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Brandon McCarthy might try a pitching helmet, but doesn’t think they should be mandatory

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Oakland Athletics

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at O.co Coliseum on September 5, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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An update on Brandon McCarthy, who tells Susan Slusser that, compared to a lot of things, getting his skull fractured by a line drive was not particularly painful. Viva adrenaline I guess.

He also talks about pitching helmets, which we’ve discussed here before. He tells Slusser that he’d maybe try one, but that he doesn’t think such a thing should be forced on anyone:

I’m all in favor of innovation ... and if in 50 years, every pitcher is wearing some sort of soft-shell helmet that looks different, that will be all right. But I don’t want it to be mandatory.”

Seems sensible given that, unlike say seat belts in cars and even batting helmets for hitters, protecting a pitcher’s head is not something that addresses a large-scale threat. It is undeniably dangerous to get smacked with a comebacker, but it’s not a common thing either.

Like we’ve noted before, however, even if it’s not mandated -- and I don’t think it should be -- it’s probably something that will happen eventually just because of technology improving and certain players just choosing to do it and having the habit just become more and more acceptable.