The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-06-07

pretty closely, and if he tries to go down
wall fall an easy victim. In base-running
5he start is everything, and to prevent
long lead the pitcher is alone looked to,
save that his catcher can help him out a
good deal by watching runners upon third
ana second, which he himself Ghe pitcher)
cannot attend to as easily. AS in the case
OF strikes, SO when runners are on the
passes, simple code of signals should exist
between the pitcher and catcher, that the
former may know exactly what is taking
place on each corner of the diamond. The
catcher's throw to bases should be what is
known as "snappy." 1t is quicker and is
easier to handle.
In fielding his position there is much
chance for the average college pitcher to
improve. AS a rule, pitcher should field
everything he can get at, one exception
being high flies which 60 directly up from
the bat, and another being bunt hits under
some circumstances. In the case Of the
high, twisting fly either third or first can
usually get under it, and should be more
sure of it than the pitcher. Then, too, the
the ln1lelders taking such balls relieves the
malnstay OF the team from unnecessary
chances to lay himself up. In the matter
OF bunts, the catcher, when up, should take
theln Ii they drop directly in front of the
base, and the pitcher should go after them
if they 90 toward third or first. On every
hit to the infeld the pitcher should back
up first, cutting in ahead of the runner
and III case the ball goes to the first base
man, he should be ready to cover the base
On plays to the plate the pitcher should
almost invariably be behind the catcher
while on throw to second his position is
behind third. Young, of Princeton, the
best fielder of his position now playing
WIN the colleges, recommends that a
pitcher should never lose sight of the bat
ter's motions and movements while he (the
Htcher) is delivering the ball, and attributes
MS success III the point at hand to the OBJ
servnnce of this rule.
AS a rule, 1.-THE, aforementioned catchers
are the best: beef in catcher is not essen
ual, and is disadvantage if it makes him
SLOW. AS an example of a slight catcher,
take Fred Poole, of Yale. He is the best
catcher Yale or any other college ever had
His catch of foul fly, done almost blindy,
being guided solely by the coaching of his
pitcher, upon the dead run, and off the very
boards of the Yale grand stand in Har-
ward game of 80, showed better than any
thing else could what is necessary to make
winning backstop.
1t takes long time to get battery work
ing III cl0ck-llke shape, but experience has
proved in more than one college that it can
be done in one season if proper coaching is
employed and the men are conscientious
workers.
Although third base is not the most ing
portant position on a college nine, it has fire.
quently proved very troublesome one to
easy, accurate throWer, a sharp, clean field
er and quick on his feet. As far as throw
ing goes, it is born in a man and not cult
waited, and fellow who cannot shoot the
balls across the full length of the diamond
without effort would probably meet with
more success elsewhere than at third. This
shoot of the ball describes the throw
from third as well as any word can; it is
light, short, snappy motion of the arm which
sends the ball OH an unvarying line, yet the
ball is so easily handled that the first
baseman could hardly drop 1t if he would.
Get some left-handed twrler to throw you
some Of his heavy twists, and by imagining
the exact opposite you can appreciate what
shoot throw is.
At third the underhand throw is indis-
pensable on doubles to second, plays to the
plate and hunts to first. and a third base
man should spend large proportion of his
time fielding hunts and doubles, and thus
becoming used to this underland notion
and having it down fine
There is no time to tumble and recover at
third. and so the necessity of mans being
clean fielder and quick starter might be
merged into one as getting squarely in front
of the ball is always Il very good bid for Il
clean pick up. When not expecting bunt,
third should play twelve to fifteen feet
from the bag, just behind the line; with a
man on second, it is best to play on the
front edge of the base line, as in case of a
steal one then has cleaner ground to work
in. Third should be absolutely sure on
thrown llaliS. ana II Gf1cR tiSSer.
On ground balls between third and short,
third should always cut directly across
towards first and take all chances possible,
short backing him up Short should do
the governing, and if he says "let it come"
third should obey, as on some chances he
(tflird) would simply defect the ball out
of the reach of everybody, if he followed
the ironclad rule of taking everything he
could get a hand on.
Not a small part of thirds work is in
taking foul flies, and, as in the case of the