The evening times., 1897-03-11
NED RANLON ON COACHING
He Does Not Believe in Curtailing
the Practice.
Automaton Players Find Little Fa-
vor With Patrons, who VIII Not
Pay TO See "WoOden Men,"

Ned Hanlon, the Baltimore magnate, who
n q member of the baseball rules COM
mittee, is not at all pleased with the new
provisions relating to coaching. On this
subject Mr.. Hanlon says:
1.-THE League Lay legislate as much as it
pleases, but it cannot prevent coaching.
We're il possible to completely suppress
that feature of the national game, base
ball parks would close all over the coun-
try. Ifthereis one thing the baseball crank
objects to it is an automatic player, and
when whole team play like wooden men
esnptyseats are sure TO follow. / do notdeny
that coachingcan he overdone, and thatlong
arguments with the umpire, delaying the
game, sfrOafTi MT be tolerated Abusive Ian
EuEge should not be permitted, and no UNI
pire with backboneneed submit to it. Under
restrictions, however, coaching is the life
OF the game, and it's total abolition would
result in the sport dying OF dry-rot.
by coaching do not necessarily mean
Q continuous believing from the coacher's
position, hut that spirit winch keeps every
player on his tip toes from the time that
the first bail is pitched till the last man is
out. The desire to win, anxiety not TO
love a single point, and cons nstant alertness
are the qualities that make a winning
team and arouse the enthusiasm of the
spectators. The disposition on the part
OF pla yers to question decisions and find
fault with them; TO take advantage of every
opportunity to gain a point and to chal-
lenge discipline and fine in behalf OF their
team, is what assures the patrons that
the men are animated by desire to win
and a determination TO do so if possible.
That is the sort of team that win win the
approval of the cranks and hold their
support.
ION the other hand, take team whose
players walk about like dummies, never
open their mouths, never question the uni-
pire's decision, and seem to play BAH simply
because they are paid to doit? What do the
rranks think of such a team? They show
very quickly by remaining away from the
games Sucha team losesgame aftergame
through listlessness and a poor position in
the race isa 1oTegone conclusion.
Il have no hesitation in saying that my
players VIII coach from the bench, and VIII
continue To play the sort of han that haswon
three pennants In succession.
Now, take this rule that requires a hats
man to remain seated on the bench until the
umpire calls him 10y name. For example,
Kelly is at bat, and makes hit or is put
out. You're next. McGraw,' says the TIM
piue McGraw gets up, goes to the bat
pile. selects his bat, and walks TO the plate,
causing delay of two or three minutes.
with that much time lost between times at
bat the games win be heightened. Under
ne old plan the player next in order on the
batting list could select his stick and be in
readiness 10 take his position at the plate
when the preceding batter had been dis
posed OF.
1--WE hear a great deal about the poor UNI
pire, and the magnates are continually de-
rising plans 60 ameliorate his condition. I
fail 20 see where he cOmesin for much SYM
pathy. We frequently hear of umpires be-
Ing verbally abused, but how oftenare they
physically maltreated? The instances arc
few and far between. The umpire has rules
behind him that he can enforce, and thus
protect himself. IL he is too weak-kneed TO
stand up for his rights he must take the con-
sequences Umpires with backbone seldom
have trouble, but the weak ones are in con-
slant hot water. As a matter OF fact, the
constant friction between umpire and play
ers is what adds interest 10 the game De-
ssToy this feat = and we mightas wei put
wooden me9| e nine positions