Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-05

have been repeatedly disguised with the child
ish exhibitions given by full-grown men, who,
hired to play ball and to play the best ball Of
which they were capable, would, to
gain . fancied or even . real advan.
| tage. allow the contest to become q mere farce.
We have altogether too much Of it here In
Washington. All who saw . certain game
played with the Baltimore club last season will
| remember with indignation what Q spectacle
| 1t became. In order to prolong the game until
| darkness should come the visitors made no
effort to play, allowed balls to slip past them
and conducted themselves generally in such a
way that many spectators vowed that 1t would
be the last game they would attend. It 10 not
| intended here to animadvert especially upon
| the Orioles. Probably every ball team has
adopted the same tactics. And the same prac-
umpire been given full power to declare for
| feited against the offending team any game in
which dilatory tricks were adopted.
DOESN'T GIVE BASE NOW.
Another good change is the ono which de-
clares that pitched ball hitting the hand or
forearm Of the batsman shall be . dead ball
and shall not entitie him to his base as formerly.
his rule Is evidently aimed at players Of the
Curt WEIGH stripe, who we're notorious for
contriving to be hit on the arm in order to se-
cure their base. The old rule gave rise to
many disputes. Considered in itself it was q
fair rule, but it was SO often taken unfair adj
vantage OF that it is better to do away with il
NO DrspurrNe DECISIONS
Equally as great an evil as dilatory practices
wos the frequent disputing Of the umpire's de-
cisions, needlessly delaying play and thor
oughly arousiug the temper Of the spectators.
kicking" grew to be fine art and was re-
sorted to on the smallest pretexts to gain time.
For instance, if apitcher was being pounded
pretty hard and was becoming demoralized q
kick was made on some frivolous ground and
an argument would follow with the umpire to
enable the twirler to recover himself. Then
after the umpire had repeated his decision and
peremptorily ordered the players back to their
places they would return with grin, showing
that they bad not had the slightest confidence
in the justice Of their 'kick." It was such q
what could be done9 "They are playing the
points for all they're WORTH" one spectator
would remark to another, admiringly, even in his
indignation. This year in no instance shall
any person be allowed to question the correct
ness of any decision and no player shall leave
his position to approach the umpire except on
Interpretation Of the playing rules. and only
the captains shall be allowed to do it then. No
manager or any other officer of either club
| shall be permitted to address the umpire under
penalty Of forfeiture of the game. This latter
rule will probably do away with the brutal ter
rorism which some managers have exercised
over umpires, threatening them with the loss
OF their positions for their decisions.
INCREAs1So THE BATTING.
An effort was made to substitute three balls
for four and to place the pitcher three feet
further away from the batsman, but failed. It
was, of course, in the interest OF freer batting.
Whether the decision was wise is debatable. It
is probable that it would increase base rum ing.
Ali are not agreed as to whether it would in
crease batting. Apparently it would. 1t is
questionable, however, whether great increase
| In batting IL desideratum. II il is why not
hand throwing2 Then you will see leather
chasing again like unto that of the days Of the
sixties. You will see more errors, too.
WHEN FIVE INNINGS ARE A GAME.
A very sensible change has been made in rule
q, which declared that five innings should be
played to constitute game. The change pro-
vides that four and half innings shall consti-
tute game, if the side second at bat shall have
| made more runs in its four innings than the
| other side has in FIVE. This is to prevent dill
| atory practices" on the part OF the losing club.
| behind. The weather becomes threatening, it
| begins ia sprinkle and there is every prospect
of storm. The losing side under the old
rule could conspire to so prolong the inning
that the storm would break before the inning
was completed and consequently escape defeat.
be urged that the rule against dilatory prac-
tees might enable the umpire to prevent any
thing Of the kind, and that this rule is conse-
quently superfuous, but the league very wisely
decided that whenever definite rule can be
made to 6t certain contingency, 1t is better to
| make the rule preventing an evil rather than
to provide for penalties for the practice of the
| evil While the umpire 10 made more of an
autocrat than ever yet 1t Is ughtadvisable to
leave as few points as possible to arbitrary de-
he han fop n.
nearer perfect is the game.
OTHER CHANCES IN TIE BULBS
Among other cha nges in the rules are these:
''The players bench shall be twenty-five feet
back from the base lines" This rule Is of little
moment, with the exception Of those clubs
whose grounds are very small and will compel
them to place the home plate further from the
grand stand.
Rule 3S-K . ball strikes fence less than
2S5 feet from the home plate the batsman shall
be entitled to only two bases. The Washington
grounds are exempt from this rule, e. the
| fences are beyond the limit.
Added section 8, rule 68: ''If . base runner
| advances base on q hy-out, or gains two bases
| on q single base hit, or an infield out or at
tempted out he shall be credited with stolen
base, provided that there is Q possible chance
and q palpsble effort made to retire him"
| This addition il . simple justice to q shrswd
| and brainy player. The player goes down to
second on his to third or short, and as either
of the latter throws to first to catch the batter,
| makess break for third, and by taking advau-
tage Of his opportunity, and perhaps . great
slide, gains the base. In case Of this sort it ID
q clean stolen base and should be credited as
such. 1t would be the same In player going
down to second ON an infeld hit where the ball
| 10 put home to catch Q runner and then thrown
to second after the play. The scorer is given a
chance to manifest bis Judgment in such plays,
| and, a. In the past, will generally score ac-
o0rding TO the way he thinks.
An understanding, it must be called this ~ 10
| il not in the rules, was arrived at, whereby Q
captain il hurt too badly to play can 60 into
| the coaching box. "Buck" Ewing can exercise
| his lungs next season should his glass arm con-
| tinue. by playing half filming and then 60 into
| the box for the remainder Of the game. Arson
/ can also use the understanding to his advantage,
in case his playing ability, which seemed des-
tined to 60 on forever, takes . sudden drop
| and compels his retirement from the initial bag.
Ward and Comisky, or any bra,ny captain, will
| be benefited by the rule, and who knows but
that ''our own Danny" may use it to advantage
the coming season.
| 10 ENCOURAGE TIE LosINa SIDE.
The scheme TO encourage uphill work on the
partof the losing side, which was printed in
TEE srAa during the past weak and was con-
oeived by Mr.. II. g. Potter Of the land Office,
| has received less general attention than il de-
served. This was doubtless largely due to the
| fact that Ill base ball minds we're intent upon
the proceedings of the league and could moi
consider sxtEaneous mattera This scheme