Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-04-20

Two Leagues DlGcr.
The baseball rules of $50 will not differ
greatly from those Of 1889, but some changes
have been made, "A few of which are radical.
The most important Of the changes made by
the playing rules committee Of the League
and Association was that in regard TO substi-
tute PLAYERS. last season only one man could
he put in, aud he only at the completion Of
an even inuirg. Now a club can have two
extra men in uniform. and put them into the
game al any moment its captain deems 1t de-
sirable. This rule gives a club great leeway
in close contests which NAV decide the pen
nant, because under it a team may ue three
different pitchers in one game.
Last season, when a base runner was hit
with a hatted ball. he was out, and an in
fielder might regain the ball and also put the
batsman out. Such double plays are not
now permitted. The man who hits the bali is
entitled to his base, and the man who is hit
by the battei ball is out.
A good many teams last season won games
by reason of darkness, by taking advantage
of the time limit. This was done by making
a kick and when the umpire declined to allow
it the captain of the kicking nine would re-
fuse to play. Under the rule the umpire
would give him five minutes tn play. At the
expiration Of time the ~"hiector would decide
not TO forfeit the game: indeed, he never had
the slightest intention of doing 80, hut he
gained about five minutes. or IA long as the
umpire would listen To argument, and then
five minutes on top of that. Nine times OFT
of ten the time 81 gained was sufficient 10
drag the game into darkness and gain the de-
sired object. Thi, year tue umpire will be
able to prevent this. He isauthorized TO for
felt the game II either side delays one minnie
after he has ordered them to play.
The balk rule, generally a dead letter, will
be strictly enforced this season. ANY motion
toward pitching must be followed by AN I'M
mediate delivery II the ball, otherwise a balk
must be called. This enforcement will indi.
rectly tend 10 greatly increase base running.
This season haismen will deriSr every ad-
vantage that comes from a new ball. When
a new one L. put INTO play the pitcher must
deliver it Al once without doing the old
tricks Of rubbing il in the dirt and passing il
around So that the fieliers may discnlor it,.
| The effect oll this rule will be felt toward the
end Uf game, when a new ball can te more
easily located than AN old one. Delay for
discoloration Of the sheepskin j. NOW an an
noyancc Of the past.
In regard to the calling Of strikes, the new
rules empower Tia" umpire to call a strike on
the hatsman IN the case of the hall Of the
third called strike hitting his person after be-
ing struck at. in which case lac il declared
out at once. The rule declaring a batsinau
out now ~rrtires him If he in any "A at.
tempts to hinder the catcher from fielding
the ball. and also IL the pitched ball touches
his clothing while making the third strike.
This year the old rule about the ending of
the games is again in force. The game il
over the moment the winning run is scored.
Under the rule which prevailed last year the
game did not end until the ball was returned
TO the pitcher after the winning run was
made. The change was adopted in order Ia
give a player the full benefit Of any long hit
he might make that brought in the winning
run: but il acted unfairly, because the ball
after the winning hit was made. generally
got into the crowd, and men making single
hits were able To get credit for home runs.
| The old rule was the best, and the change
back TO it was wise.
There are some other minor changes, among
which are "a provision for rubber plates in the
pitchers box. ani a rule requiring ali players
10 say "Mr. Umpire Ii is intended 10 stop
the familiarity between umpires and players,
which is believed to interfere with a proper
Observance Of the umpire's dIgnity and Ia
cause a lack Of field discipline. ihe rule has
a good basis, but will probably prove u dead
letter unless tue umpire, fine the PLAYERS when
they break IL. which they are not likely 10 do.
On the whole. It will I've seen that the changes
are not likely to confuse the enthusiast, and
indicate that tue rules are pretty near perfect
as they stand.
The rules Of the Players league vary but
little from those Of the National league.
There are some additions and one innovation.
The most important addition is the rule re-
curing two umpires for each game. Ii is a
good rule, and one that the public generally
has demanded for a long time. The National
league would do well to adopt il. 1t is only
a question Of time when they will I've forced
to do 80.
The one radical change made by the rules
committee Of the Players league is to put
the pitcher back one and one-half feet. The
result Of this innovation will he closely
watched as il is in line with the policy advo-
Gated by made experts toward increasing the
batting. IL was made as a sort Of compro-
mise with the men who wanted TO put the
pitcher back five feet. / do not think myself
that the eighteen inches adopted by the Play
ers' league will prove much of a handicap on
the pitchers: indeed, ! am doubtful II it will
make a difference that the crankiest Of cranks
can figure out.