The Washington critic., 1888-01-07
TAKING A LOOK AHEAD.
Events TO Occur in the Sporting
World.
ENTRIES FOR THE HANDICAP.
Gossip About Baseball, Athletics
the Turf and the Prize-I,ing.

The proposition of Mr. Sachs of the
Manhattan Athletic Club of New
York to take number of representa-
tive American athletes to England in
the spring to compete at the English
championships in June will doubtless
excite widespread interest in sporting
circles. That representatives only
may be chosen all who aspire to meet
the English will be compelled to
reach the various standards estab-
lished. 1t is almost certain that some
records will be broken and the for
eigners beaten in some of the events.
The standards are difficult ones and
have been framed with great care.
Any competitor reaching any of the
standards in practice prior to May l
will be taken abroad. The following
are the standards adopted One hum
dred yards dash, 10 2-5 seconds; 440-
yards run, 80 seconds; SS0-yards run,
/ minute, 5S 4-5 seconds; 1-mile run,
a minutes % seconds; 120-yards
hurdle, 16 2-5 seconds; 7-mile walk,
SO minutes; 4-mile run, 19t minutes
10-mile run, 90 minutes putting the
shot, Al feet; running high jump, 9
feet; running broad jump, 22t feet
220-yards run, % SO seconds.
1t is not likely that much practical
benefit will result from the organiza-
tion of scorers associations by the
baseball writer's in different cities.
For one THE CRITIc is quite content
to let the League and Association
make the rules for scoring, convinced
that when they have been shown to
be impracticable they will be aban-
doned. The old saying that the best
way to secure repeal of bad law is
to enforce it vigorously, is applicable
to scoring rules. TO THE CRrTGc's
mind such u course is preferable to
that adopted by the scorers on the
Boston papers, making code of their
own, which made their scores of no
value when compiled with the. scores
generally adopted. The scores were
valueless for compiling the rank of
the different players for the season.
THE CRITIC, as vigorously as any paper,
opposed the rule making u base-on-
balls q base-hit, but while it was
rule, believed that it should be scored
in that way. Three-fourths of the
sporting writers in the country were
opposed TO the rule, but only a very
small minority disregarded it.
For q few men to resolve that
they will be guided by rules of their
own making, in scoring games, is like
the traditional efforts of the tail to
wag the dog. 1t will result only in
failure and confusion. Instead of one
standard there will be twenty, and
the newspaper readers, who are the
ostensible beneficiaries of this display
of zeal, will be the chief sufferers.
Could the scorers Of the press associa-
tions, the baseball correspondents of
the leading papers and all the local
baseball reporters unite on an i'm
proved system of scoring it would be
highly desirable. But such thing is
impossible, and the best thing to do is
accurately observe the rules adopted
by those whose duty it is to frame
them. They are intelligent men and
ever on the alert to receive practical
suggestions. Criticism of the rules is
always pertinent, but disregard for
them viii always defeat its object.
~.
In a little less than two months the
Washington nine will report for duty
in New Orleans. Although Ted Sui
livan is still keeping his weather-eye
open for good material, it is probable
that the backbone of the club has
already been formed. With Cliff.
Carroll and Paul Hines gone the nine
will appear strange to the average
spectator. The weak points are
probably third base, short field, and
second base. 1t is hardly probable
that these can be strengthened, for
Donnelly, Irwin and Myers are bet
ter than anyone not already secured.
Could Pfeffer be obtained he would
be q tower of strength, but it is likely
that the differences between him and
Anson will be settled satisfactorily
and he will stay in Chicago. Hoy,
Wilmot, and Murray, the new men,
come with high regulations from the
West, and it is to be hoped that they
will not disappoint us. But it should
be borne in mind that they will be in
much faster company than they were
out West. It's like taking Gutten
berg selling platter Up to run in the
suburban. 1t is tr that Wilmot has
been doing some heavy hitting lately
in California, but too much depend
ence should not be placed on q few
chance hits in exhibition games
They furnish no criterion.
II is likely that the club will be
more harmonious than last season.
Then it was broken up into cliques.
There were those who wouldn't work,
those who would drink, those who
worked, but were disgusted at the con-
duct of others, those who were un-
fortunate, and, when reprimanded
sharply, became sullen. Then there
were those who were at swords points
with certain members of the board OF
directors, Then, too, the policy OF
" Manager Gaffney was not satisfactory
tothe entire board, and fresh antagon.
isms constantly arose. A truthful
report of the unwritten history of the
Washingtons for last season would be
interesting reading. The great rock
on which the club split was intempe,
rance. 1t demoralized the club jus
when strong pull together was most
needed.
Washington was not, however, the
only city that suffered from frequent
tippling. The Smoky City boys, the
lioosiers and even Harry Wrights
Quakers sinned in this respect, and
now comes the report that the reason
Boston did not make better showing
in the race, was because the men dis.
sipated. The disorderly conduct OF
the men at Willard's in this city has
become town talk. Undoubtedly
much has been unjustly attributed &c
themen. Statements have been made
about Ihnir ncfs fhnf wnrn sinnnlv lina