a catcher and as an ump for a lot of years. I now wear the helmet for a variety of reasons. I sometimes work small fields where a foul off the screen can come back and get you. I have had my traditional mask torn off my head and got a black eye from it. In the helmet, I had a ball hit me hard enough to actually stick on two points on the mask (still have the ball with the gouges to prove it) and barely felt it. Now I'm not facing ML pitching, but I do work adult baseball and some of those guys did pitch in the minors. I'll take the helmet for safety, better visibility, snd more comfort (to me anyway and I wear glasses, too) every day, but NOT because it "looks cool."
Clark, I appreciate your insights. Yes, it is true that there are many who have worn a mask for years without any ill effects and that this was a freak accident. And, I do agree with you that some people can "take" a hit better than others.
Scott, thanks for reminding us that it's not always about the ball that comes at you that is the one to worry about.
I have often wondered why there has never been a helmet made for umpires like the base coaches now have to wear. I have looked into maybe getting one of the new hockey mask style helmets, but I am smaller guy with small hands. I do not think I can take it off as good as a mask. I would really like the idea of the base coach style helmet. That would seem to give good protection and would look good also. Catcher have worn that style helmet for years with no problems.
Thanks,
Marshall
I’m a retired Certified Athletic Trainer; and I was also a hockey goaltender through my college years. I routinely caught bull pen sessions with rehabbing college level pitchers so I could evaluate their mechanics, control etc. During my hockey carrier I wore the old full glass mask, helmet and cages and finally a few different combos. I’ve taken heavy shots wearing all of the different masks. The worst effects were felt with a non-fitted combo; the least effect was felt wearing a custom fitted combo. Baseball wise I’ve always worn a traditional mask and oddly enough I’ve been drilled a few times because I was paying more attention to the pitcher’s mechanics than on trying to catch his pitch.
It really does not matter how good a mask is if it does not fit properly. Just because these hockey style masks come in a couple of hat sizes does not mean they fit properly. Being humans we equate a comfortable feel with proper fit. That is often not the case. Trauma can be amplified with an improper fit. If the mask does not absorb the energy of a strike to its shell then the skull and in turn the brain will. Counter coup type brain injuries are often the result.
I’ve spoken to a lot of players who have switched to the combo mask only to switch back to a traditional helmet and cage. The reasons are either an injury, or more commonly fear that they would be injured after being surprised at a strike to the shell that hurt more than expected. These combo helmets are in their infancy and I do believe that they do offer more complete protection, but they do have a long way to go still to be perfect.
Now a question directed to the Umpires. When you consider a batter is required to wear a helmet both at bat and as a runner. Thru college even line coaches must wear a helmet. The catcher must wear a helmet. Why then does the Umpire just a foot or two behind that catcher, with no glove to defend against a stray pitch, no idea what pitch is even headed his way protects his head with a cloth cap??? How badly injured would that Umpire have been injured if he took a bat straight to the temple? He could easily have been injured to death. Is it not time to put traditions aside and consider a nice black or dark blue short billed (in the style of your fitted cap) catcher’s style helmet with the traditional mask?
I will say this... I have read different things as to what offers more protection, and I haven't been convinced either way. I am currently recovering from my 3rd concussion at 24 years old. I am a High School ump. I don't think positioning will change anything, I wear my mask not to tight, ( I am in proper inside position by the way when I work the plate), something has to be put out there that will help take the impact. To put it in perspective, I suffered my most recent concussion being hit by a foul tipped ball in the mask in a 9&10 yr old game. That scares me..
I’ve been thinking about these injuries, compared to hockey injuries. A high level ball catcher faces a constant diet of 90 MPH pitches. A goaltender might see the odd 90 MPH shot, but it can come from much closer in; so I’d say the goalie mask has the potential of seeing a much faster projectile. For the most part however the speeds are about equal. So why are these baseball combos seemingly concussion machines? I’d love to see a super slow motion baseball strike on the shell of one of these combos. I bet the balls and the plastic shells are flattening out for a millisecond and imparting much more energy than the frozen rock hard hockey puck and fiberglass hockey shell does. I’d also like to see the number of injuries vs. struck masks. I bet a lot more catchers are hit and not injured than people realize. Consider a big hockey game has 40 shots (not all quality) in the whole game; and a catcher sees 100 pitches in 6 or 7 innings. Then the fresh reliever comes in and throws as hard as or harder than the starter. The potential to get hit is huge compared to hockey.
Since my original post I’ve seen that Pro baseball coaches have started wearing helmets (new rule?) All Umpires (plate and field/base) really should too. Even inferior protection is better than none.
Jon
Since the dicussion is on concussions. Those that have played hockey did you also have a mouth piece? In June's Referee magazine, they had an article "Out at the Plate". The talk about umpires working higher and more in the middle of the plate instead of working the slot. They also mention that there are no safety guidelines that umpire helmets have to meet, ie NOCSAE.
Just a question for those that played hockey, did you also wear a mouth piece?
Jason Wenzel
I really wish someone would make a helmet like the coaches wear for umpires. Heck I am thinking about just finding a navy catchers helmet and start wearing that.
I have always worn my mask loosely. It just feels better that way.
I was victim of a wayward ball of an aluminum bat back in 2004. A foul ball kept hooking and as the base umpire I was on the foul line and couldn't move fast enough and got smacked in the side of the head. I suffered 3 skull fractures including the Basil bone, which is one of the hardest bones in the whole body. There were also a few facial fractures from the force of the blow, not to mention that part of my right ear was shredded. And then finally a 80% hearing loss, the nuerologist said I was lucky to be alive still, apparently I should have died before reaching the hospital. For all the pain and suffering not just that i went through but the trauma my wife and kids suffered, the insurance company mailed me a big fat cheque for $500.00. This is not a typo I said Five Hundred dollars. At least that covered the pain meds I needed to contend with a level 3 concussion but it sure don't help with the cost of a hearing aid I now need nor did it replace the absolute terror I felt being back on the field a year and a half later. So after 30 years of giving my to being the best amatuer umpire I could be I have had to retire at the ripe old age of 43 from being an active umpire. Fear, lack of hearing and constant headaches and dizzy spells still plague me to this day. I think I would rather have a bat break than face the terror of a ball picking up speed from those godforsaken aluminum baseball bats.
Youth on into college hockey players are mandated to wear internal mouth guards, goalies included. Many pro goalies don't continue to wear them at the pro level however. The only concusion I recieved while playing hockey was without a mouth guard, wearing a old style goalie mask. I was kicked in the face while my head was against the post. I don't think it would have mattered what I was wearing in that case. Over the years I did work on many athletes, both hockey and football, injured wearing mouth guards. I really could not say I worked on less because of mouth guards. Research does show mouth guards however do help in preventing head/neck and dental injuries. For the most part the higher the level the athlete the worst the injuries. That being said the only athletes I've ever had to preform CPR on were both high school kids.
Jon
I'm loving the fact that this discussion continues despite it being 2 months since my original post. It's such an important debate
Griff, the anonymous athletic trainer and the anonymous post on 6/8... some great comments. There continues to be discussion on base helmets or hard shell caps from field umpires and possibly their use under traditional style mask. Perhaps you are correct, if you have to wear something on your head in the field, why not have it as a hard hat rather than a soft one. I may have much more to say about this at a later date.
The anonymous post on 6/6 where you received a concussion from a 9/10 y/o game. Well, that scares me, too. I do know some people are more prone to concussions than others. I hesitate to suggest this might be your case. I certainly don't claim to be a medical doctor, but I would confer with yours and determine whether strictly sticking to the bases might be in your best interest in the future.
Funeral guy, you certainly had a terrible experience. This is the worst story I've heard since the softball umpire was killed by a line drive standing behind the pitcher's mound in 2007, I believe it was. I wish you nothing but the best.
A lot of all of this is part of what I've been saying. You can't compare an athletic, agile player who has a glove to defend himself with that of a typically not-so-athletic or agile umpire who has no glove in the field... and who may be standing closer than a player depending on positioning.
So, is a hard shell umpire cap for the bases such as bad idea?
I've read all the posts and I go back to some basic questions (and comments): how far back does it go that umpires have been hurt behind the plate? Seems to be a significant uptick in the last 5 yrs (going back 40). Mechanics might be part of the issue. In ice hockey it's drilled into you to wear a mouth guard from day 1 for concussion purposes, not for your teeth. Unfortunatly, it would be very difficult to call a game with one in your mouth.
TheRefUmp
I don't think a hard shell hat is a bad idea. For home plate and field umpires alike. It would hurt my business of selling hats to umpires locally, but that is one thing I would not mind loosing if all would be safe on the field.
I would think we should all start using a navy catchers helmet. I am really thinking about starting to use one.
For me personally and I ahve umpired up to high schoo ball I am comfortable using the newer style lightweight mask. I wear it loosely and like several other posters while it is a rattling experience I have had no negative ramifications.....hard headedness is a term I have been called outside the game so inside the game it may have helped.
I have been using the Wilson Shock for the past 3 seasons without any ill effect. I previously used the traditional mask but also had no head on injuries. I did take a tipped ball that went behind me hit a center post and rebounded off the back of my head. That is when I decided to go to the HSM. Since I've switched I have taken many direct hit without effect. I do about 160 games a year and see many catchers get hit 2 or 3 times a game wearing a HSM without ever having to stop a game for an injury. Have actually only heard of one concussion in our organization of over 100 members and the injured umpire was wearing the traditional style mask. Funny thing is I did a game with him a couple of days earlier and offered my spare HSM to try and he said "I like mine better" My reply to him was "me too"
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