The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-11
WATKINS ON BUNTING.
He Thinks the Rules Ought to Be
Modified.

President w. H. Watkins, of the Pittsburg
club, expresses his view on the famous little
bunt as follows: 81 do not believe that the
patrons Of the game would like to see the
bunt abolished. 1t would not be fair; nor
would it be progressive to prevent it. There
Is the finest quality of skill and patience
needed to be a successful bunter and by all
means we must do noting to- retard the
development Of these qualities among our
players The national game has become
simply what it is one of the finest games
in the world, by its exponents becoming
more skillful. But L think that the bunt
was carried too far last year for the en-
joyment of the spectators. Whenever a game
was anywhere close, and one side got the
first man up to first base all right, the next
man was sure to bunt. This so much
the rule that 1t became wearisome. Probably
times, and these teams were Baltimore ard
Boston, for they relied on the good hitting
of their players and the hit and run game.
And it is worthy Of note that in the vast ma
JOrity of instances the man for whom the
bunt was made did not score and there was a
general howl all round. Now, what l think
would be better plan than the one at pres
ent is to not allow a bunt when there is a
man on first and no one cut, and to per-
NIT a batter to bunt when there is man on
second, and another On first and no one out
or even a man on second only. This would
retain the bunt, and at the same time only
permit it at times when it was most interest
ing to the spectators. By this change there
would not be near as much bunting as there
was last year, for as 1 have said, it became
tiresome last season among teams that,
strange to say. were not at all noted for
bunting. If a batter were prohibited from
bunting when there was man on first base
and no man out the batter would try all
the harder to get the runner to second by
some other plan; the batter would be COM
PEELED to try and hit the ball hard and safe
and it may be the batter and the runner
would try the hit and run plan. This would
be more interesting for the spectators than
at present. ! would like to see this change
effected, fer it certainly could not do any
harm and it would in all probability do lots
of good"
]. Earle Wag e. one of the pr'n ral owners
of the Washington club. wants the bunt hit
abolished. 81 claim that the ether teams in
the league, said Mr.. Wagner, especially
the weaker teams of the second division, labor
under a handicap in their games with the
BaltimCres. Fur in Hsnlcn's tenn are at least
seven men who drop the ball near the
plate and beat it out to first base. But there
are no more than two players per team on
an average. outside of Baltimore who have
mastered the knack of scientific bunting 1t
is all well enough for Ed Hanlon to say that
the players CT ether teams should perfect
themselves in the bunt by practicing it, but
Hanlon knows as well as / that bunting
is a peculiarly rare talent. and that good
bunters are a rarity on the market. The
best argument against the bunt is that the
public faYOrs its abolition and the rules
committee must remember that the public is
first to be served. I will make strong play
against this bunting rule at the spring meet
ing and will have more support than Mr..
HanlOn realizes"