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Alright, let’s talk about this here baseball thing, you know, can those pitcher fellas wear them sunglasses? I seen a game or two in my day, and I tell ya, sometimes that sun’s beatin’ down somethin’ fierce. Makes you squint just watchin’, can’t imagine throwin’ a ball like that.
Now, I ain’t no rulebook expert, mind you, but from what I gather, ain’t no hard and fast rule sayin’ a pitcher can’t wear sunglasses. It’s like this, see? Them fellas out in the field, they wear ‘em all the time, right? Catchin’ them fly balls, they need to see. So why not the pitcher? He needs to see where that ball’s goin’ too, don’t he?
- But here’s the thing, some umpires, them fellas in blue, they can be a bit persnickety.
- If they think them sunglasses is too dark, like lookin’ through a dang coal mine, they might tell the pitcher to take ‘em off.
- I reckon it’s all about fairness. Can’t have a pitcher hidin’ his eyes, makin’ it hard for the batter to see what’s comin’.
Think about it, that batter’s gotta stand there, facin’ a fella throwin’ a rock at him, practically. He needs to see the pitcher’s eyes, try to get a read on what kind of pitch is comin’. If them sunglasses is too dark, well, that ain’t fair, is it? It’s like tryin’ to read a newspaper in a dark cellar.
So, the rule, if you can call it that, is kinda wishy-washy. It’s up to the umpire, I guess. If he thinks them sunglasses is okay, then they’re okay. If he don’t, well, then they ain’t. That’s how it goes, simple as that.
Now, if you ask me, a little bit of tint ain’t gonna hurt nobody. Them pitchers, they gotta focus, gotta concentrate. That sun beamin’ down, it can mess with your head. A little shade for the eyes, help ‘em see clear, that’s a good thing, ain’t it? Makes sense to me.
I heard tell of some fellas wearin’ regular glasses out there too, the kind you need to see. That’s a whole ‘nother story, I reckon. But sunglasses, yeah, most of the time, it’s alright. Just don’t go wearin’ them mirror shades, you know, the ones where you can’t see a fella’s eyes at all. Umpire ain’t gonna like that, no sirree.
And another thing, them pitchers, they can’t be wearin’ all sorts of stuff on their arms, like them sweatbands and such. I heard that’s a rule, clear as day. But sunglasses, that’s different. It’s about seein’, not about hidin’ somethin’.
So, there you have it. Can pitchers wear sunglasses? Mostly yes, but it ain’t a guarantee. Depends on the umpire, depends on how dark them glasses are. It’s all common sense, really. Just gotta be fair, gotta let everyone see what’s goin’ on. That’s baseball, ain’t it? A fair game, for everyone to enjoy, even us old folks watchin’ from the stands, or on the TV, squintin’ a little less if the pitcher’s got some shades on.
In short, the main thing is the umpire’s got the final say. If they don’t like the sunglasses, you can’t wear ‘em. Simple as that. But if they ain’t too dark, and they don’t give the pitcher an unfair advantage, then it’s usually A-OK.
I also heard these young fellas talking about different kinds of sunglasses, like some for seein’ far away, some for cuttin’ down the glare. Sounds fancy to me. But I reckon, for a pitcher, you just want somethin’ that helps you see the catcher’s mitt, and nothin’ else. Don’t need no fancy stuff, just gotta get that ball over the plate.
And let me tell you, watchin’ these games on TV now, it’s somethin’ else. Them cameras, they zoom right in, you can see everything. Makes you appreciate them sunglasses even more, you know? Seein’ that ball comin’ at you, that fast, gotta be tough. A little shade, a little help, it makes a difference.
So next time you’re watchin’ a game, keep an eye on the pitcher. See if he’s wearin’ them sunglasses. And if he is, well, now you know the story. It’s all about seein’ fair, and playin’ fair. That’s what matters, ain’t it? And maybe keepin’ that sun outta your eyes, too.
Tags: baseball, pitchers, sunglasses, MLB rules, umpire decisions, baseball equipment, sports eyewear, vision in sports, baseball regulations
