It hurts me to see that brutality has stemmed from the lack of safety provided at every ballpark in Major League Baseball, increasingly developing from the recent episodes of fans reaching for baseballs and tumbling over the guard rail. The steroid scandals, for years, bothered the normal individual -- a hostile crisis the league ignored last decade.
The overseers of baseball were silent about steroids, damaging their credibility by denying or unveiling the truth and keeping an unclean secret hidden. As we know by now, five days after Shannon Stone, a 39-year old firefighter from Brownwood, Texas, died falling approximately 20 feet onto concrete from the stands in the outfield by reaching for a ball thrown by Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton, the majors lack much concern in protecting the fans.
The other night in Arizona, where the Home Run Derby in part of the All Star festivities took place, a tragic incident never scared the hell out of Keith Carmickle, a fan who desperately tried to retrieve a ball and jumped onto a metal table. He missed a catch and, as a result, he tipped awkwardly over the railing, but fortunately, his friends and brother rescued him from presumably another fatality. Never mind that a couple of fans have fallen to death this season, losing their lives trying to reel in a baseball for keepsakes -- although it isn't really worth the danger.
Never mind that near-death experiences as recently as last week has terrified much of the league. It was an incident so grisly and horrendous that commissioner Bud Selig prefers to remain mum, apathetic and inept addressing the latest tragedies. So wistfully, for a traditional event described as America's Pastime in this age, baseball faces much uncertainty and Selig never reactions if devastation stains the game in which most of the population cherish.
If baseball is more eventful and spectacular, the feeling is saddened of all the mortality seen as of recently, the state of mind is a heavy burden on the overseers when no one can erase the calamity from a fan that perished with the deficit in protecting the fans from any harm. But truthfully, in the wake of an eerily fall from the seats at Rangers Ballpark and nearly the similar tragedy at Chase Field the other night, Selig and the league should install boundaries as a safety measure for fans.
That time is now, before it's too late and before someone else dreadfully dies by falling from the upper deck onto fans or the ground. It would be inconsiderate and reckless not to implement a solution for reducing the incidents of perilous tumbles over the railing at ballparks. It wasn't long ago, when the Cubs were authorized from city building inspectors to play at Wrigley Field after protective netting was introduced to keep a portion of concrete from falling from the upper deck onto fans.
The same could be said for many ballparks at this very moment, with James Falzon, a New York Mets fan who was struck by a shattered bat at a game in 2007, filing a lawsuit against the ballclub and Major League Baseball and claimed both sides were unwilling in protecting him from a broken bat. The latest occurrences are evidence that the majors need to prioritize and find adjustments for securing every ballpark.
What's the downside in all of this, as a result of Selig's apathy and negligence, is how a 3-year-old girl was hit directly in the head by a foul ball off catcher Russell Martin's bat at the Dodgers game and had been rushed to the hospital where she underwent surgery to repair her fractured skull. And he's probably embarrassingly aware that a Cleveland Indians fan was drilled in the face by a bat slipping out of Indians first baseman Matt LaPorta's hands.
The bizarre point in time came during spring training where, Wanda Wilson, mother of Minnesota outfielder, Denard Span, was hit in the chest by a foul ball her son drove into the stands. The biggest news, though, in baseball is fans are risking lives to grab souvenirs, leaning over railings or boldly reaching for the ball while losing balance and toppling out of the stands.
The absurdity is striking in the majors -- from a tragedy that disheartened a numbed population, sadly in despair by the stunning news that haven't enlightened fans on the danger of chasing a ball out of reach. Among the reviewing of stadium safety, according to Selig who has lost all credibility and respectability a long time ago because of his lack of efficiency in setting boundaries for Major League Baseball, is that the league has become exceedingly lethargic and too soft.
It's difficult to ever imagine Selig reasonably reacting as a progressive advocate in emphasizing the aspects of protection from harm, to prompt the general public that seeking peace and comfort is more crucial than chasing after an unreachable ball. Perhaps, it's because a ball can't be too serious. And no material item is worth more than someone's health or life.
However, unfortunately, fans are overlooking the cause of Stone's death like it's all a joke and not realistic of common tragedies. The near-tragic fall came when Fielder smashed one near the right field stands, which would have been another fatal fall, dangerously close to suffering from an injury or even death. It seems all too common in many ways. In his regime, with all the people shaking their heads as Selig illustrates his stupidity and foolishness, he has lacked self-assurance in amending the deficiencies in the league.
Apparently, he is delusional and in denial about baseball, a sport in limbo because of his non-response to a shred of evidence that continuously is pernicious in a league. It's no surprise that the public became fatigue with Selig, from his defense to his uneducated theories to his apathy. The first step in the direction of eliminating the incidents at the ballparks would be for Selig to come to his senses, insist the emphasis of safety and resign from his term as the worst commissioner ever.
At some point, Major League Baseball need to protect its fans -- or else. The masses probably think the subsequent incidents are insane, but in some ways, there is a remedy to avoid further clumsiness or casualties. It's unfathomable to believe that he'll be more responsive to fans, though, as Selig is much too fixated on pushing for extended postseasons.
"For years, we talked to players and amongst ourselves about how we should be fan-friendly," Selig said at a meeting of the Baseball Writers Association of America. "It was a horrible accident, heart-breaking. One that is beyond comprehension to believe that something like that could happen."
Selig is one of the most controversial commissioners sports has ever seen, with the steroid crisis hovering over his head or now with fans facing fatality at ballgames. That said, of course, many people have much doubt in Selig. As far as improving safety, actions speak louder than words in this case.
I'll believe it when I see it, folks.
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