you're right--NOT

Tradition and costs should NOT be a reason to change to make a game safer. The NBA has widened the lane twice (I'm sure younsters wonder why its called the "top of the key"), and other sports have changed to "adapt to the times." What may have been a great set of dimensions in 1946-47 obviously are not in 1999, because of changes in the game.

I was not there to see it, but a player on the AAU team (11-U) my son played on was nailed in this year's nationals. He probably would have had that extra split-second to at least get a glove up at 50 feet. AAU has recognized the changing times and starting this fall, 11's will be at 50'/70.

For your argument about having to change fields, what will it take? Only scaping the infield back another 10-25 feet, and changing mound location back only 4 feet. For those who argue "what about the younger ages," put in 2 sets of base drops, and let them pitch from the base of the mound at 46'. You increase the field size without a huge amount of expense. JT