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How Much Protective Gear Should Batters Be Allowed?
Increased use of elbow padding allows hitters to lean over plate with little fear of hard, inside pitches
ON ONE SIDE OF THE ASTROS' clubhouse, there was Craig Biggio--with the boyish good looks, ruffling through a stack of fan mail and flashing that million-dollar smile after another workout on his multimillion-dollar game.
On the other side of the room, there was the candid and unafraid Doug Brocail, the tough reliever in the jeans and pullover, the one with the broad shoulders, wild eyes and scruffy beard.
"I can be a real S.O.B. when I pitch," Brocail said. "I have to be. I'm not Picasso out there. My success comes from aggressiveness and intimidation. Every edge that I can get, I get."
Thus, we see the contrasting pictures of why baseball has yet to answer adequately the question of allowing protective body armor for major league batters.
Should they? Or shouldn't they?
The biggest stars need to be protected. Pitchers need to be allowed to pitch. But at what point does protecting the investment change the way the game has been played?
- Craig Biggio's greatest hit: No. 3,000 is a line drive to centerfield.
- Newspaper article from: Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, TX) June 29, 2007 700+ words
...were sure to be heartfelt words. Biggio returned to the dugout, grabbed...By then, a towering banner of Biggio in a batter's stance and the No. 3,000...the Crawford Boxes in left field. Biggio put the hit total beyond 3,000...
- Baseball Hall of Fame wants bat Biggio uses to collect 3,000th hit.
- Newspaper article from: Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, TX) June 28, 2007 700+ words
...which has requested the bat Biggio uses to collect his 3,000th...One pair is from 1997, when Biggio be-came the first right-handed batter to go an entire season without...from the 2005 World Series. Biggio had played a record 2,564...
- Biggio embodies Astros.(SPORTS)
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times October 23, 2005 700+ words
...Astros second baseman Craig Biggio came up to the plate last night...just as easily as the leadoff batter in Game1 of the World Series. Biggio is a dinosaur, one of the last...had the treat of watching both Biggio and Jeff Bagwell play their...
- Using the old bean; For Astros' Biggio, playing ball really hurts.(SPORTS)
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times August 10, 2005 700+ words
...course, there's much more to Biggio's career than the beanings...Barry Bonds and Paul Molitor. Biggio, who has spent his entire career...top of the plate and up in the batter's box, meaning breaking balls...Depends on the hitter. Biggio? Yes," said Robinson, who...
- A-Rod turns Biggio in circles on pivotal two-run triple in eighth.(The Dallas...
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Daley, Ken June 29, 2003 700+ words
...know what happened," said Biggio, 37, a former All-Star catcher...outfielder Kevin Mench said. "When Biggio fell down, that's what a...hits, seven walks and hit a batter in 31/3 innings and was sent...with one out in the third and Biggio at third base. Astros slugger...
- A-Rod turns Biggio in circles on pivotal two-run triple in eighth.
- Newspaper article from: The Dallas Morning News (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) June 29, 2003 700+ words
...know what happened," said Biggio, 37, a former All-Star catcher...outfielder Kevin Mench said. "When Biggio fell down, that's what a...hits, seven walks and hit a batter in 31/3 innings and was sent...with one out in the third and Biggio at third base. Astros slugger...
- Biggio announces retirement, hits grand slam as Astros top Dodgers.
- Newspaper article from: Orange County Register (Santa Ana, CA) July 24, 2007 700+ words
...night at Minute Maid Park. Biggio's slam, his second of the...respect for what this guy (Biggio) has done in his career...unable to get a slider past Biggio, whose slam gave the Astros...but he retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced in his other five...
- Biggio's 3-Run Shot In 9th Saves Astros
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Post June 6, 1995 700+ words
Craig Biggio's three-run homer with...retired Houston's first two batters in the ninth before walking...Cangelosi on five pitches. Biggio then hit a 2-1 pitch over...scoreboard for his fifth homer. Biggio's blast made a winner of...
Source: HighBeam Research, How Much Protective Gear Should Batters Be Allowed?