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SPORTSMonday 4 April 2016
MLB aims to protect fans with new netting at ballparks
DAVE SKRETTA Grounds crew members prepare the field following batting practice at a baseball game between the view could hinder the
AP Sports Writer the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, ability to sell them. Atten-
KANSAS CITY, Missouri April 2, 2016. dance is already a struggle
(AP) — Eric Hosmer still re- in many stadiums.
members the gasp from Associated Press Then there’s the quaint, in-
the crowd in Cleveland, timate nature of the game
and the sickening silence bats and foul balls, MLB an- stretched it beyond. close,” Hosmer told The As- itself. Players and fans have
that followed, when he historically been so close to
cracked a foul ball down nounced in December rec- In Kansas City, that meant sociated Press. “Now that each other that they can
the third base line and easily interact, forming a
struck a woman sitting in ommendations to extend extending the netting to the nets are up, I think it’s bond that endures through
the front row. safety netting at its ball- the outfield ends of each going to help a lot. It helps generations.
A rookie first baseman at parks to the ends of both dugout. the fans that aren’t paying Many fans who rushed into
the time, Hosmer was so dugouts and anywhere “I know some of the places attention, but the young Kauffman Stadium before
shaken by the scene that Sunday night’s World Series
Kansas City Royals man- within 70 feet (21 meters) we go on the road, some- kids too. There’s too much rematch were surprised to
ager Ned Yost asked him see the nets obstructing
whether he wanted to fin- of home plate. Some or- times the seats you leave of a risk.” prime autograph-hunting
ish the game. ganizations already met for your family are right Safety comes at a price, spots. They had to scoot to-
“The game stopped for a those benchmarks, while behind the dugout or five of course. Those seats are ward the outfield to begin
few minutes and you don’t fishing for signatures from
know whether she’s going most of the rest either ex- rows up, and I certainly generally among the most Hosmer, Mike Moustakas
to be OK. It was just scary,” and the rest of their team-
Hosmer recalled before tended their netting to the don’t feel comfortable expensive in the ballpark, mates. It was a sentiment
Sunday’s Major League recommended distance or with my mother sitting that and anything that obstructs shared in other ballparks.
Baseball season opener “I wish the screen was
against the New York Mets. gone, but I understand the
“I witnessed a couple of safety concerns as well,”
people getting hit, espe- said Mike Meyer, a Tampa
cially in the face. It’s some- Bay Rays season-ticketh-
thing you never want to older, who was seated
see.” along the first base line for
The league hopes it’s a Sunday’s opener against
much rarer sight this sea- Toronto at Tropicana Field.
son. The Rays were among the
After an in-depth study many clubs that extended
last year, when several their safety netting this sea-
fans were hurt by broken son.
Peter Sagan wins Tour of Flanders
OUDENAARDE, Belgium marcke was third. “It was a maximum gradient of 20 the Belgian riders who died sprint of the peloton to fin
(AP) — World champion super hard. From the start percent. With 13 kilome- last month during Gent- sh fourth.
Peter Sagan won the first until the finish, it was always ters (8 miles) left, he then Wevelgem and the Crite- Despite the good weather,
big classic race of his ca- full gas,” said Sagan, who resisted the chase. Sagan, rium International. He also the race was marred by
reer with a solo victory Sun- celebrated with a wheelie who endured a mechani- dedicated his win to injured several crashes on the nar-
day in the 100th edition of once he crossed the finish cal problem 100 kilometers teammate Maciej Bodnar. row Flemish country roads,
the Tour of Flanders, deny- line. “It’s hard to work with from the finish and had to “You have to think about with local favorite Greg
ing Fabian Cancellara a the other guys because change both wheels, was the two riders who died last Van Avermaet forced to
record-breaking fourth suc- nobody wants to work with so strong in the finale that week, it was very sad,” Sa- abandon with a broken
cess in the race. me. It’s always better to he increased the gap over gan said. “I want to dedi- right collarbone.
Sagan, who captured the drop everybody.” Cancellara — a former cate my win to them and The Tour of Flanders is part
world title last September After a first acceleration time trial world champion to Maciej Bodnar who had of five high-profile clas-
in Richmond, Virginia, fin- that split the group of fa- — in the last five kilometers a crash in training. I want to sics called the Monument
ished ahead of the three- vorites in the Oude-Kware- of the 255-kilometer Mon wish him well and see him that also includes Milan-
time champion, who was mont, Sagan dropped Van- ment race. Sagan paid back in the group soon.” San Remo, Paris-Roubaix,
competing in his final Tour marcke in the Paterberg, a tribute to Antoine Dem- Last year’s winner Alexan- Liege-Bastogne-Liege and
of Flanders. Sep Van- brutal cobbled ascent with oitie and Daan Myngheer, der Kristoff captured the the Giro di Lombardia.
