Yesterday the MLB and MLBPA announced a new concussion policy. Following suit after the NFL and NHL established stringent regulations during their respective season’s this past year. Concussions in football get a huge spotlight given the nature of the game but some of baseball’s stars have seen stars these past few years and this new policy seems right and timely given the new knowledge concerning concussions. Hey, baseball doing something timely (imagine if that had happened with steroids… Oh Barry).
Anyway, remember that Justin Morneau is still struggling (hit only .192 this spring and has yet to be cleared to play full time) after a concussion on July 7th, 2010. Nate McLouth suffered a concussion last year when he collided with Jason Heyward (who wouldn’t get a concussion after running into the big right fielder?) that prompted his demotion to AAA. Ryan Church got a concussion in 2008 and has struggled since– dude has only 451 ABs over the last two years. Concussions are real and impactful in baseball today. Its good to see that those in charge have identified this as a problem and have created regulations for those suffering from post-concussion symptoms.
The new regulations can be found in the MLB Press Release but I read it so you don’t have to. Basically, there’s a new 7-day Disabled List for guys suffering from concussion issues. The thought here is to allow teams the proper time in dealing with a concussed player without severely handicapping the Major League team; the Big Clubs can carry the full 25-man compliment of players. (I like this and have always wondered why baseball just keeps the 15 Day DL rather than allowing teams to have guys out for something like 27 Days or 18 Days. I’m not real sure how it works but the Disabled List is complex and gets fuzzy as teams manipulate it to their liking.) Additionally, the new concussion protocols for an injured player to return to any type of game activity, including Minor League rehab games, require the completion of a “Return To Play” form to be completed by the club and turned in to the MLB. I imagine this form requires proof of progress and proof that the player has met some standards of post-concussion awareness and cognitive ability.
It should also be noted that umpires and the Umpires Association are subject to this new policy as well. I’m happy the MLB was able to pass something like this with the approval of the MLBPA in what seems like a timely manner. Baseball has long mirrored social life in average American homes and I hope that moves like this- that are prompt and self imposed- allow baseball to reestablish itself in this social expression role. The players will be safer and can head home to their families after life on the diamond is done.
-Sean Morash
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