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NEW YORK -- Big league pitchers might feel safer on the mound this season. Major League Baseball has approved a protective cap for pitchers, hoping to reduce the damage from line drives to head that have brought some terrifying and bloody scenes in the last few years. The heavier and bigger new hat was introduced Tuesday and will be available for testing during spring training on a voluntary basis. Major leaguers and minor leaguers wont be required to wear it -- comfort is likely to be a primary concern. "Obviously, itd be a change," two-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers told the MLB Network. "Im definitely not opposed to it." "I think itd take a lot of getting used to," he said. "You dont look very cool, Ill be honest." The safety plates made by isoBLOX are sewn into the hat and custom fitted. They weigh an extra six to seven ounces -- a baseball weighs about five ounces, by comparison -- and offer protection to the forehead, temples and sides of the head. Theyll make the hats about a half-inch thicker in the front and around an inch wider on the sides. Several pitchers have been hit in the head by line drives in the recent seasons. Brandon McCarthy sustained a brain contusion and skull fracture after being struck in 2012 and Doug Fister was hit during the World Series that October. Torontos J.A. Happ and Tampa Bays Alex Cobb were sidelined after being hit last year. McCarthy tweeted that he had already tried out the fortified cap and that it was "headed in right direction but not game ready." Said Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler: "I think theyre on the right track, but the hat they approved isnt remotely close to comfortable enough to wear in games." In an email to The Associated Press, he said, "If youre not 100 per cent focused on executing your pitches, you have almost no chance of success. And that hat is uncomfortable enough that it would be a big distraction to wear it." "We talked to a lot of guys who had been through this, and they provided a wealth of information to help us," said Bruce Foster, CEO of the 4Licensing Corporation, parent company of isoBLOX. "We went through a myriad of different designs to develop this." Foster said the cap went through extensive testing and provided protection from line drives up to 90 mph in the front of the head and 85 mph on the side. Line drives in the majors have been clocked at even faster rates. While the hat is "slightly bigger" than a regular baseball cap, Foster said: "Its not going to be a Gazoo hat." Several years ago, MLB introduced larger batting helmets that offered increased safety. But big leaguers mostly rejected them, saying they looked funny and made them resemble the Great Gazoo, a character on the "The Flintstones" cartoon series. In recent seasons, pitchers have said they would try padded caps, provided they werent too cumbersome. "You see guys get hit with line drives. I know in the last couple of years there have been several of them. So it happens. You want to be wary of it," All-Star closer Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins said. "Player safety is important. I think finding a solution is good." "But by the sounds of what they have, I dont know if thats entirely feasible to go out there with basically a helmet on your head and pitch. Without seeing it or trying it on, I hate to make a blanket judgment. But just thinking out loud, that seems a little bit much. Just the bulkiness," he said. In December 2012, MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green presented ideas on protective headgear to executives, doctors and trainers. The prototypes under study included some made of Kevlar, the high-impact material often worn by military and law enforcement and NFL players. Several companies tried without success to make a product that would be approved by MLB and the players union. While isoBLOX was first to get the OK, other firms still might submit proposals. Foster said the caps design diffuses the impact of being hit, rather than only absorbing the shock. The technology will be available on the retail market for ballplayers of all ages in a form of a skull cap. A memo from MLB will advise teams that the caps are available in spring training, and pitchers who express interest in testing will be fitted. MLB can require minor leaguers to wear it, but has no plans now to do that. "I think it will be one of those things that people will wear them when they have to wear them. Maybe a guy here or a guy there," Perkins said. Star closer Grant Balfour said, "I am always appreciative of anything that will make the game safer. That being said, I may try it. Just not sure yet until I see it. Has to fit with a cap and be comfortable." MLB didnt make the use of helmets or protective cap inserts mandatory for batters until the National League required them for the 1956 season. Helmets werent required until the 1971 season and, even then, they werent mandatory for players already in the big leagues. An earflap on the side of the head facing the pitcher was required for new players starting in 1983. "Its nice to see any sport take precautions to prevent injury," San Francisco reliever Javier Lopez said. "That being said, I look forward to seeing what the finished product looks like. And if it helps just one pitcher, then its worth it. Its always nice to have safety nets." Added Boston reliever Craig Breslow: "Im not certain how many players will be testing the new equipment, but I think all at least appreciate the effort. " Steve Grogan Jersey .com) - Matt Duchene picked up the deciding goal early in the third period and added an assist, as Colorado escaped with a 4-3 victory over Dallas at Pepsi Center. Kevin Faulk Jersey . Completely. Two days after releasing Peyton Manning, the longtime face of the franchise, the Colts announced they were cutting four fan favourites: running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark. http://www.cheappatriotsjerseysauthentic...n-harris-jersey. The appointment of Boullier continues the behind-the-scenes restructuring at McLaren, who recently brought back former team principal Ron Dennis as its new chief executive. Hjalte Froholdt Jersey .com) - Stanley Johnson had 18 points and No. Andre Tippett Jersey . The Calgary Stampeders running back received the West Division nomination for the CFLs top individual award Thursday in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and leagues eight head coaches.Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Steve Mason stopped 37-of-38 shots to help the Philadelphia Flyers steal two points from the Los Angeles Kings in a 2-1 victory Saturday at Staples Center. Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds tallied for the Flyers, who finished the California portion of their five-game, cross-continent road trip at 1-1-1. Philadelphia, which completes its travels on Tuesday in Columbus, also snapped a season-high six-game losing skid. We played as a team tonight, the Kings are a really good team and Steve [Mason] had a lot of good saves for us. Its kind of a relief to finally get two points, Giroux said. We wanted that first goal especially against LA, when they get the first goal they are a hard team to catch up to. Getting that goal was huge for us. Justin Williams registered the lone goal and Jonathan Quick made only 14 saves for the Kings, who had blanked Boston, Arizona and Minnesota in their last three victories. Williams potted a rebound from the right side of the crease 4:09 into the third period, capitalizing on a defensive coverage miscue in front of Mason. The Kings were given a prime chance to even the score when Simmonds was cited for a questionable slashing call with 4:51 to play and the hosts had a brief 5-on-3 after R.J. Umberger cleared the puck over the glass. That comeback effort was cut short after Stoll was goaded into a penalty with 1:26 on the clock. Quick was sent to the bench for an extra skater one shift later, but the Flyers had the better chances to the empty net. We werent prepared for the one oclock game today. At the same time, times when youre behind you have a channce to come back and we certainly had our chances to come back to atone for our start of the game, Williams noted.dddddddddddd. We got some shots blocked, they got some clears and the end result was a loss. Each team unleashed seven shots on goal in the games first 20 minutes, but Philadelphia was the only club to solve the opposing netminder. Giroux tallied just 4:35 in, slipping into a seam up the middle with a Mark Streit pass and scoring on a wrister. It was 2-0 for the Flyers at 2:08 of the second as Simmonds managed to slip a puck through Quicks legs from the right side on the back end of a power play created when Stoll went off for slashing. Mason made that lead stand up with flexible goaltending on back-to-back Kings power plays, including closing off the near post as Anze Kopitar partially fanned on a breakaway chance. Jeff Carter later missed a half-open net on a one-timer from the left circle. Mason finished the second with 15 saves and halted 22 pucks through 40 minutes. Game Notes The Flyers claimed their first road win since Oct. 22 at Pittsburgh, having gone 0-7-2 in between ... Mason earned his first win since Nov. 22 vs. Columbus after an 0-3-2 clip ... Mason has stopped 72-of-73 Los Angeles shots in his two road appearances with the Flyers in the last 10 months, leading the Flyers to wins in both games ... Simmonds, who leads Philly with 11 goals, scored in back-to-back games for the second time all season, following a three-game run (5G) from Oct. 9-14 ... Los Angeles lost despite tying a season-low for shots allowed in one game (Oct. 19 vs. Minnesota). 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