Fan Files Lawsuit Demanding MLB Extend Safety Netting

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An Oakland Athletics season-ticket holder has filed a federal lawsuit seeking class-action status and greater protection for fans everywhere from flying bats and balls. The suit, filed Monday in the Northern District of California, wants MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to extend safety netting from foul pole to foul pole.

According to an Associated Press report, the lawsuit claims that the league has failed to provide its member clubs with consistent safety guidelines, and that it has failed to listen to the safety warnings of its own players. It faults MLB for allowing players to switch to maple bats, which shatter more easily than ash bats, and for allowing clubs to create more visual distractions for fans. It also says MLB has lagged behind other sports organizations such as the NHL and NASCAR in terms of fan protection, as well as its professional league counterpart in Japan, where safety netting is more widespread.

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