Over 16,528,849 people are on fubar.
What are you waiting for?
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- J.A. Happ raised his glove in front of his face as quickly as he could, a futile attempt to shield himself from the line drive headed straight for his temple. It was too late. Thwack! The sickening sound of a sharply hit baseball striking the Toronto pitchers skull could be heard all the way up in the press box. And then, sheer silence. Happs frightening injury Tuesday night at Tropicana Field left players on both teams shaken and revived questions about whether Major League Baseball is doing enough to protect pitchers who often find themselves in harms way on the mound. "There are always close calls," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "It wakes you up, man -- thats for sure." Happ was hit squarely on the left side of his head by Desmond Jennings second-inning liner during Torontos 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-hander was immobilized on a backboard, lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled off the field. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where the Blue Jays said he was alert and undergoing tests. Nursing supervisor Natasha Keller told The Associated Press that Happ had been admitted to the hospital and was in stable condition. It was the latest injury to a pitcher struck by a batted ball in the last few years, and baseball has discussed ways to protect hurlers who ply their craft against the worlds strongest hitters -- only 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate. General managers discussed the issue during their meetings in November and MLB presented several ideas at the winter meetings weeks later. MLB staff have said a cap liner with Kevlar, the material used in body armour for the military, law enforcement and NFL players, is among the ideas under consideration. The liners, weighing perhaps 5 ounces or less, would go under a pitchers cap and help protect against line drives that often travel over 100 mph. "We are actively meeting with a number of companies that are attempting to develop a product, and have reviewed test results for several products," MLB spokesman Pat Courtney told the AP in an email after Happ was injured. "Some of the products are promising. No company has yet developed a product that has satisfied the testing criteria." Several pitchers around the majors sounded resistant -- even after seeing replays of Happs injury. "You know the risks," Angels lefty C.J. Wilson said. "Guys get hurt crashing into fences. Guys get hurt tripping over first base and blowing their knee out. This is professional sports, and we are paid well to take those risks." MLB could implement the safety change in the minor leagues, as it did a few seasons ago with augmented batting helmets, but would require the approval of the players union to make big leaguers wear them. Colorado Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa said if a helmet or liner is developed for pitchers, hed gladly wear one. "It wouldnt be hard for me," De La Rosa said. "To protect against those kinds of things, its good for us." Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey doesnt like the idea of wearing protective headgear. "The games been played a long time. Situations like that are unfortunate, but we have to keep it our game," he said. "I dont think you have to adjust the whole program." And Seattle Mariners right-hander Aaron Harang thinks it would be difficult for veteran major league pitchers to adapt to new equipment. "I know its a hot topic," he said, "but I dont think its a problem thats easily solved. I know a lot of people want pitchers to start wearing helmets. Its a good idea in theory, but I dont know how practical it is. I think you need to start with that at the lower level, Im talking high school and maybe even lower, and then gradually introduce it into the higher level. Ive been pitching since I was 6 years old and Ive never worn a helmet. I think it would be tough to make that adjustment while pitching in a major league game." Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington wondered if theres a viable solution. "What can you do?" he said. "Tell hitters not to hit it back up the middle?" Oakland right-hander Brandon McCarthy was hit in the head by a line drive last September, causing a skull fracture, an epidural hemorrhage and a brain contusion that required surgery. He was released from the hospital six days later. McCarthy, who pitched for Arizona on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, said he wont watch video of Happ getting hit. "I dont know what the GMs and the owners have to do with anything. Its not like theyre pitching," McCarthy said. "Until someone makes something that works, its going to be tough for someone to wear it. "Most everything thats come out wouldnt have protected me, and it wouldnt have protected (Happ) if he got hit directly in the ear. Youre at a point now where youre looking at batting helmets. Youd have to have something that protected the ear and then the face and beyond. So its kind of a slippery slope. Someone will have to come up with something really good and really sound. Otherwise, I dont know how you answer that question." Still, McCarthy maintains hope. "Weve put things on the moon before, so I feel like we can create some sort of a device that sits over your head and protects you," he said. "Someone will do it. Its just a matter of when, not if." Jennings liner caromed off Happs head and halfway up the right-field line in foul territory as Jennings raced around the bases for a two-run triple. The 30-year-old Happ dropped face down at the front of the mound, holding his head with his glove and bare hand. Team trainers, paramedics and medical officials rushed to Happs aid as a stunned crowd of 10,273 at Tropicana Field fell into a horrified hush. A shaken Jennings stood with his hands on his head, and other players were visibly concerned as they watched Happ receive medical attention for about eight minutes. The pitcher was wheeled off the field to a waiting ambulance. Just before he disappeared under the stands, Happ raised his right hand and waved. He received a standing ovation from the crowd, and the game resumed after an 11-minute delay. "I came in and watched (video of) it and I wish I wouldnt have," Mariners pitcher Joe Saunders said. "It was ugly. It was scary. I just hope hes going to be all right." <a href="http://www.stitchednfljerseyschina.com/">China Jerseys</a>. -- The Washington Capitals have called up right wings Joey Crabb and Tom Wilson from Hershey of the AHL ahead of Fridays Game 5 against the New York Rangers. <a href="http://www.stitchednfljerseyschina.com/">nfl Jerseys China</a>. 1 after its cancellation this season because of the NHL lockout. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement Sunday before the Red Wings hosted the St. <a href="http://www.stitchednfljerseyschina.com/">http://www.stitchednfljerseyschina.com/</a>. Still a few weeks away from the NHL Draft, in which the Habs have a healthy dose of picks at their disposal in the first three rounds, in will prove to be an interesting time over the next month. <a href="http://www.stitchednfljerseyschina.com/">jerseys from china</a>.C. -- Any notion that the Abbotsford Heat would coast through the final games of the American Hockey League season were put to rest this weekend. <a href="http://www.stitchednfljerseyschina.com/">China Jerseys NFL</a>. The Jets are tied with Carolina at 32 points, however, Winnipeg is second in the Southeast Division based on the fact the Hurricanes have played one less game. NASHVILLE -- The Detroit Red Wings have given themselves a little breathing room, at least for the moment. Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and an assist, and the Red Wings beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 Sunday night for a crucial two points in their chase to extend their streak of playoff berths. The Red Wings got their first win in four games, the last two shootout losses, and moved into sole possession of eighth in the West, two points ahead of Dallas and Columbus. Johan Franzen also scored a goal, Justin Abdelkader added a late empty-netter and Pavel Datsyuk had two assists. Jimmy Howard made 22 saves for his third shutout this season. Detroit coach Mike Babcock said they got two big points that tied the Red Wings with seventh-place Minnesota with 47 points. "Theres a lot of us in that mud puddle trying to find a way to swim," Babcock said of tight pack in the standings. Pekka Rinne made 29 saves for Nashville, which lost its sixth straight. Nashville hoped to spoil the Red Wings playoff chase in their final game in Music City as Central Division rivals before realignment. Their final game is April 25 in Detroit in a rivalry where Nashville measured itself against the Original Six team from its inception before beating the Red Wings in the playoffs last year. "Howard, again, came up huge," Detroit defenceman Niklas Kronwall said. The Red Wings hadnt won since April 5. They began the day tied with Dallas and Columbus with 45 points, with the pressure mounting to uphold a tradition featuring 21 consecutive playoff appearances. Howard, who had his 14th career shutout, certainly helped as he stopped 13 shots in the first period before Detroit started firing pucks at Rinne over the final 40 minutes. "We control our own destiny," Howard said. "Its upon us and the dressing room to get the job done. I think a lot of people would be happy to see us miss the playoffs. We have to go out there and play with the same sense of urgency when we get out to Calgary." Nashville was seven points behind that trio of teams fighting for the Western Conferences eighth and final playoff spot. With five games left after playing Detroit, that hope is slim for a franchise that has turned to a forced youth movement because of injuries. Predators coach Barry Trotz said the players are getting real valuable experience and showing team officials what they can and cant do. "Its not probably a great answer for the fans from that standpoint," Trotz said. "But its reality. We cant do anything about all the veterans and all our top players, especially up front, that are hurt. We dont have any excuses for it. We just got to try to play through it and get a win. We have to spoils somebodys party here." The Predators started Filip Forsberg, the 18-year-oold forward they got from Washington at the trade deadline in exchange for veteran Martin Erat.dddddddddddd He arrived Saturday from Sweden and was the sixth rookie in the lineup Sunday night for a team with three forwards already heading toward season-ending surgeries with Patric Hornqvist, Brandon Yip and Mike Fisher also scratched for injuries. He skated on a line with David Legwand and Taylor Beck, filling in for Hornqvist, and got to play against Zetterberg. "He is one of the best Swedish players ever in the NHL," Forsberg said. Forsberg, drafted at No. 11 overall in 2012 by the Capitals, showed off some of his offensive instincts with his first NHL shot. He broke out on a 1-on-3 and had a wrister from the slot that Howard stopped at 7:54 of the first. Forsberg also was on the ice when Nashville got its first power play of the night at 10:33 of the first when Franzen went to the box for interference. The rookie can play in five games without burning a contract year. Trotz said hell leave that decision to general manager David Poile, though injuries may force that decision too. Rinne, the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, used his back to block a shot onto the top of the net at 2:13 of the second and had fans chanting "Pekka, Pekka" after a flurry of saves 5:00 into the period. Rookie Danny DeKeyser, who chose Detroit over teams including Nashville, took a shot that hit off the back boards and around to Zetterberg for the easy tap-in goal at 6:23 for a 1-0 lead. That was Zetterbergs first goal in 11 games. "Peks is a world class goaltender and you know when he gets the lead he seems even harder," Howard said. "It was imperative, and I think a weight lifted off our shoulders when we got the first one." Nashville had a chance to tie in the third when Bobby Butler got a penalty shot attempt after being hooked by Jakub Kindl on a breakaway attempt at 6:24. But Butler lost the puck before attempting a shot in front of Howard, summing up the Predators woes in this skid. Franzen scored on a backhander over Rinnes glove at 17:01 in the third to seal the victory. Nashville took its timeout with 1:57 left and pulled Rinne. Abdelkader had an easy goal at 18:41. NOTES: Detroits last road shutout was Oct. 8, 2011, in a 3-0 win at Colorado with Ty Conklin in net. ... DeKeyser got his first NHL point in his fifth career game. ... Franzens goal was his 300th career point. ... Forsberg became the third-youngest player to play for the Predators at 18 years, 244 days. Only Scott Hartnell (18, 171 days) and Legwand (18, 243 days) were younger. ... Nashville notched its 19th sellout this season in its 22nd home game. ... Nashville D Kevin Klein picked up only his second penalty this season, for slashing, in the second period. ' ' '
