Should Baseball Ban Chewing Tobacco?

[iwhoopedbatman]

That's silly.
Has a baseball player ever died from getting hit in the leg with a ball?
Have people died from chewing tobacco? There are risks involved from stepping up to the plate and pitching but they're necessary parts of the game. Tobacco is not necessary. Is it?
However I would not be suprised if baseball players are required to waear more protection in the future.

Plenty of players have died from getting hit in the chest and careers have ended from taking balls to the legs/feet. Mandating further equipment is still entirely unnecessary. It's life, you can die doing anything. If it has to be 100% safe you'll end up doing nothing. How many careers have ended because of chew? Heck, Gwynn is the first baseball death related to smokeless tobacco since when?

I don't think they'd still ALL wear helment if it were made optional.
You would think ALL people would wear motorcycle helmets
in states where it isn't mandated right? But guess what...They don't.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/york-rider-dies-protesting-motorcycle-helmet-law/story?id=13993417

Whats so bad about banning addictive, unhealthy drugs from Baseball?

Except they've all been forced to wear baseball helmets their whole lives and are completely used to it, unlike bikers, who tend to be anti-authority types who buck the 'pussified safety rules, because freedom' from the time they're kids and first learn to ride, because they weren't enforced and ingrained like little league rules. These guys wear helmets in the batting cage just to protect themselves from balls that go straight up. They're not ditching them with an opposing pitcher out there.

Sugar is addictive and unhealthy.

Like I said, if they're going to ban it, it should be for some PR (go get some fans). It's just not hurting that many people.

 

[Uptown Swinger]

Heck, Gwynn is the first baseball death related to smokeless tobacco since when?
Like I said, if they're going to ban it, it should be for some PR (go get some fans). It's just not hurting that many people.

They should ban it in honor of Tony Gwynn and his family.
Also why keep a disgusting bad habit around?
Because the players are hooked? If so let them do it off the field.
There are also plenty of children who would love to become baseball players one day and believe it or not some of them will grow up to be baseball players that chew tobacco and some of them will grow up and chew while never playing pro ball.
I know its a parent's responsibility to traise their kids but even withthe best parents children can still be heavily influenced especially be pro athletes. My college roomate is a perfect example of a kid who chewed every day all day because he grew up wanting to play pro ball. He wasn't even good enough to play college ball. There are more good reasons to get rid of it than to keep it in the game.

And I get it...you don't agree with me. But that's fine.

 

[iwhoopedbatman]

They should ban it in honor of Tony Gwynn and his family.
Also why keep a disgusting bad habit around?
Because the players are hooked? If so let them do it off the field.
There are also plenty of children who would love to become baseball players one day and believe it or not some of them will grow up to be baseball players that chew tobacco and some of them will grow up and chew while never playing pro ball.
I know its a parent's responsibility to traise their kids but even withthe best parents children can still be heavily influenced especially be pro athletes. My college roomate is a perfect example of a kid who chewed every day all day because he grew up wanting to play pro ball. He wasn't even good enough to play college ball. There are more good reasons to get rid of it than to keep it in the game.

And I get it...you don't agree with me. But that's fine.

I've said repeatedly, the argument to ban it is the PR 'we care about setting an example for the kids' argument. If they're not going to do that and annoy everyone with 'infomercials', I just don't see the point.

Hell, I even pointed out that I used to dip and chew when I was younger because of baseball tradition. My only point is that MLB player safety is not what I'm worried about on this at all. If they're just going to ban it to 'save' the players under contract, they're solving a problem that barely exists.

 

[freak flag high]

For some reason really thought it was already. Something about not wanting young kids to see it and make it seem cool

 

[Uptown Swinger]

Hell, I even pointed out that I used to dip and chew when I was younger because of baseball tradition. My only point is that MLB player safety is not what I'm worried about on this at all. If they're just going to ban it to 'save' the players under contract, they're solving a problem that barely exists.

But just like you and my old roomate the players under contract are not the only ones who chew because of baseball. There are alot and there will definitely be alot more in the future unless it's banned from the sport. Why did the Minor leagues ban tobacco?

 

[iwhoopedbatman]

For some reason really thought it was already. Something about not wanting young kids to see it and make it seem cool

They're not allowed to have their dip tin in their pockets and the TV people are much more conscious about what they show the players doing with it, so it's not nearly as noticeable, but it isn't banned yet.

 

[CardonaLJ**]

I'll answer after I finish my Levi Garrett......

 

[Michaelangelo]

They should get on e-cigs

 

[KrazyKanadian]

No.

 

[Stringer Bell]

Why shouldn't adults be allowed to make adult decisions? tobacco is not illegal and MLB does not consider it a Performance enhancing, or inhibiting, drug.

 

[echohead]

I always wonder how chewers reproduce.

 

[FLYOVER BOSSMAN]

I always wonder how chewers reproduce.

Well, we have sex and nine months later the females tend to crap out their babies in the toilet.

Duh?

 

[theskza]

Taylor's Pride FTW

For some reason I thought it was already banned. It's part of baseball culture, but they should probably get rid of it.

 

[Jocke]

There are also plenty of children who would love to become baseball players one day and believe it or not some of them will grow up to be baseball players that chew tobacco and some of them will grow up and chew while never playing pro ball.

Really? You're going with the "wont someone think of the children!" angle?

See, the idea of sheltering kids in this manner is retarded because you're setting a precedence on not just baseball but a whole lot of other shit.

Maybe we should just ban MMA because children will watch it and might kill themselves piledriving eachother throw their mattresses.

I'm all for banning it because its disgusting, but the grounds of "health" or "children" is pretty naive reasons. Moreover it belittles the players as if though they are the kids.

 

[Uptown Swinger]

Really? You're going with the "wont someone think of the children!" angle?

See, the idea of sheltering kids in this manner is retarded because you're setting a precedence on not just baseball but a whole lot of other shit.

I'm all for banning it because its disgusting, but the grounds of "health" or "children" is pretty naive reasons. Moreover it belittles the players as if though they are the kids.

Really? You're going with the baseball player's aren't kids angle?
Come on man, Why not just eliminate all laws for people over the age of 21 because...well, they're adults and should know better.
That's a silly way to look at what I'm saying.
It does not belittle players as if they are kids because they would be allowed to chew all they want while on their own time. They would only not be allowed to chew while at work representing MLB. The same way minor league players are not allowed to use tobacco while on the job.

You're all for banning adult baseball players from chewing tobacco because you think it's disgusting...lol (but they need to be treated like adults right?)
But you don't care about health or the children.

Think about that...then let it sink in.
Then join me in laughing at your opinions.

 

[Jocke]

Really? You're going with the baseball player's aren't kids angle?
Come on man, Why not just eliminate all laws for people over the age of 21 because...well, they're adults and should know better.
That's a silly way to look at what I'm saying.
It does not belittle players as if they are kids because they would be allowed to chew all they want while on their own time. They would only not be allowed to chew while at work representing MLB. The same way minor league players are not allowed to use tobacco while on the job.

You're all for banning adult baseball players from chewing tobacco because you think it's disgusting...lol (but they need to be treated like adults right?)
But you don't care about health or the children.

Think about that...then let it sink in.
Then join me in laughing at your opinions.

No, my opinion is that I dont care either way. Ban or no ban but if they banned it due to keeping the field cleaner than that makes for a more realistic reason than "wont someone think of the children/players". I just think its hilarious how you think about health of the players when on the field, but are totally fine with them doing whatever on their own time.

You're 100% correct in that I dont care about peoples health or the children because, well it's not my problem and I'm not their dad.

I think in the end for me it comes down to, if you ban something solely because you dont like it then thats just silly because there might be people that do. If you dont want mouth cancer, then dont chew tobacco.

 

[Uptown Swinger]

No, my opinion is that I dont care either way.

You said you were "all for banning it because it's digusting" fyi: being all for it means you care more one way vs the other. Make up your mind

I just think its hilarious how you think about health of the players when on the field, but are totally fine with them doing whatever on their own time.

When did I say I didn't care about the health of the players while off the field on their own time?
The answer is: I never said that.
Banning tobacco while at work will help players on and off the field. I'm sure you understand this. Unless you think the players would go home and chew twice as much to make up for lost chewing time. Maybe they would start packing both sides of their mouth (at home) instead of one? Maybe they will wake up earlier and go to bed later to get their missing chew time in? MLB banning tobacco would benefit the health of future kids and players not just the current ones. This ban would benefit a lot more in the long run than it would the guys that are already addicted.

You're 100% correct in that I dont care about peoples health or the children because, well it's not my problem and I'm not their dad.

Just curious: how old are you and do you have kids?

I think in the end for me it comes down to, if you ban something solely because you dont like it then thats just silly because there might be people that do.

But you're all for banning it because YOU think it's disgusting?
ok

If you dont want mouth cancer, then dont chew tobacco.

I understand this is how you feel I agree but I also feel there is more to it than that as I've already stated.

 

[Jocke]

You said you were "all for banning it because it's digusting" fyi: being all for it means you care more one way vs the other. Make up your mind



When did I say I didn't care about the health of the players while off the field on their own time?
The answer is: I never said that.
Banning tobacco while at work will help players on and off the field. I'm sure you understand this. Unless you think the players would go home and chew twice as much to make up for lost chewing time. Maybe they would start packing both sides of their mouth (at home) instead of one? Maybe they will wake up earlier and go to bed later to get their missing chew time in? MLB banning tobacco would benefit the health of future kids and players not just the current ones. This ban would benefit a lot more in the long run than it would the guys that are already addicted.


Just curious: how old are you and do you have kids?


But you're all for banning it because YOU think it's disgusting?
ok


I understand this is how you feel I agree but I also feel there is more to it than that as I've already stated.

No you're right, I worded incorrectly. I find it disgusting but I in no way think thats a reason to ban it, that would be ridicilous, however if they did ban it because its "disgusting" then I wouldnt protest it (not that I would in either case anyway, it doesnt affect me why would I really care?).
I think whiteknighting because a player (or multiple) got mouth cancer is silly. They are grown men, let them make their own choices. On or off field stop pretending like youre doing them a favor by babysitting them. Does "I'm doing this for your own good" sound belittling to you? Especially within the context? Because it does to me.
As for the kids, theres a million things that could affect them in "bad ways" not just baseball. For fucks sake kids get obese from the TMNT eating pizza every day and them emulating it.

Ban or no ban though it simply doesnt matter to me because it doesnt affect me in anyway.

My age and children/no children status is irrelevant to the topic. Trying to invoke some kind of response about how I couldnt possibly know what its like to have a kid because I dont have one is just pulling emotional strings with no real argument behind it. If you want to protect your kid then protect your kid but do so in a way it doesnt limit other people.

 

[Uptown Swinger]

No you're right, I worded incorrectly. I find it disgusting but I in no way think thats a reason to ban it, that would be ridicilous, however if they did ban it because its "disgusting" then I wouldnt protest it (not that I would in either case anyway, it doesnt affect me why would I really care?).

Nice backpedaling there.

I think whiteknighting because a player (or multiple) got mouth cancer is silly. They are grown men, let them make their own choices.

That't not the only reason. As I've already said I think there are a lot more reasons to ban it than to keep it in the game.

On or off field stop pretending like youre doing them a favor by babysitting them. Does "I'm doing this for your own good" sound belittling to you? Especially within the context? Because it does to me.

The same can be said for many laws and rules in life. If a man is not sucure in his own skin to handle a few rules without feeling like a baby then he needs to grow up and toughen up.

As for the kids, theres a million things that could affect them in "bad ways" not just baseball. For fucks sake kids get obese from the TMNT eating pizza every day and them emulating it.

Is that your best example? Because that's really reaching.

Ban or no ban though it simply doesnt matter to me because it doesnt affect me in anyway.

You're debating me as if it does affect you. It doesn't affect me either and going in circles with you is getting boring. I understand your opinion.

My age and children/no children status is irrelevant to the topic. Trying to invoke some kind of response about how I couldnt possibly know what its like to have a kid because I dont have one is just pulling emotional strings with no real argument behind it.

I was just wondering because of your comment about not caring about people's health (below). I can tell you that before I had kids I cared less than when I became a father. Banning tobacco in MLB today could affect my son's health in the future. It could also affect the health of other children in my family, community, city and state etc.

You're 100% correct in that I dont care about peoples health or the children because, well it's not my problem and I'm not their dad.

 

[Jocke]

Nice backpedaling there.
That't not the only reason. As I've already said I think there are a lot more reasons to ban it than to keep it in the game.

The same can be said for many laws and rules in life. If a man is not sucure in his own skin to handle a few rules without feeling like a baby then he needs to grow up and toughen up.

Is that your best example? Because that's really reaching.

You're debating me as if it does affect you. It doesn't affect me either and going in circles with you is getting boring. I understand your opinion.

I was just wondering because of your comment about not caring about people's health (below). I can tell you that before I had kids I cared less than when I became a father. Banning tobacco in MLB today could affect my son's health in the future. It could also affect the health of other children in my family, community, city and state etc.

I wasnt backpedaling, I'm sorry my grasp on the english language isnt up to par. No need to be snide about it.

Do I really need a good example (about the kids) or even one to begin with? You're the one conjecturing that banning tobacco in MLB would somehow make a difference among kids using tobacco and players not dying from mouth cancer.

You have a kid, great for you. I don't. Completely irrelevant to a discussion about tobacco in the MLB.

If you don't want to go in circles then thats fine. I'm just replying because I'm bored and your reason for banning it is based on nothing but your own emotion regarding your own child(ren) supposed odds of getting mouth cancer due to some player chewing it. It seems pretty silly and farfetched to me.