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Big League Stew

Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:52 pm EST

Larry Bowa will not wear your stupid helmet

By 'Duk

That sure didn't take long. We've only just started spring training games and there's already one guy who's refusing to comply with the new "Mike Coolbaugh" rule that all basepath coaches must wear helmets when they're on the field

Surprise, surprise, too  — It's the born stubborn Larry Bowa who's dragging his feet the most. Along with first-base coach Mariano Duncan, the new Dodgers third-base coach flipped the proverbial bird at Major League Baseball Thursday, refusing to wear a helmet in the spring opener against the Braves.

What's more is that he says he plans on continuing to do so, even though the league instituted the rule after Coolbaugh, a Rockies minor league coach, was killed by a line drive last summer. Bowa says he is so serious about not kowtowing that the MLB is welcome to the contents of his wallet. For the entire season, if necessary.

Bowa, from the LA Times:

"I'm willing to write out a check for whatever the fine is for every game. Whatever 162 games is, I'll write out a check for it."

Then, from MLB.com:

"My question is, how can I be in the league 40 years and the league says who wears a helmet and who doesn't? One guy got killed and I'm sorry it happened. But bats break and they can be a deadly weapon. Do something about bats.

"Umpires get hit with line drives. I've probably seen 50 of them get hit. If coaches have to wear helmets, umpires should. I'll sign a waiver. And there should be a grandfather clause. These (helmets) are very cumbersome.

What's surprising to me, is that even though Bowa comes off as brash and has never met an opportunity to complain he didn't like, I tend to agree with him on this issue. The veteran coaches know that there's a risk of standing 90 feet away from a batter and if they believe it's one worth taking, then let 'em.

Signature on the waiver here. Coaches box over there. Make sure to make any arrangements necessary to have your lifeless body hauled off the field. Not our responsibility anymore.

See how easy the blood washes off the hands of MLB?   

For those of you who disagree with this one, consider the thousands of fans that sit behind the dugout in ballparks each years. Should teams provide those people with helmets, too? They're a heckuva a lot closer than Bowa, plus they can't get out of the way like a coach can. Their rights simply get waived by the tiny font on the back of their tickets. 

UPDATE #1:  They just showed Bowa on the ESPN telecast of the Braves-Dodgers game and he was wearing a helmet after "being told to." It'll be interesting to see what made him reverse his principles after coming out so strong in the morning papers.

UPDATE #2: According to the LA Daily News, Bowa reluctantly donned the helmet after the comissioner's office called to threaten immediate ejection if he and Duncan again flaunted the rule. Bowa still isn't backing off, though, and says he might take the field wearing full catcher's gear. (More to come?)

(BLS head nod to Walkoff Balk for the tip)

• Bowa says he will ignore helmet rule / LA Times 
• Bowa sounds off on helmet rule / MLB.com
• Coaches divided over helmet rule / MLB.com

Have spring training recommendations for 'Duk? E-mail bigleaguestew@yahoo.com.

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171 Comments

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  1. Rob Iracane
    1. Posted by Rob Iracane Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    Walk Off Balk? Now that just sounds absurd...
  2. boots43
    2. Posted by boots43 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    Walk off Balk - what a great name - has there ever actually been a walk-off balk?
    As far as Bowa is concerned I am so tempted to say Bowa is so hard-headed that if the ball hit him it is the ball that woudl be damaged. It is even tempting to say that it wouldn't take Joe Torre any time at all to find a new third-base coach if something (I guess we would have to say bad) happened to Bowa.
    But all that would be cruel.
    Players started wearing helmets at bat regularly because one player Ray Chapman was killed by a pitched ball - and it hasn't happened in 80 years since so maybe this is a good idea to wear the helmets - I have never bought into arguments that since we can't protect everyone, we should protect no one.
  3. Tommy O
    3. Posted by Tommy O Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:47 pm EDT

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    Who cares what Bowa does, thinks or wears......
  4. John L
    4. Posted by John L Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    If Larry Bowa doesn't want someone to possibly save his life, then that is his problem. He may want to consider the friends and family that will miss him should be considered not to mention the fans that watch him get seriously hurt or worse.
    Not wearing a helmet because it is cumbersome seems like a ridiculous excuse to basically say that he doesn't like change. Many of us did not like being forced to wear our seatbelts but I think only a few stubborn or ignorant people would argue that it does not save many lives every day.
    Larry Bowa needs to realize he is setting a dangerous example to many young fans. If I don't like it, I don't have to do it. I hope he makes it through the season without any incidents.
  5. Lawson Lambert
    5. Posted by Lawson Lambert Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    We used to live in a free society where individuals were allowed to make these kind of decisions for themselves. Obviously that is long over; but at least can't we limit these kind of mandates to problems that area little bit more serious.
    Two people have died in the last EIGHTY years from this type of situation, that hardly qualifies as an epidemic.
    When we try to sanitize the world from every conceivable possible tragedy, it almost becomes not worth living.
  6. Lawson Lambert
    6. Posted by Lawson Lambert Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    we used to live in a free society where individuals were allowed to make these kind of decisions for themselves. obviously that is long over; but at least can't we limit these kind of mandates to problems that area little bit more serious.
    two people have died in the last eighty years from this type of situation, that hardly qualifies as an epidemic.
    when we try to sanitize the world from every conceivable possible tragedy, it almost becomes not worth living.
  7. Lawson Lambert
    7. Posted by Lawson Lambert Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    In response to John L.
    I too hope he makes it through the season without incident.
    The same way that every MLB base coach has made it through the season fine in the entire 100 year history of Major League baseball.
  8. whatever
    8. Posted by whatever Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm EDT

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    Nice example for little leaguers and up and coming players, Larry. Teach them to just open your wallet and you get whatever you want. What a jerk.
  9. whatever
    9. Posted by whatever Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm EDT

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    nice example for little leaguers and up and coming players, larry. teach them to just open your wallet and you get whatever you want. what a jerk.
  10. will b
    10. Posted by will b Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    See what happens when the people allow politicians to enact things like mandatory seatbelt laws and other intrusions into personal freedoms. It's spreading and you haven't seen anything yet!
    Welcome to the "Nanny State" of Liberalism!!!
    But it's not too late. Think about it at the ballot box and stay away from Democrats.
  11. ophil35
    11. Posted by ophil35 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

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    I hope MLB tells Bowa to either wear the helmet or stay off the field. My god, grow up and get a real job for petes sake.
  12. R
    12. Posted by R Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    dumbest rule ever, and it just further proves how stupid the people that run MLB are (selig). Is it just me or does no one else even realize that the man that died DIDNT EVEN GET HIT IN THE HEAD, he was hit in the neck. last time i check a helmet doesn't cover your neck
  13. Lawson Lambert
    13. Posted by Lawson Lambert Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    What R posted is true. The injury that killed Coolbaugh probably would not have been prevented by a helmet.
    A Cornell Lacrosse player died a few years ago, it was from the ball hitting him in the chest. To truly protect someone you would have to put them out there in a cage. When the occurrence of death is as low as in this case, why not just leave it alone.
    Plus everyone knows that the pitcher is far more exposed, closer, and less able to get out of the way.
    Are we going to pad them up like a hockey goalie now.
  14. Goose
    14. Posted by Goose Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Enough is enough already. The guys who are out there standing in the coaches boxes know the risks that come with it. They, and only they, should be the ones deciding if helmets are to be worn or not. It is impossible to prevent every accident that occurs in sports without completely changing the games themselves. It is already happening way too much in childrens sports, causing a weaker product in the games today. Stop babying everybody and let adults make their own decisions.
  15. Daniel K
    15. Posted by Daniel K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    "Players started wearing helmets at bat regularly because one player Ray Chapman was killed by a pitched ball"
    Not exactly. Chapman was killed in 1920 -- batting helmets weren't mandatory until 1971.
  16. Daniel K
    16. Posted by Daniel K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    "players started wearing helmets at bat regularly because one player ray chapman was killed by a pitched ball"
    not exactly. Chapman was killed in 1920 -- batting helmets weren't mandatory until 1971.
  17. timmy t
    17. Posted by timmy t Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    Unbelievable. The chances of coaches being hurt would further be mitigated by mandating body armor, riot helmets, and titanium cups. Perhaps those mandatory changes should be instituted as well. Whatever happened to Don Zimmer barehanding line drive foul balls as a 3rd base coach? Sigh.
  18. That Guy
    18. Posted by That Guy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    Wear a frickin helmet ya idiot. Goalies used to not wear masks either, but now they do. Players in hockey get their throats cut by a skate in rare occasions and alot of them wear neck guards. Baseball players did not used to wear helmets, but now they do.
    How is a helmet "CUMBERSOME" to a 1st or 3rd base coach????? Does it prevent you from clapping your hands or swatting your player on the butt? Thats all they tend to do anyhow!!!
  19. Dan N
    19. Posted by Dan N Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    It's all fun and games until you get a line drive off the head. Wear the blasted helmet on the field and save the crying for off the field. There's no crying in baseball!
  20. stapleton1971
    20. Posted by stapleton1971 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    Larry Bowa's a tool. He's all talk! Once he heard how much it was gonna cost he changed his mind. I say fire the old timer, the games moved past you. He was a 2nd rate player at best in his career anyway. What a great example for kids, what a jerk.
    No longer a Bowa Fan!!
  21. Cricket13
    21. Posted by Cricket13 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:14 pm EDT

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    Chances are that he will be OK. But then there is hope that his brain will be knocked back to where it was originally placed
  22. The COMMISH
    22. Posted by The COMMISH Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    What's the big deal? It's a helmet, not something horrendous like wear a bowl of crap on your head. It's to protect them. Come on man. Is he serious?

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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