Little League Lawsuit

[SubGod22]

It's a sad story but I get tired of seeing people sue everyone else because something unfortunate happened.

[RoyalShock]

I agree about excess lawsuits - to a point.

Unfortunately, it sometimes takes suits like this to get those in authority (at whatever level that may be), to begin using some common sense.

I wish the article stated just what the family is seeking. If it's changes to the rules for allowed bats and reimbursed legal fees, fine. If they are looking for millions in damages, they better be able to prove gross negligence, which I doubt they will be able to do. That they are suing the store makes me think they are looking for a payday.

[ShockerFever]

I agree that it is a sad and bad deal.

But damn.. the parents and kid know what's happening when you play baseball. When the kid played, did he or did he not use an aluminum bat? Everyone knows the consequences of this sport.

Like I said, an unfortunate deal, but come on, the lawsuit is ridiculous.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

I feel bad for the kid I really do.

But what if the kid was using a wood bat? would they sue trees?

The kid had a ball that he threw hit him. Are these parents so stupid that they didnt realize that that was a possiblity.

Throw this bullshat out

[SubGod22]

I agree Royal, if it was just to make those in charge look at the rules and qualifications of certain bats or something fine. But considering who's being named I too think they're looking for lots of money.

We all know the dangers of baseball. We all know the ball comes off of aluminum bats at a greater speed. Most of us know the freak chances of what happened to this kid are.

Again, it's sad, even tragic, but not something that should get them a huge payday.

[RoyalShock]

Would any of you allow your young kids to pitch in a league where you knew bats were being used - in accordance with current rules - that projected the ball at a speed greater than what should be allowed at that age?

We all know that the risk of injury is an inherent part of sports. When it comes to youth sports, I don't see any problem with examining and refining the rules and equipment in order to protect minors within the inherent risks of the sport.

I'm not in favor of the family receiving a windfall, but if it takes a lawsuit in order for leagues and manufacturers to address the issue and develop guidelines, then so be it.

Now, it could be that there isn't a problem at all with the bat and that this is just one of those statistical things that are bound to happen eventually. At least the issue will have been properly addressed and put to rest.

[SubGod22]

I definitely don't have a problem with them researching the cause of this and seeing if maybe the bat is capable of more than it should be. We all want as safe an environment as we can have for our children. Not that I have any at the moment. My guess would be that this is just one of those freak accidents that you hear about maybe once a year or so. Kind of like the minor league base coach who died last year. If that ball hit a fraction of an inch either way he most likely lives.

[Ixiah]

Something I ran across in watching a Japanese anime - school children there mostly play baseball using a hard rubber ball because it is safer.

a game called "rubberball baseball" is a popular team sport among Japanese children. This game, which uses a hard rubber ball, was invented in Japan early in the 1900s as a way to spread baseball safely among children. It eventually spread to all age groups. There are 20,257 elementary and middle school rubberball baseball teams registered with the Japan Rubber Base Ball Association,

http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/sports/q4.html

As for the lawsuit - if you dont want to subject your child to the risk of getting hit by a baseball then dont let him/her play! This lawsuit just smells of looking for a scapegoat for a tradgedy.

[kcshocker11]

Just get rid of aluminum bats! 8) 8)

[rrshock]

How about tone down the aluminum bats like they did for colleges?

Pitcher is the most dangerous postion, IMO, to play in baseball. Line drives come back at pitchers all of the time. I hit a kid in the temple when I was younger with a line drive and it caused him to spend 2 or 3 days in the hospital. That's scarry, cause if it was just an inch over, he'd have died.

Since we don't know just what happened, we really can't take sides. They might be looking for money. Or they might really be looking for changes. My guess is they will get some sort of settlement and aluminum bats will be changed forever. A 12 year old shouldn't be able to hit a ball hard enough to cause a heart attack.

[RoyalShock]

A 12 year old shouldn't be able to hit a ball hard enough to cause a heart attack.

Not unless he's really a 14 year-old Dominican with questionable birth records.