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Mac Williamson Sues Giants

By Mark Polishuk | November 10, 2020 at 2:34pm CDT

Former Giants outfielder Mac Williamson is suing the team over a 2018 incident that saw Williamson suffer an on-field concussion.  The lingering effects of that concussion “ended my career,” Williamson said, implying that he is done with the sport after eight professional seasons.

On April 24, 2018, Williamson was playing left field at Oracle Park (then known as AT&T Park) in a game between the Giants and Nationals.  While in pursuit of a Bryce Harper fly ball into foul territory in the fifth inning, Williamson tripped over the bullpen mounds set up in foul ground and fell into the wall.  He remained in the game until the ninth but didn’t appear in another game until May 25 after a stint on the concussion-related injured list.

In a Zoom news conference with Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle and other reporters today, Williamson gave a statement saying that the concussion “left me with lifelong injuries that have also taken a significant toll on my personal life.  I suffer nausea, trouble sleeping, mood swings, and other issues.  I wake up every day hoping that today is a better day and that I will get closer to how I felt before the injury.”

The on-field bullpen mounds were a part of Oracle Park since the stadium opened in 2000, but were moved off the field of play and behind the center field fence as part of renovations that took place prior to the 2020 season.

“Everybody’s career ends at some point. But to have it taken from me because the bullpen mounds were unnecessarily placed on the field is very hard to cope with,” Williamson said.  “Although I will never be made whole, my intent on filing the lawsuit is holding park owners accountable for not only taking away my career, but carelessly risking every other great player’s careers by needlessly placing the bullpen mounds on the field.”

A third-round pick for the Giants in the 2012 draft, Williamson was a well-regarded prospect on his way up the minor league ladder before making his MLB debut in 2015.  He hit only .228/.305/.406 in 200 plate appearances in 2016-17, though regular playing time was hard to find, and Williamson was frequently shuttled back and forth between the Giants’ roster and their Triple-A affiliate.  As Schulman noted, Williamson revamped his swing in the 2017-18 offseason and was enjoying a hot start in 2018 before the concussion.

Post-injury, Williamson played in only 23 more games that season for the Giants and then 36 more games at Triple-A before his year was cut short by injury in mid-August.  In 2019, Williamson appeared in 40 MLB games for the Giants and Mariners before heading to South Korea to play 40 games with the KBO League’s Samsung Lions.  He inked a minor league deal with the Nationals during the offseason but was released in May.

The Giants released a statement addressing the lawsuit, saying “MLB and its clubs have a longstanding practice of addressing claims arising from player injuries through the collectively-bargained grievance procedure and the worker’s compensation system.  Williamson’s claims are properly resolved through these processes, not through the courts.”

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130 Comments

  1. DarkSide830

    4 years ago

    i cant believe any team, Majors or otherwise, has a BP that isnt inclosed. just seems so primitive. maybe its just my bias as someone who grew up with a stadium having one.

    5
    Reply
    • CowboysoldierFTW

      4 years ago

      I have to agree. I hope the team and player reach a settlement.

      3
      Reply
    • Chief Two Hands

      4 years ago

      MLB parks have a history of being as illogical as MLB itself. The worst I have ever seen was the huge flagpole on an inclined hill in center field that used to be in Houston. It’s bad enough that someone designed it that way, but I assume many people had to approve it as well. They eventually removed it, but the fact that it was even considered, much less implemented, shows a complete lack of common sense. Putting a mound where pitchers will be warming up within the field of play doesn’t show any common sense, either.

      5
      Reply
      • Skeptical

        4 years ago

        Forbes Field, Pirates’ former hone, had the batting cage stored against the centerfield wall. Granted it was a deep center field(I think it was 452 ft).

        Reply
    • bravesfan88

      4 years ago

      Yeah, it is crazy to think that any person creating a ballpark would think having their bullpens exposed would be a good idea.

      The only thing I can think of is that they think fans might want to watch guys warming up, and by having the bullpens exposed and part of the field that it would give fans easier access to watch what is going on??

      Idk, to me it has always just been a liability, and one that I’m surprised hasn’t been banned by MLB. I’m sure after this, every stadium will soon enclose their bullpens, well if they havent started already..

      Are there any other stadiums that have open bullpens at the moment?? I’m thinking there might be two or three off the top of my head, but I’m not entirely sure..

      It will be interesting to see the cause and effect of this lawsuit moving forward. Either way though, they should have already gotten rid of these type of bullpens. They have always been a hazard and a danger to players, and they always will. If this doesn’t get them banned, then I’m sure all it will take is a superstar getting really hurt chasing after a foul ball, similar to what happened with Buster Posey and collisions at home plate..

      2
      Reply
      • Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey

        4 years ago

        I think it’s just the A’s and Rays at this point, although I could be missing some that I just can’t remember.

        Reply
        • Arnold Ziffel

          4 years ago

          I can remember going to an Angel-A’s game in Oakland and was setting down by the Angel’s bullpen. An angel pitcher, who was in a bar fight a couple weeks before was just pounded verbally by some fans right next to him. I don’t see how he managed to keep his composure but he did.

          Reply
      • Philly A's

        4 years ago

        Oakland and Tampa.

        Reply
      • Rangers29

        4 years ago

        I’ve had this idea for a while, but why don’t they put the bullpens right about where the media hideout is on the 1b/3b end of the dugout? Make it see through and netted to where the fans can still see players warming up, the bullpen guys could actually talk to some of their other teammates since they aren’t 400 feet away from them, and it would give parks more room in the outfield. I bet a good architect could design a bullpen in that area that is both interactive for fans, and easily fit inside the area.

        1
        Reply
        • mlb1225

          4 years ago

          I like that idea. I always wondered why bullpens had to be so far away from their other teammates.

          Reply
        • colonel flagg

          4 years ago

          If the fans can see them that close to the dugout, well then it’s taking up valuable real estate. I’m not saying what you are suggesting is a bad idea from a fan’s point of view, but teams like to seek tickets in those high priced areas.

          3
          Reply
        • colonel flagg

          4 years ago

          seek = sell. Sorry

          Reply
        • Rangers29

          4 years ago

          I’m going to call up Dombro and the rest of the crew putting a team in Nashville lol.

          1
          Reply
      • kodion

        4 years ago

        The Blue Jays …playing at Sahlen Field in Buffalo …have them on-field also, if they have to go down that “road” again.

        Reply
    • DarkSide830

      4 years ago

      also *enclosed derp

      Reply
    • Philly A's

      4 years ago

      I like the exposed BPs… I find it nostalgic instead of primitive. Everyone gets to see who is up and it is not hidden away in the back of the stadium.

      1
      Reply
      • stubby66

        4 years ago

        Back in the day the teams didn’t have the revenue that they do now or the technology either . They tried to build things efficiently, plus managers were able to look down at who they had warming up. Not to mention that they used those bullpen in psychological mind games towards other teams. it is kinda of a lost art of cat and mouse.

        1
        Reply
    • azcrook

      4 years ago

      The bullpens in SF are now moved into an enclosed area behind the CF fence.

      Reply
      • jorge78

        4 years ago

        That’s what the article points out…..

        2
        Reply
    • IBackTheNats6

      4 years ago

      Even Wrigley has an enclosed bullpen idk what some of these teams are doing

      Reply
      • smuzqwpdmx

        4 years ago

        Wait until you see the flood of lawsuits over the brick outfield wall at Wrigley. Couldn’t be a more clear-cut safety hazard than that.

        2
        Reply
        • windycitykid89

          4 years ago

          There has never been any lawsuits filed by players regarding the Wrigley Field ivy/brick wall.

          Reply
        • smuzqwpdmx

          4 years ago

          There will be if Williamson wins this lawsuit.

          Reply
    • truthlemonade

      4 years ago

      In SF, the architects just “forgot” about bullpens, and I guess nobody noticed during planning until it was too late.

      That seems so idiotic.

      While we are talking about ballpark construction, last night I was wondering when MLB clubhouses got showers? I doubt the 1870 Reds had showers. Anyone know?

      1
      Reply
      • ABStract

        4 years ago

        Are you sure about that?
        I thought it was a conscious decision as a throwback to the old days and because of the tiny plot on which Oracle park is built

        1
        Reply
        • UnknownPoster

          4 years ago

          Pretty sure it was a space thing.

          Use as much square footage as possible for fans (therefore ways to make $)… If bullpens are not taking up non playing space

          Land is expensive in Oakland+SF. It was not nostalgia

          1
          Reply
        • chicoescuela

          4 years ago

          It was an intentional design feature

          Reply
        • Orange and black

          4 years ago

          No it wasn’t. They forgot to include it in the original design, so stuck them on the field. Players have been complaining about them since the Park was built.

          Reply
        • chicoescuela

          4 years ago

          Nope. Check out the interview grant Bisbee had with one of the architects on SB nation.

          Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      4 years ago

      It always seemed like a recipe for disaster with on-field bullpens. I’m surprised he’s the only one. Pitchers are luck they weren’t hit more often with line drives also. MLB should have some standardization regarding stadiums; change dimensions and quirky outfields all you want, but placement of bullpens should be somewhat regulated for protection. .

      1
      Reply
      • UnknownPoster

        4 years ago

        From the player union comments, I think others have made noise about it, but may not have gone so far as to sue the team. I’d, grievance route instead

        Reply
    • 12isbetter

      4 years ago

      What’s next, sue for turf burn, tripping over a bag, blowing ucl for throwing 101 pitches, allergic to detergent….where does it stop? 100+ years of baseball as these softees are we are at!

      3
      Reply
      • sfjackcoke

        4 years ago

        thescore.com/mlb/news/1533880

        Spoken like a guy who never saw the video. He’s fortunate he didn’t break his neck. It’s unfortunate, it had been discussed for year and it took someone actually getting hurt for the team to get those bullpens off the field. lose-lose situation.

        4
        Reply
        • 12isbetter

          4 years ago

          It was an unfortunate tumble but that doesn’t give him the right to sue. That part is total bs. The frivolous lawsuits need to stop.

          2
          Reply
        • DinkyDonutsYelpReview

          4 years ago

          @12isbetter
          Oof….betting you have some strong and well-informed opinions about the McDonald’s hot coffee case too.

          1
          Reply
    • hard90

      4 years ago

      The Giants are just one huge mess

      Reply
      • Howie415

        4 years ago

        @hard90 Is that you 27bitches.

        1
        Reply
        • ABStract

          4 years ago

          @howie415: you nailed it

          1
          Reply
      • ABStract

        4 years ago

        Huh? Why?
        Because an ex player is pursuing a frivolous lawsuit?
        K…

        1
        Reply
        • hard90

          4 years ago

          No, the lawsuit is just the latest fiasco. They have a managing partner ( Larry Baer ) the was caught on video physically and verbally abusing his wife . By the way , MLB issued a full 1/2 season suspension for that
          And of course you have the racist owner who financed TV political ads in the south that featured footage of ‘Lynching’
          And team itself is terrible. They haven’t posted a winning season in almost 5 years

          2
          Reply
        • Howie415

          4 years ago

          @hard90 Larry Baer didn’t beat his wife. Charles Johnson, 1 of 25 owners, didn’t finance a lynching video. He gave the money to a PAC. They produced the ad. The team is not terrible.

          Reply
        • ABStract

          4 years ago

          Wow, you should do political ads with the way you can twist reality like that
          See @howie’s corrections
          Since when is the 6th highest team OPS in MLB terrible?
          Your right though, sometimes teams have bad seasons after the only dynasty this century…unforgivable!

          Reply
        • hard90

          4 years ago

          @Howie415 Wow. another delusional Giants fan.

          So, if there was no Domestic Abuse,

          Why did MLB Suspend him for half the Season?

          1
          Reply
    • FredMcGriff for the HOF

      4 years ago

      Sounds like Mac’s statement were read off a piece of paper a ambulance chaser handed him.

      1
      Reply
    • Show all 43 replies
  2. Rangers29

    4 years ago

    Did Mike Bolsinger ever sue the Astros? I remember his name coming up when all the cheating stuff came about, though I don’t remember if he actually sued. Both of these cases are interesting in their own right. This seems like the baseball equivalent of NFL players suing for concussion protocol.

    2
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      4 years ago

      i think he did. probably just a drawn out process further extended by the pandemic.

      2
      Reply
    • Old User Name

      4 years ago

      I think Dustin Fowler sued the White Sox over the electrical box he bummed up his knee on.

      Reply
      • Yankee Clipper

        4 years ago

        To think what may have been….. Mickey Mantle with no knee injury due to field regulations? Wow, maybe the #2 all time.

        1
        Reply
      • DinkyDonutsYelpReview

        4 years ago

        @Joe
        He did, the case is still pending I believe. Although the theory in that case (hidden hazard) wouldn’t apply here, where the BP mounds are about as open and notorious as it gets.

        Reply
  3. B-Strong

    4 years ago

    Didnt Napoli’s career end due to blowing out his knee on a bullpen mound in the minors? Granted he had a foot out the door by then anyway but they really can be a hazard.

    1
    Reply
  4. zacharydmanprin

    4 years ago

    The Oakland A’s still have theirs but it is out of the way enough fielders have to go a looooong way to run into them.

    Reply
  5. Mrtwotone

    4 years ago

    That sucks for Mac but, isn’t this what they sign up for? You don’t see everyone else suing a team for an injury. Maybe Ruben Tejada should sue chase utley

    2
    Reply
    • Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey

      4 years ago

      I can’t speak at all to whether Williamson’s suit is viable, but I think you’re comparing apples and oranges there.

      5
      Reply
      • Mrtwotone

        4 years ago

        Yeah probably. Haha My point was when they sign their contracts you’d figure the player is aware of the risks of the game and the team can’t be sued for what happens in the game.

        Reply
        • yankees500

          4 years ago

          Although that was also my first reaction, similar to former NFL players suing the league for their CTE post-playing career, its a different story if the team/league knowingly withheld information or refused to correct the problem, IMO. If you watch the video of that play you can see that the the edge of the bullpen is maybe two inches from the foul line. Chances are the GIants knew or should have known that it would be a problem.

          Reply
        • ABStract

          4 years ago

          Of course they were aware, but so were the players that practiced there on a daily basis (like Mac)
          It’s tough to navigate, but after 20 years he’s the first guy to hurt himself there…
          I just, I mean, you could trip on the street or slip in your kitchen too, right? So your city planner or architect are at fault for your accident? Naw…not how it works
          Plus if he’d been a halfway decent player he might have a better case for THAT being the reason for his career ending and not he fact that he wasn’t an MLB level player to begin with
          Gotta say I’m disappointed he feels the need to blame the Giants for what was a freak accident, seeing as this is the first case of this type after 20 years

          1
          Reply
        • Chief Two Hands

          4 years ago

          Actually if someone suffers an injury due to something causing them to trip and fall on a sidewalk or on a floor, etc., it is not uncommon for a law suit against a business or even a residence to follow. I am not saying it is right or wrong, just pointing out that it happens. Regardless, I don’t think that is quite the same thing as what happened here. That said, I don’t have much of an opinion about this particular case, it just surprises me that stupid designs for ballparks are accepted so often.

          Reply
        • UnknownPoster

          4 years ago

          Cmon. He’s far from the first guy to get hurt there. He may be the first one that it ended his career, but I can think of countless dodgers who have twisted ankles and knees on the mounds

          There’s a reason only 2 parks have exposed bullpens and both are within 20 miles of each other. It WAS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY

          Which means they put their players at a higher risk than the normal mlb team. So.. maybe he has an angle to this. There’s no reason to think having 2 mounds and 2 potential slick plates in the middle of foul ground is “normal”

          Reply
  6. Ducky Buckin Fent

    4 years ago

    Ya know, a very long time ago when I played, we were encouraged to walk the field before playing on it.

    Gives you an idea about each parks idiosyncrasies. It was known at that time as “preparation”.

    That’s all I have to say.

    2
    Reply
    • ScottCFA

      4 years ago

      Also, it was his home ballpark and he had already played there a couple of years.

      3
      Reply
      • Ducky Buckin Fent

        4 years ago

        Oh, yeah.
        I sorta blew that one lol.

        But.
        That actually makes it substantially worse.

        2
        Reply
      • JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt

        4 years ago

        That’s the argument the Giants will 100% make.

        Williamson knew these hazards, being that this was where he played and practiced. They’ll also argue that no one else has been severely injured by these, because they were aware of their location.

        I’d be floored if there’s even a judge that willingly hears this case. It seems very frivolous from Williamson.

        Reply
        • ABStract

          4 years ago

          He may have had a case if there was a record of a complaint he made regarding field conditions before the incident, but I’m not aware of any such documents

          Reply
  7. Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey

    4 years ago

    Having the bullpen in play makes as much sense as it did to have the upright on the goal line in football.

    4
    Reply
  8. lowtalker1

    4 years ago

    Or he wasn’t good and lasted longer than he should have ?

    2
    Reply
  9. lowtalker1

    4 years ago

    Bc he sure played in Korea in 2019

    1
    Reply
  10. bobtillman

    4 years ago

    He’s going have to prove that the Bullpens “needlessly” were placed on the playing field. Not easy. That, and the fact that players have a vehicle to deal with these problems, a vehicle that’s been pretty much been upheld in the courts, across all types of industries.

    But ya, it’s a dumb idea to have exposed bullpens like that. It would be cool if the MLBPA concentrated on that stuff instead of how many sheets they’re entitled to on their beds.

    Reply
    • TLB2001

      4 years ago

      Also the catchers have their backs to the field of play. No thanks!

      Reply
    • LLGiants64

      4 years ago

      They actually were needlessly placed next to the field of play. The Giants have since moved them to a safe place.

      Reply
    • dpsmith22

      4 years ago

      There’s only 1 thing the mlbpa cares about. Money. Ask Arod how much they cared about him when his anonymous test came out.

      Reply
    • UnknownPoster

      4 years ago

      Well for one, SF was one of two parks that had it that way and they’ve already changed it

      They’ve kinda admitted some degree of fault by doing so… they acknowledged it was an obstruction that should be moved

      Reply
      • JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt

        4 years ago

        Moving the bullpens isn’t an admission of fault. It’s the Giants recognizing the dangers of them being located where they were, but that doesn’t mean they are at fault.

        It’s no different than a coffee shop adding sleeves after someone burns themselves. They may not be responsible for that direct act, but offering a sleeve helps prevent future incidents.

        Williamson wasn’t unfamiliar with AT&T (now Oracle) Park, or at least he shouldn’t have been. The bullpen mounds existed for every game and practice he attended there. And there were no structural changes to them.

        As I said above, I can’t envision a judge taking this case. It’s frivolous in nature.

        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          4 years ago

          I think you’re little vague on how liability works. If an employee is injured on the job, the employer would be liable for damages, whether or not the employee was aware of the job hazards. If the employer failed to take due care to prevent the injury, they could also be found to be negligent. Also, judges don’t get to decide whether or not they take cases. Every person has access to the courts. Finally, because Williamson was an employee of the Giants at the time of his injury, and it occurred on their premises, the lawsuit by definition is not frivolous. The vast majority of these types of lawsuits are settled out of court, and this one probably will be too.

          Reply
  11. kc38

    4 years ago

    Sounds like something a horrible player would do to try and make money since he never could playing the game

    5
    Reply
    • 0-3

      4 years ago

      sounds like something someone would say if they were a poor judge of character

      2
      Reply
      • ABStract

        4 years ago

        Perhaps, but he’s not far off from the truth…so…

        Reply
        • UnknownPoster

          4 years ago

          Or you and him are in the same boat about judging character… so….

          Reply
        • ABStract

          4 years ago

          Really?
          No, you are!

          Hahaha, feel better kiddo?

          Reply
  12. BlueSkies_LA

    4 years ago

    Whether Williamson has a case or not it sure seems the Giants have all but admitted that the on-field bullpens were a bad idea, and having done that, their position is that much harder to defend in a lawsuit.

    5
    Reply
  13. Metsfan9

    4 years ago

    I think he’s just bitter he’s a bust. If he was so upset why wouldn’t he sue earlier l?

    2
    Reply
  14. charty321

    4 years ago

    He wasn’t a great player. His abilities is what ended his career

    3
    Reply
    • solaris602

      4 years ago

      Correct. The guy couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat before OR after the concussion.

      Reply
      • letimmysmoke55

        4 years ago

        Before that concussion Williamson was going off. I think that concussion really messed him up.

        Reply
  15. Monkey’s Uncle

    4 years ago

    While it might be archaic and shortsighted to have the bullpen mounds in the playing field, he’s going to have a tough time proving his case. There really isn’t any way to prove that the injury caused the end of his career, or that the bullpens’ placement was reckless.

    3
    Reply
  16. wesleyisme

    4 years ago

    I find the lawsuit laughable. While SF initially intended to construct the bullpens behind the fences and out of play before forgetting to add them, there is no rule saying the bullpens can’t be in the field of play.
    As a fielder, it is your job to avoid injury on the bullpen mounds, just like you’d try to avoid injury running into the rolled up tarp or another player and getting injured that way.

    2
    Reply
  17. giantsphan12

    4 years ago

    If you look at his crash into the padded pony wall near third base (I’m sure it’s on YouTube) one can see how nasty his spill actually was. And, it really was unfortunate as he was finally playing well and looked to be a more consistent presence in LF when it happened. That said, I think all Giants fans, myself included, were happy to have the pens moved behind the CF wall this year. The mounds in the field of play were unnecessarily dangerous. Lawsuit worthy….unlikely. Hope the kid gets his life back tho. It is a bummer that he has had such severe complications. Get well MAC!!

    4
    Reply
  18. WazzaRoon10

    4 years ago

    Absolute farce of a lawsuit

    1
    Reply
  19. cookmeister 2

    4 years ago

    Feel bad for the guy, but don’t think he has much of a case. I would imagine out of the goodness of their hearts the Giants will settle, but I can’t see this going anywhere.

    I’m not saying he isn’t still experiencing symptoms and what not, but waking up every day and hoping he feels better might also be difficult since he doesn’t have a big league gig anymore, could be physical/mental/emotional combo. Hope it works out.

    Reply
  20. joshpowers

    4 years ago

    His concussion does not cause mood swings. He has mood swings because he is still extremely salty about his career being taken away for a stupid reason. I would be just as mad but I would not blame my anger on a concussion. …. change my mind

    Reply
    • jdgoat

      4 years ago

      Proof?

      2
      Reply
  21. Rsox

    4 years ago

    The bullpens have been that way at Oracle park since it open in 2000. Williamson made his debut in 2015, he got hurt in 2018. He knew the bullpen mounds were there in every game he played in in that ballpark over the prior 3+ seasons before the injury, nothing changed in the ball park. He faild to mind his surroundings and got hurt it happens all the time. Suing the Giants sounds more like a last ditch money grab by a AAAA player who doesn’t want to toil in the minors anymore but was never good enough (no matter how bad the Giants Outfielders were) to stick in the Major Leagues

    3
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  22. pappyvw

    4 years ago

    I’m a Plaintiff’s lawyer and I think this is a garbage lawsuit. Not only is it open and obvious, he will have a hard time proving damages, as he was just barely on rosters – no guarantee he would even be on the big league club to start a new season. If you’re not on the 26 man to start the year you don’t necessarily make a ton (although admittedly I don’t know his contract terms and situation). In short, I think this suit is poor form and will not be successful.

    Reply
    • Hofjoemann

      4 years ago

      I’m a defense lawyer and I think that, unless California law is different from most other jurisdictions, this case, as described, is a workers compensation claim and cannot be brought in court. We shall see…

      Reply
      • BlueSkies_LA

        4 years ago

        I’m not a lawyer and I don’t play one on the internet but I suspect the case will be based on a claim of negligence.

        Reply
    • A'sfaninLondonUK

      4 years ago

      @pappy above…

      You state “I’m a Plaintiff’s lawyer and I think this is a garbage lawsuit. Not only is it open and obvious, he will have a hard time proving damages, as he was just barely on rosters – no guarantee he would even be on the big league club to start a new season.”

      OK – so if someone is a part timer (in any calling or profession) the employer has a reduced duty of care? I’m sorry Pappy if you’re a lawyer I’m Pope Gregory IXth and I have four penises. Your esteemed legal argument would be he’s AAAA so who gives a monkeys?

      You must have potential clients beating the door down….

      2
      Reply
      • Just_a_thought

        4 years ago

        No, that completely misses Poppy’s point. He did not remotely hint at a reduced duty of care, rather a difficulty proving breach and/or damages – wholly separate prima facie elements of a negligence claim. You can debate other ways to prove those elements, but Poppy did not suggest the case would fail based on a reduced duty of care.

        Reply
        • pappyvw

          4 years ago

          Thank you, Just a Thought. Why all of the anger A’s fan? Ok – you know I’m not a lawyer. Sure thing. What powers you have. You would be wrong about all elements of your angry comments. I’m done.

          Reply
        • ABStract

          4 years ago

          Most A’s fans seem to have a totally unfounded seething hatred for the Giants that makes normally decent people act completely out of character towards Giants fans (who usually also support the A’s).
          They blame everyone else for their lack of championships instead of their terrible, “Major League” the movie, level evil owners…it’s crazy!
          It’s a legitimate mental condition in the Bay

          Reply
      • pappyvw

        4 years ago

        Ok. I said I’m done, but I’m not. As fan – it’s an element of damages called the permanent impairment of the power to earn income (at least in my state). That’s one of the few objective, as opposed to subjective damages (eg, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, etc), that many suits have. I was pointing out the lack of certainty as to what exactly he could “blackboard”, so to speak, as objective permanent impairment damages, given that he is a fringe. Ok. Now I’m done.

        Reply
  23. LLGiants64

    4 years ago

    Watching the bullpen use to give the fans an inkling of what moves the manager was planning. Since the era of the universal DH is upon us, it isn’t as needed. Move them all off the field, for the players safety.

    Reply
  24. jgoody62

    4 years ago

    I feel he might’ve had a case if AT&T was not his home ball field at the time of injury. I remember playing OF in high school, I remembered where every mole tunnel and every uneven patch of grass was on my home field, and tried used this information to my advantage per my coach. Would’ve thought “avoiding the bullpen mound” would be part of the training for Giant’s outfielders

    Reply
  25. DTDATL

    4 years ago

    Sucks that his career is over but this is ridiculous. He knew they were there, period, end of story.

    Reply
  26. dpsmith22

    4 years ago

    He can’t win. If he wins in court, it will set a precedent that MLB can’t allow. Next guy runs into the wall and gets hurt, can sue and win? Not likely.

    2
    Reply
    • UnknownPoster

      4 years ago

      Yeah because no park except SF has walls. Totally the same

      Are you dense? The point is SF had an unnecessary risk there with the bullpens. THEY’VE ADMITTED THIS by moving them in the renovation. Hard for them to say that’s not a risk!

      Then why’d they change it, after he got hurt?

      Reply
      • JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt

        4 years ago

        @Laughingatyou

        No, moving the bullpens doesn’t acknowledge fault. It shows they recognized the hazard. That the hazard existed doesn’t mean they are liable for Williamson’s injury.

        It’s not like the Giants were concealing the bullpen mounds. They’d been there for years, and Williamson was (or at least should have been) aware of them.

        The Giants moved the bullpens because they knew it created a dangerous situation, and to prevent further injuries, they moved them. That doesn’t prove fault.

        Reply
    • JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt

      4 years ago

      Dustin Fowler opened that door before Mac Williamson did. (For what it’s worth, does anyone have an update on that case that isn’t from Sheryl Ring at Fangraphs?)

      And Fowler DID run into the wall and get hurt.

      I think there are situations in which teams/ballparks can be considered negligent, and injuries that arise from them. Running into an unpadded, concealed electrical box is probably an issue of negligence.

      I don’t know if Fowler will win his case, or again, what the status is with that case, but I do know that he’s set more of precedent than Williamson. Williamson’s comes across as very frivolous.

      Reply
  27. KCJ

    4 years ago

    “but carelessly risking every other great player’s careers by needlessly placing the bullpen mounds on the field”

    Did Mac Williamson really suggest that he was a great player? Apparently this must be a different guy than the one I remember….or the one listed in BaseballReference.com. Either that or his bar for “great” is waaaaaaaaay lower than mine lol

    Reply
    • BSHH

      4 years ago

      The math is quite simple: How many players are there? How many of them become MLB players? It is obviously completely irrelevant whether he considers himself a “great player”, but with a minimal amount of thinking your posting could have been duly avoided.

      Gruß,
      BSHH

      Reply
    • UnknownPoster

      4 years ago

      How many people in the US are good enough to play any degree of Major League Baseball?

      They’re what, top 1% of people playing the game? Top 0.001%? How elite do you have to be to be “great”?

      Reply
      • Chief Two Hands

        4 years ago

        There are a lot of people on this planet. Who do you think procreates the most. Smart folks or not-so-smart folks?

        Reply
  28. gsiants49

    4 years ago

    Next will be the brick wall at Wrigley Field.

    1
    Reply
  29. cdr9er

    4 years ago

    I played a few seasons in the minors as a catcher. I never suffered a concussion catching, but when I had to fill in at LF after a brawl because of ejections, I tripped over a mound and hit my head on a bench. Concussed. Terrible in my book, nostalgic or not…get rid of them.

    Reply
    • Mr. E Team

      4 years ago

      Brutal

      Reply
  30. pato349

    4 years ago

    In other news, disco is suing the 80’s for its death. If you are too stupid to know there is a bullpen along the left field foul line in your home ballpark then you don’t deserve to have a career. Mac must be really hard up to pull this garbage probably lost his job stocking shelves at the mini mart.

    1
    Reply
    • MoRivera 1999

      4 years ago

      Knowing where it was what was he supposed to do? Stop dead in his tracks? If you’re watching the ball while trying to get there to catch it, you are going to be imperiled.

      Reply
  31. jkoko

    4 years ago

    As a player you are signing a figurative waiver to play in these ballparks. He knew about the bullpen mounds like every player. Not sure I agree with there being a lawsuit case against the team.

    Reply
    • Chief Two Hands

      4 years ago

      Haha a “figurative waiver.” That’s a solid legal defense. It was implied, judge! At least that’s how I saw it! I’m not defending either side here, but the notion of a “figurative waiver” in court gave me a good chuckle.

      Reply
      • Just_a_thought

        4 years ago

        Implied consent in sports is a real thing. Usually it’s a defense for what is otherwise a battery.

        1
        Reply
        • Chief Two Hands

          4 years ago

          That’s a completely different situation. Nevertheless, I am just amused by the term “figurative waiver.” The physical contact between players would constitute battery on the street, so to speak, but that doesn’t apply here. I assume that is what you are referring to when bringing up “implied consent” and “battery.” Faulty design isn’t the same as implied consent with regards to the physical man on man nature of a sport. Again, I don’t have much of an opinion about this case, but some of the arguments are going a bit off base here.

          Reply
        • Just_a_thought

          4 years ago

          I mean, it’s a bunch of lay people chiming in their 2 cents worth of how they think the law works. It’s funny to read how far off most takes are.

          Reply
  32. CoolKidJoeXBL

    4 years ago

    Claims his career was taken from him but this man literally couldn’t even hit his own weight. Hmm.

    Reply
    • Chief Two Hands

      4 years ago

      If you read the article, you should know he is referring to much more than his MLB career. True or not, his claims refer to his quality of life. I’m not an expert on the effects of concussions, but apparently they can be very severe. Junior Seau committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest with a shotgun, and the given belief is that it was entirely due to long-term effects from concussions. Just food for thought…

      Reply
  33. ottoc 2

    4 years ago

    Many minor league parks don’t have bullpens and it wasn’t unusual to see the same in older major league parks. The bulppens in Fenway Park weren’t built until 1940; before that.they were, believe it or not, in foul territory.

    The center field flag pole at Fenway wasn’t moved off the field until 1970.

    Reply
  34. jd396

    4 years ago

    The idea that the team is liable for negligently placing baseball-related features on the baseball playing surface of their baseball stadium is pretty dumb. Having bullpen mounds in foul territory was once commonplace, and that changed mostly because teams like having cool stuff in the bullpen instead of just a metal bench and a phone. Next someone will sue the ball girl for not moving her folding chair fast enough. My guess is some ambulance chasing 1-800 lawyer hotline told him he could probably get a settlement. The Giants have money and California is weird. Who knows.

    Reply
  35. troll

    4 years ago

    let them just play in a pillow lined ballpark

    Reply
  36. AC Surf Baseball

    4 years ago

    Remember Michael Bourn taking a spill one time that resulted in a DL stint.

    Reply
  37. fansdontmatter

    4 years ago

    Unfortunate, for sure, but his career ended because he wasn’t all that great. As for the bullpens mounds, when that stadium was built a lot of ballparks had them. Players assume that risk, sucks, but something you have to deal with now. People are to sue happy.

    Reply
  38. cadagan

    4 years ago

    Are even half of the commenters reading the other prior comments or the articles or videos?

    It’s as if some snap judgment is made on the veracity of lawsuits, the value of the player in question, slippery slope proponents.

    An opinion already formed with little analysis whatsoever, but yet it must be spoken.

    Reply
  39. tesseract

    4 years ago

    Here’s a video of such play:

    baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=60b7e8…

    Reply
  40. Doral Silverthorn

    4 years ago

    also, he couldn’t hit, which might have ended his career, too

    Reply

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