Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-10-27

! SPORTING ITEMS.

@S%&$[S@&e&<S@&SNs
During the past season there has been
considerable dispute about scoring stolen
bases and earned runs and it is a fact
that no two scorers in the country score
alike. According to rules an earned run
can only be made when the base runner
IS batted around by safe hits following
| the placing of the runner on first base
| jim Hart of the Chicago club says that
| the rule has been misinterpreted by near
ly every scorer in the country. He says
| the reason that the rule was drawn SO
close was to secure a better idea IF the
merit Of the pitchers. In many cases Il
| club might score fifteen runs against
pitcher, still this would not indicate that
the pitcher was at fault to any great ex-
| tent. The rule has been so loose in this
respect that an earned run counted FOR
naught. Under the new rule, if it is
| strictly adhered to, a person can look at
| the summary and judge at once whether
| or not the pitcher is capable. If Il man
| makes a basehit and succeeds in stealing
around to third base and scoring on 4 nit
| following, it should not be scored as an
earned run, and furthermore it IS an IN
| justice to the pitcher as, according to per
| rect play on the part of the inheld, the
| runner would not have reached third
| base. An earned run should be scored
| when the batsman makes a safe hit and
is batted around by safe drives following
| his own, providing no error has been
made. Should man make safe hit
and steal second base and then score on
| a third base hit it would be earned for
| the reason that had the man not s-olcn
second base he would have scored Just
the same on the hit following his own.
| If this rule is closely followed a person
can glance at the earned run columns
/ and tell whether or not the pitcher IS
doing successful work
President Hart of the Chicago club is
| one of the most elated men in the base
| ball business on account of the acquisi-
ton of Pitcher IsbeIl TO the Chicago
club. When Mr. Hart secured Roger
Denzer from the st. PAU club he told
Charlie Coniskey that he thought the
! big fellow would hardly be fast enough
for league company but that he would
! hold him just the same. Comiskey re-
piled, We'll, jim, you can have Peace
| full Valley but | have another green
hand from up north who is even better
| than Roger" Hart did not say anything
at the time but just jotted down in his
notebook that Comiskey had green
farm hand coming. During the past sea-
| son Hart kept close tab on the work of
the st. Paul men and noticed that Isbell
pitched some remarkably fine games. Sud
denly Isbell stopped pitching and was
| placed in nearly every position on the
team Toward the close of the season
Hart met Comiskey and asked him about
the green hand, remarking, Il suppose
Isbell is the man you referred to-"
"Yes." replied Comiskey, ''but the fellow
VIII never do for fast company. his arm
| is gone for pitching and in the infield he
is too awkward, catching ball like a
woman" Hart did not say word but
the fact that COmiskey had tried to make
| it appear that the farmer could not play
| only tended tO JncTpH H2rt'S interest
the man. jim did not wait to inquire
as to the ability of the man any further
but sent in a draft to President Young.
A few days before the time for drafting
and said, ''Well, COmmy, [ have draft
! ed Isbell Now to make the fellow more
secure for Chicago l will buy him from
you Comiskey looked like one in a
dream and was ready to throw up both
hands but he saw that the jig was up as
the deal with Hart. 1t is understood
that Roger Denzer will remain in st.
Paul and that should 1sbeli need a little
more seasoning he will be turned over TO
! Comiskey also There is TO doubt that
Isbell is one of the most promising young
/ players in the country and when his
pitching gives out he will be able to
| give all the ielderS a merry chase for
honors in that line. He will also make
an excellent batsman. being a left-hander
and having an easy swing at the bali.
A good story is told on Manager Mack
| of the Milwaukee club by one of the Chi
cage players. When Mack was manag-
| ing PIttsburg he had Brownie Foreman
with him and had great trouble in keep
| ing the little fellow from fancy drinks
1t happened during the season that the
lodge of the Mystic Shrine held a con-
vention in Pittsburg: For three days
Foreman never left his room in the hotel
and Connie Mack meeting one of the
players remarked, well, | guess the
Kid has finally come to the conclu-
sion that he must behave himself. He
| has not left his room for three days and
| / know he is taking remarkably fine care
Of himself" The player did not say any
| thing but Wlnked to companion to fol
low him. The two went upstairs in the
hotel and raped at Brownies door.
| There was no response from within, but
going next door they found Brownie act
ing as chief bartender at a private bar
| which the members OF the 'Shrine" had
| established in their room. Brownie was
III his glory and was only sorry when
the convention was over From that day
to this Mack never knew what kept
| Foreman SO closely to his room. This
will probably serve as pointer to Con
| ME i'll the future.
The Western league has reduced the
salary limit to $4,000 per month This is
not large when it is considered that the
Western league ranks next to the Ma
tional league A fine of $500 will be inn
posed for a violation of the rule, but
there are few managers who will object
| to that if they can land Il winner and
make money for the club. 1t is certain
that salaries for ball players have come
down considerably, but it will not do to
place them where new men will not be
| anxious to take q chance.