When you take your child to the ballpark, you have one overriding goal, and that is to keep your child safe. 

Keeping your child safe starts with your choice of seats.  By their nature, kids have short attention spans. With the proliferation of smartphones, they’re even shorter. With balls and bats flying into the stands, you put your child in danger if you sit too close to the field:

I don’t blame an excited kid for sending his mom photos from the game. I blame his father for getting seats way too close to the field. 

Despite what some people have to say, this is an important issue. Just because some reporters or official scorers do not pay attention to every pitch, it doesn’t mean other fans don’t. I know I do . . . except when I’m at a game with my son. 

When I’m at a game with my son, I’m constantly distracted.  I’m getting him something to eat or drink.  I’m going to the FanFest area. I’m describing to him what is going on during the game. He wants to know when Mr. Met is coming. He wants me to pick something up off the floor. He’s showing off how he can use the cup holders. He wants to give me a high five. He wants a hug. He wants a homerun. Basically, he wants attention.  

My eyes are away from the action more than I would like. Do you know where I sit with him?  NOWHERE NEAR AN AREA WHERE A BALL OR BAT CAN HIT US!  That’s my responsibility as a parent. I probably won’t sit close enough to get near a foul ball until my son is older and can catch a flyball with his own mitt – and perhaps not even then. 

So no, I don’t blame the kid for being a kid. I blame the Dad for sitting in an area where his son could get hurt. He’s just fortunate his quick reflexes saved his son from his poor decision making.