MLB needs to do more to protect fans

With fans closer to the action than ever before and a proposed new stadium for the Atlanta Braves promising to bring them even closer it’s time for major league officials to seriously consider some sort of extra protection for those in the seats, especially in the danger zones along the first- and third-base lines.

Maybe that involves putting extra netting over the dugouts and even farther down the foul lines, similar to what was done behind the goals in hockey after a young fan was killed by a puck at a 2002 NHL game.

Of course, those suggestions would likely be met with plenty of resistance from the very fans who eagerly pay big bucks to sit as close to the field as possible, who would surely be perturbed if they had to watch the game through a screen or couldn’t bring their kids along.

Two nights after that frightening incident in Atlanta, when that little boy was struck in the head during the Braves’ game against Milwaukee, Krista Clark and her family landed seats behind the Atlanta dugout.

Then consider how fans get closer and closer to the action with every new baseball-specific stadium that opens, plus the wide range of activities inside the park and on their smartphones that can take their eyes off the ball, and you’ve got a potentially lethal combination.

Chris Miranda, who runs a consulting firm that has worked with colleges on stadium safety, said it’s only a matter of time before there’s more protection in front of the stands at major league games.

If there had been protective netting behind the goal, which is now required in all NHL arenas, Brittanie would be 26 today, with so much of her life still ahead of her.

Softer popups which present much less risk than line drives could still reach the seats, giving fans a chance to grab those coveted foul balls.