BALTIMORE—Joining other Major League Baseball teams, the Orioles are extending netting at Oriole Park at Camden Yards before the next homestand.
The team announced on Thursday that crews are extending protective netting at the same height of the existing backstop netting down each foul line to near each foul pole.
The Orioles originally extended netting to the end of each dugout before the 2018 season.
After a young fan was injured by a foul ball on May 29 during a Chicago Cubs-Houston Astros game at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, a push began to extend netting at MLB parks.
The Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals were the first to announce plans for the extension of netting.
In a statement, the team said: “The Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority, in conjunction with Populous and other experts in the field, researched all available options and performed due diligence to determine that this is the best and safest option for Oriole Park. The extended and raised protective netting will be in place prior to the club’s next home game on September 5 against the Texas Rangers.”
The Orioles said they would add the extended netting in time for the beginning of spring training games next February at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium.
“The safety and security of our fans is of the utmost importance to the Orioles as we continue cultivating a fun, fan-friendly, and affordable experience for everyone to safely enjoy Orioles Baseball,” the team said in the statement.
NOTES: The Orioles optioned right-handed pitcher Tayler Scott to Triple-A Norfolk. He was added on Sunday to replace John Means, who was placed on the family medical emerigency list. Means is expected to pitch on either Friday or Saturday in Kansas City. … Bowie manager Buck Britton has been named the Eastern League’s Manager of the Year.
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Way to go, Buck Britton!!! Indeed, the Baysox have been fun to watch this season!!!
Just think, if people could only watch their kids and not stare into their phones while watching a ballgame from the first 10-20 rows we wouldn't have to be obstructed from the stupid net. Also, kiss fan interaction with players goodbye. Gotta love modern baseball...
Lighten up Francis.
I knew there would be at least one reply saying netting would ruin baseball and it was the fans fault for not paying attention. Right, because paying attention is going to allow you to dodge a ball heading your way at over 100 mph from 40 or 50 feet away. Hey, let's get rid of the netting behind home plate too so the fans there can interact with the catchers.
Did you ever stop to consider that from a business standpoint if people perceive baseball as a dangerous sport to watch given the configuration of modern stadiums without netting, they might not bring their kids to watch a game in the first place? I sat in the upper deck at the old Memorial Stadium once right near the railing and a foul ball whistled up there, bounced off the railing and was 20 rows behind me before I could move, and I was a college baseball player at the time. It is impossible to avoid some of those line drives. Netting should have been put up long ago and MLB is lucky they haven't had a wrongful death lawsuit on their hands at some point, especially in the era of steroids and juiced baseballs.
Lighten up, Borg. Seriously, glad to read that the O's place their priority on making baseball an "affordable" family experience. Let's check those ticket and concession prices again.
I give it 5 years before it's around the outfield as well. People have been watching baseball games for 150 years with no issues, but in the last 5 years it's actually become dangerous somehow.
I completely understand the need for netting and would never criticize it. However, it’s distracting to me when watching a game. So much so, that I’ll now sit either In mezzanine or upper deck. Having to watch through the netting is really annoying. Again, just my perspective. I completely get the safety need. It’s a no brainer, but I won’t sit behind it. I wonder how others feel (that actually go to games).
Good idea. It will allow parents, especially, to focus on the game instead of worrying about line drives into the stands. Now maybe they can extend Mancini’s contract, too.
Maybe O's could extend it into fair play on OF walls. Cut down on HRs. Good idea huh?
We could call it Arena Baseball.
I guess I'm not being PC when I say I don't like it. Why don't we all just go enjoy a rousing match of Quidditch.
No real baseball fan wants this. Most casual fans are missing the total issue. It is not just the fact of the netting. It is the type of netting and design of installation. OPACY is already one of the worst.
Borg, looks like many more than one fan wants to actually "see" the game.