Mets players talk about protective netting.

The debate about netting in the MLB ballparks continue. I do think that there should be netting up to protect the fans. Besides stretching down to the foul poles, I also think there should be nets over head so folks don't get hi in the heads from fly foul balls that are hit into the crowd. A baseball hit 70 feet up in the air then hits someone on top of the head is dangerous too. Also the Mets should do what some other teams do also where the nets get lifted before games so fans can have interaction with the players.

Quotes from northjersey.com

The most obvious way is by extending the protective netting to the foul poles, which has recently been a hot topic around the league. Last week, the Chicago White Sox announced they would extend the netting to the foul poles by their July 22 home game. The Baltimore Orioles are planning to do the same, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals have said they'll do so.

More clubs may join the movement. 

MG- I agree with this. Besides young kids you also have the folks coming down the steps back to the seats(during at bats, which shouldn't be happening) that block your view from the field so you can easily get cracked in the face.

Back in summer ball in 2011, Mets reliever Chris Mazza recalled a lady getting drilled by a foul ball down the line because she was looking the other way. It happened so quickly, he said, and she was eventually escorted out. Mazza agrees with extending protective netting. 

“I mean, anything to protect the fans, I’m for," he said. "I also think the fans need to do a better job of paying attention during the game. But anything we can do to help the fans, protect them, we should do.”

Added Mets manager Mickey Callaway: “I think the league and certain organizations will do everything they can to protect the fans. They deserve it."

Pete Alonso, who would agree with extending the netting to the foul poles, brought up an interesting idea to go with it: "restrictive seating." For example, he said there could be certain sections where small children or elderly people are not allowed to sit. Think SeaWorld's "Splash Zone" that is not recommended for visitors who do not want to get wet during whale shows. 

Alonso also sees restrictive seating as a way for teams to protect fans who usually cannot protect themselves. 

"If you’re a grown man and you get smoked in the face," Alonso said, "then get off your cell phone and pay attention."

Smith agreed with Alonso's idea, but also brought up another side of it. It's 2019 and people have smartphones. They play games and scroll through their social media accounts. 

Perhaps adults should be paying attention the entire time — especially those with small children — but Smith said kids should not be expected to do the same.  

MG- Adults should be paying attention to their kids no matter what. With or without netting. I have seen folks let their kids run up and down the stairs during games where they could fall and get hurt also. Basically, there should be more netting but they need to extend it above the lower seats too to protect from fouls balls.

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