Yesterday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called on Major League Baseball not to use the term bullpen.
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PETA's suggestion: Use the term arm barn instead.
I won't lie. The arm barn is very hard. Bob Uecker can be heard announcing Josh Hader was warming up at the arm barn during a close match. It sounds wonderful. PETA, I appreciate your suggestion. But why? Why did you choose to go up this hill to your death?
The bullpen is not a place where animals get hurt, and it's not a term that is rooted in a deep hatred of cattle. Although the origin of this term is not known, it has been suggested that Bull Durham tobacco was often advertised near major league baseball stadiums where pitchers were warming up. In the earliest 1900's, the tobacco company offered $50 to any player who hit a homerun off one of its signs. This is just shy of $1500 today. Around 85 signs were struck in 1910.
Another popular theory is that fans who arrive late to games are shuffled into a stand area like cattle near the warming up area. Although it may have something to do with cattle being treated inhumanely at the games, they were not being mistreated at the ballpark. It was actually the people who showed up late to the games who were being treated poorly by being forced into crowded areas, and left in the scorching sun.
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So with all the other harm baseball has caused to animals, why is PETA trying to cancel bullpen? Do I need to remind you about the manufacturing process of baseball gloves? Or the ball. This one is all about attention and money. PETA is well-known for helping animals in distress but unfortunately, they also kill animals. Don't believe me? Why then did the PETA-run Norfolk animal shelter euthanize 13 times more dogs and 11 times more cats than the national mean for privately-owned shelters in 2019, 2019?
PETA attempted to defend their high kill rate by claiming they are a last resort shelter and can take in animals that are difficult for other shelters. This sounds quite reasonable. There are many shelters with similar policies that euthanize far less animals than PETA. PETA killed nearly four times more animals than other shelters in Virginia in 2019 (17 percent to 65%). PETA's 2019 euthanization rate was even higher than usual. PETA has been able to kill more than 85 percent animals in their shelter since the beginning of the 21st century. This is despite having 13 years of success.
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The same organization had to apologize in 2014 for taking a dog from someone's front porch and then killing it. Virginia law prohibits shelters from killing animals in the first five days following their arrival. PETA admitted that Maya, the chihuahua, was killed within a matter of hours after it was taken off the porch in 2014. They are not a good organisation, but everybody knows that. I don't want to beat a dead horse but PETA might.
PETA is what happens when a foundation has good intentions, but some people are able to take control. You shouldn't be angry about baseball. It should be about things that actually cause harm to animals like the production of gloves and balls. There are many non-leather options online. Major League Baseball should be pushing for a ban on leather gloves. This would be a win-win situation for animals and be attainable.
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It is better to pursue inoffensive terms that are not related to animals. PETA isn't concerned about animals and no one takes them seriously.
