Net Time For MLB Ballparks

Why?

Why has it taken so long for Major League Baseball to recognize a safety issue and address it?

Granted, this is NOT mandated by MLB, but more and more ball clubs are extending the protective netting in front of fans. The Milwaukee Brewers among them.

Several years ago, MLB pushed it's members to extend the netting to include the dugouts. Now, many teams are taking that a step farther. Some have taken the netting all the way to the left- and right-field foul poles. Sounds like Milwaukee is following suit.

Early in the season, there were several fans injured by foul balls -- including children. Last year, a fan attending a Los Angeles Dodger game was killed. Seems like every season there's a number of fans struck, some injured seriously.

Any question WHY baseball needs to protect fans? You hear talk of "exit velocity" and "lift" along with more and more pitchers that can touch 98 to 100+ on the radar gun. Heck, Milwaukee's MVP Christian Yelich fouled a ball off his right kneecap and fractured it for a season-ending injury.

Let's face it, are the majority of those fans in the stands capable of reacting to a screaming foul ball? Probably not. At the games I've attended the last few years, especially so this season, there's a growing number of fans staring at their cell phones, not at the action on the field.

And please, please, please DON'T give me the "it takes away from the experience and the chance for a foul ball keepsake" -- or for pre-game autographs from players. If that's argument, I'm sure they can figure out a way to lower the screens early and raise them for the game. And the netting won't keep fans from chances at those pop-up foul balls.

I've read where, in Japan, the netting has extended to the foul poles for years. No problems or complaints there, where folks put the "fanatic" in fan.

I've sat down behind the screen a time or two at Miller Park. After the first couple of batters, didn't even take notice of the barrier. But was sure glad it was there to stop a screaming foul drive.

ATTENDANCE WAS UP for the Brewers by 72,458 from 2018. Sunday's home finale was the 20th sellout of the season (that's 24.69% of home games). The team finished with 2,923,333 fans for the season. An amazing total for a small market -- thanks to state-wide support AND that retractable roof.