New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-22
HUMBLING THE BASEBALL PITCHER
IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE IN THE RULES
PROSPECTS OF THE COMING sEAsoN-THE coLUM



BIA NINE.
The several baseball meetings at Chicago last week
were topics Of lively interest to followers Of the M
tionh game. Most Of tho changes made are uhuo"o'
edly the interest of tho game, but others 90 ho'
meet with satisfaction. The main efforts OF tne oaso
bali managers TO have been to encourage hcaVio
batting and for this object some excellent rules ana
some equally silly have been made The pltcher
next season will not be the sole king OF the diamond
as he has been heretofore. Certain RESTRICTIONS arc
riaced on that important player that VIII make MN
o.e much OF his effectiveness and VIII ftea,y jill
crease the batting averages OF the players at large
The little spoon sracc IN tie centre Of the n-heh ID
which the pitcher stands has been made much small
cr in fact the pitcher win have Just about space
enough left to put his feet in. He is also restriceu
about the position in which he shall stand ard the
mole OF delivering the ball. That the pitcher VIII
generally dlsObey these rules Is now leilevcd' III
act, he will pay Just about much attention 10
them "a ne did to the chalk" rule last season. Inc
ichcr viii also find the small square too small, ana
will step the line moro frequently than ne
did when the square WIS larger The pl'cher win
doubtless do all that he can to evade the rules. ho
has held batters in subsection for several seasohs
in fact ever curve pitching camo into vogue
and he Will not lelinquish his powers WITHOUT
struggle
The general opinion among baseball men ABOUT
change the number of called balls and strikes
ia that the managers organized true reform when
that they made a blundcr when they increased the
number of strikes 10 four. The pitcher suffers in
DO instances. The good effects Of the first reform
are countorbalanced by the foolish change of the
latter The former will make the pitcher be more
careful in de ivering the ball, and will also tend TO
make the playing sharper and the game to terminate
quicker. The four strike rule can hardly last
through the season. Without hearing "Thrce strikes
and ouN" game Of baseball will not seem natural
Tie changing of the home plato from stone to
hard white rubber Will not have che charms that
some of the enthusiasts think. Its object is to save
/ layers and bats when they come in collision IL
may the bats to extent, but it will be of
little benefit 10 the players. piece of hard rubber
will hut Just as bad os piece OF stone, proNldins
tie collision with sufficient force. The rule re-
moving the first and third base bags further inside
he oul lines is in the right direction. 1t also
aids The uni lie distinguishing fair and foul balls
that 20 those positions. Inc aboishing of the
high and low ball system Is the one eriInb OF COM
awaned 10 the suffering pitcher, and 1t is not
arge crumb at that. The bunting" rule is not
generally understood. What is meant is that players
caunot in future Intentionally bunt four balls
Bunting or laying the ball front of the plate is
not prohibited, and Ward, Latham and few other
,la, els who have made basehits in this manner Will
make them again next season The league batter
WHO is struck by a pitched ball VIII take his oase'
the same Us In the American Association. PIlcherS
who Inumidate batters by pitching the bail all
is also promised to the "bak" rule more strin-
lent, anu IN tie future any movement made by
i,,hcrs While in the lines OF their positions Will DC
called "balk'
The uncer,ainty about what clubs will comprise
the League circuit next season Keeps baseball men
somewhat excited. Probably the directors OF inc
tlubs have not fully decided, at any ra'e Iey Icus9
a ,a.n 1heIe are cubs III Tie League duu
one will have he uIOppcd. AS the haisaS ivy
cIb Is the least desirable one, it will probably be
Inc one " 20. The COWBOY manager, however, WI" VII
ham light to rnlein Ihe ,o ~ 20 tne
I1ttsburg club from the American ASSOCIATION " my
League viii reopen the old wounds ol Ill ieenis anu
nay uoupe Le.ween the Two Si, asna civ
expectIng lie dlOpIed from the xdauc mo-
application Tor membership ID INC % i ,he
CevelanI is an applicant for The vacancy III 'ne
Association. A., @. rorie cham
pnn IN case either cub decides to abandOh the ~
rocaton, the st Louis League cp WI We viii
.ecure Denny and possibly Glasscock he 1c7ei. i
Of the , rSas 9IsO American S
gers that when the iS9n1S c thry also loose
their Ilayers Fusburg in the League Wlln9u' .T re
Iitsbrg players would be failure ihaeed 5he
my arsnaements with their player That the
men can be released and then resigned 10y INC iI'O'
The uros,ccts Of good club in Columbia College
not as bright as they "el9 9 '1 The cu
VII nave 70 er III" Sim W M4naser Mutric says that
here Is some good material in the college, ana WITH
roncr tra n ng ana coaching he thinks the college
vii be abe TO put suong nine III the hem. "a "a
wards wi not play nest season, ana lhley' lhe
greatest OF college catchcrs. cannot play because ne
turnei Irofess onal last season Ihe students also
ioee tbcir fne Iitcher Ayrault Probably there viii
he but three men of last years team left in tho col
ege who viii play neat -eason-lA MaIche s'ciD
and Coo, err " Lyons has left college. and VI
Ivons. Mr.. Elvain, Ayrault and Duffy have been
riaduated. At PRESENT there Is no ore 70 pllcl or
catch and if some Of the applicants for positions or
The n ne 10 not show great promise for these impor'
TINT o'tions, Columbia Will be 2f snail account in
baseball next season. Many Of the students express
a desire for their club TO enter ne intercollegiate
Championship, hut nothing definite mas ,e"n done
vet IT is tho general opinion that tie college could
have won the pennant With the model cluD that it
had last year.