Morning journal and courier., 1889-03-15
SPORTING MATTERS.
The Work on the Bali Grounds Co
 menced-SheeHan ans Terms Accepted

The Work on the Bali Grounds Con- menced-Sheehan'sT Terms Accepted. In little over two weeks more the base ball enthusiasts of New Haven will turn their steps toward the Howard avenue grounds, and from grandstand to bleaching boards the air will be filled with the excited shouts of the crowds as the crack of the bat and the encouraging cry of the coachers | awake to life the interest that has slept for many. many months.
 Work on the grounds was commenced yes- terday afternoon by Thomas Colwell, who l received the contract for grading, turing and | rolling the field. He only turned over 6 few I shovels of dirt, but he did this because he is superstitious of starting on Fridays. To- day he will have force of men and teams at | work.
 The contract for the fence has been let to William A. Lincoln, and he will have the
 posts on the field to-day.
 The grand stand contract will be let to- day and by Monday work on everything will
 be under headway.
 Manager Spence wired P. J. Sheehan, of Wilimantic, that his terms were accepted as
 8 third baseman. He played with the Man chesters in 'S6, with the Boston Blues and Haverhills in '87 and with the Worcesters last season.
 Hartford has signed Jimmy Say to cover l third base. He has played with the Jersey Citys, Cleyelands and Scrantons. Fred l Mann will be one of the 6elders. He played in the Southern league last sea- son. The Hartford Times calls the players l already signed there ''gilt edged" Perhaps ! some of that edge will be taken off before the season is over.
 The Woroeefar foo vo xr,;1I ra,,ort for j1K- o, April 1. Manager Burnham has secured the rink for the evening of April when he pros poses to present the players to the public in novelty entertainment. The features will include running. catching aud pitching and a polo game without skates. The idea is to give people the opportunity of seeing the men before the ball playing season opens. Season tickets with sixty-four coupons are on sale for $12.
 Following is summary of the changes
 that have been made in the playing rules: Four balls instead ot five give batsman his
 If thrown ball should hit the umpire the lunner
 The base runner may have a base if batted ball hits the umpire on fair ground Players must take seats on the players' benches at the conclusion of their inning in the field
 A Ioul tD IS not out. or a foul fly either, unless base o--e The imaginary line has been eliminated from the place in the field at the end of any inning A punted ball will not count as 8 strike unless it is willfully blocked off foul
 The runner need not touch the bases on returning on foul
 The umpire shall not reverse his decision on the
 testimony of any player or bystander
 Ine game IS not ended until the ball has been re-
 turned to the pitcher, all up to that time to count ana the batsman to get credit for all the bases he can make on his hit
 After player has been fined once for abusing the umpire that official shall retire him from the game and substitute one of the men in uniform.
 The new rule allowing the captain of a club to re. lieve pitcher who is being batted hard in a game or weakening from any cause whatever will be tested early in the season by managers. It is an nounced that many of them will take advantage of the ten men rule Tn nearly every game It yet re- mains to be seen what effect this ten men rule will have on the game. It will certainly be a great scheme for the pitchers, whe can keep up trem- endovs pace for four five innings and then drop out giving place to another twirler, who will come into the box as fresh a daisy and be strong enough to throw his arm out of place for the bal lance ot the game. It will virtually amount to a team playing against two pitchers all the time for ii man knows he is to be relieved, perhaps before the game is half he will not hushand his strength, but will pitch for his life. ~
 Polo.