Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-01
WAGNER TALKS SHOP
Makes q Guess at the Clubs Rank
Next Season.
TEAMS THAT ARE STRENGTHENED
Opposed to the Bunt and Tells
Why.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

]. Earl Wagner. secretary and treasurer
Of the Washington base ball club when
asked for an expression of his opinion re-
garding the abolition Of the blunt sacri-
ice" with runners on the bases, said:
Il am opposed to the bunt with men on
the bases for the following reasons: First,
95 per cent Of the base ball patrons
throughout the country are opposed to IL,
and We should yield to their wishes. as they
furnish the substantial endowment that
keeps the game alive; second. base ball to-
day Is the only sport where the rules ham
dicap the weak and add strength to the
strong. by a federation of the bunt or sacri-
hce hit. If this Objectionable feature Is
abolished, mec hanical ball players-and 95
per cent OF the players are mechanical
ball players-will have an opportunity to be
placed on something like an even footing
with the more expert and breiny players.
The expert hunters are few-say twenty in
the big league. Now, why should we legis-
late for the advantage Of one-tenth over
n:ne-tenths? 1t is neither just nor fair
IF the rule remains as it is. a good bat
ting, brainy club, made up of men who are
a fair batting team. but faster on their
feet. Today there are two A No. / third
basemen who can play that bag artistical-
ly; that Is, handle hard-hit balls and the
bunts successfully. Cut out the hunt and
such men as Nash. Joyce. Reitx, Hartman
ana others are just valuable men to q
ball club as Collins, Wallace. McGraw or
Irwin. Now, why handicap or drive out Of
the business such valuable players?
Take the pitchers and every close OBJ
server OF the game will agree with me that
the number of first-ciass artists is Rrowine
less every year. Why? For the reason
that they cannot handle hunt hits. cover
hrst base and watch base runners study
the batsman and receive signals from the
catcher with any sort of success He also
Is seriously handicapped by the bunt hit
with the bunt hit eliminated 1t will be
seen at the close Of the season. that the
clubs will be more closely punched and
with the schedule. as proposed and with
double umpires We will have this season
one Oh the most exciting and interesting
races the game has ever known.
Il am frank to say" remarked Mr. Wag-
ner, mat the rules as they now stand with
our club as now constituted. would be great
~ to our advantage, but that should not be
considered. 1 will support any proposition
that seems to be for the general good and
which will make the game more pleasing
ana popular with our patrons-that will re-
strain internal dssensions in the club, and
anord every ball player and club an equal
chance"
Sizing Up the Team
Mr.. Wagner was further asked to give
his impression as to how the clubs would
stand at the close of the coming playing
year.
with reference to that matter" said he,
1t is speculation, pure and simple, that
all fans indulge in more or less, and
question upon which there is a variety Of
opinion. Yet I will violate no confidence
In registering guess. I will place in the
one. two, three column the following clubs:
In no
four, five. six column, Washington, Gin
cinnati. Cleveland: in the seven. eight.
nine column. Brooklyn. Chicago. LOUIS
Vile; in the ten. eleven. twelve column,
Pittsburg. St. Louis. Philadelphia. As the
clubs now stand on paper and what L
know OF their personnel, 1 believe 1 have
sized them up, about right. Yet in this
business, you know. the unexpected fire.
quently happens. and I am. of course liza
BILE to be on In my speculation; yet l will
let it stand at that.
II the pitching STAFF of the New York
club do as good work next season as they
did last they will be right in the push from
start to finish. Up to the present time the
Boston club has made no material changes
In the way Of strengthening their team,
as have others of its close competitors,
and 1t Is questionable whether 1t can keep
up its fast pace of last season. What eff
feet the recent changes in the Baltimore
is problematical. There Is no question that
1t is a strong club and will occupy q prom
inent position in the race
LAS to the Washington club, modesty
forbids any enthusiastic expression of
opinion. You can see where have placed
1t. i will therefore stand pat on that prop
os!tion. 1t will be seen that do not give
Cincinnati as high standing as 1t had
last year. In coming to this conclusion 1
do not mean to say that the club has de-
Perforated. While 1 do not believe that
the club Is any stronger than last season,
1 am sure that New York and Washing
ton have been materially strengthened. I
shall be agreeably surprised IL Cleveland
gets a higher place than 1 have given it.
Brooklyn, Chicago and Louisville win have
q hard fight for seventh, eighth and ninth
places. Brooklyn and Louisville have been
strengthened. as they now look on paper
Other purchases and deals may change
the situation. Pittsburg. St. Louis and
Philadelphia will. in my opinion, have an
open field for tail-end disappointments.
An Exciting Race Promised.
81 predict an exciting and interesting
race from start to finish. and believe the
season of 1898 will be satisfactory from a
financial standpoint. The league meeting
will be one of unusual interest and i'm
portance, as questions of grave Importance
are to be considered. Contracts will be
sent to our players this month for their
signatures. and the work Of organization
Will be vigorously prosecuted. Tom Brown
has already booked some OF the most prom
inent minor league clubs for early spring
games. SO that our fans can get a line on