Safety Issue: end broken bats in MLB
- van: baseball fans
- ontvanger: Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball
It seems you can't watch a baseball game without seeing a broken bat flying into the field or the stands. Spectators, umpires, and players have been injured by the projectiles. The broken edge is often sharp or splintered, and the heavy barrel end packs a punch when it hits. Help protect fans, players, and officials by telling the MLB commissioner to ban maple bats or allow wood composite bats.
Dear Commissioner Selig,
I am a fan of baseball, and I feel very concerned about the dangers of broken baseball bats. I think Major League Baseball is moving too slowly on this issue.
To ensure the safety of players, umpires, and fans, I urge you to consider banning maple bats, which are nearly always the ones that break and launch into flight. Another option to consider, if you choose to retain maple bats, might be to change the rules, either calling a batter out if the barrel end of his broken bat flies away from the batter's box, or allowing composite wooden bats.
So far we have been lucky that the injuries sustained have been minor. I urge you to act before anyone suffers a fatal injury from a bat shard. The consequences could be very serious, since the problem has been going on for several years. A fatality could even raise the possibility of charges of endangerment or manslaughter.
Thank you for considering these suggestions for the safety of baseball lovers.
