The sun., 1897-01-18
CHAxexs I'm sAsssABI nuLss.
sseeessis-s for . Renewal ef the Pitchers
Bex and the Proteetien or Umpires.

-
nex and the Rrotcetion or Umptres.
There will be few changes in the baseball
rules this year. according to member of the
League Rules Committee. The principal points
under discussion concern the pitcher. There
was SO much trouble last season over the failure
of certain twirlers, notably Killen of Pitts
burgh. Cuppy Of Cleveland. and Clarke OF New
York. TO keep one foot on the rubber plate be-
fore delivering the ball, that several magnatcs
believe that the old pitchers box should be re-
stored. although reduced In size. In the event
of such change IL would be an easy matter for
umpires TO enforce the rule. for the chalksd
lines bounding the boz would quickly show
whether pitcher was transRressing or not.
Other persons favor an enlarged plate. behind
which the twirler would DO compelled TO keep
both feet until after the ball had left his hand.
1t IL also advocated that moro stringent rule
covering balks and illegal delivery should be
adopted Last year the balk rule was practi-
cally u dead letter. ani there were at least five
pitchers who were constant offenders. Tho
young pitchers were permitted to make palpa-
BILE balks by blum throws to bases and then
sending the leather across the plate without
resuming their proper position on the rubber.
On raro occasions umplres with nerve enforced
the rule. which generally raised . storm Of
protests.
-'trap" ball abolished. but there is little
chance that this will be done. Tho fact that
Anse" now has Fred Pfofrer. who has always
been the foremost expert at trapping" fly
ballr In the tnfield. on his team In generally put
down as the real reason for his demand. Buck
Ewing Is anxious to have q rule put through
He says that patrons OF the game In general do
not rare for bunt hitting, and constantly do
clare themselves by calling to players to l" hit
There may be new rule modifying coaching
from the liner. but that feature OF tho gamo will
not DO entirely blotted out. President Robson
Of the Cleveland Club believes II would DO an
excellent plan to move the coaching lines still
that It would bo i'm possible for players i In tho S
held to hear any OF the. foul epithsts that might
iieves that such change would make coachors
moro careful In thor language because of their
proximity TO the stands.
considsrable thought. Although those officials
last year had plenty Of authority to put down
on tho field. They did not enforce the rules.
Tho system OF nning was, AS In previous years. a
good the penalties Imposed. A baseball man
who IS an advocate Of ruling an offondin player
out OF tho game after one warning. has this to
III the rule can DO enforced. prohibiting all
players. except the Captain. from leaving the
benches or their positions In tho neld TO dispute
adecison. and to also restrict the Captsin's
protest to merely tho Questioning OF technical
Instead Of 6ning players for violating this rule.
IL would be better To warn man for the first
offence during q game. and for tho second
breach rule him out forthwith. After d while
the managers would SEQ that their teams were
bciug weakened by the enforced ab.ence OF
these ruled-out players. and thoy would sooner
or later instruct them to keep quiet on the field
and play the game.
The League shouldgive trinl to the scheme
for at least one season. II the fning system IL
continued there will be the Same old row. IL
has always been truism In past years that no
matter how many fines were imposed upon tho
members Of certain belltgerent teams In ono
game they always continued TO run riot until
one OF their number was ordered OF tho field.
Then the rowdyism stopped rule and tho
game was quiet, Sunday school affair"