“permits Bonds to lean over the plate without fear of being hit by a pitch”
What about a 100mph fastball to any other part of the body?
This story is utter crap. No mention is made of Bond’s elbow surgery to remove bone spurs.
The point is not that he didn't/doesn't have a legitimate injury but that there should have never have been any grandfather clause for such a device. Rules change, players must adjust. The FACT that the rule was created that necessitated a grandfather clause shows that the league understood the potential advantage of such a device.