Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-09
CRIT1CIsING THE RULES.
Manager HanlOn, Opposed to severa
of Mr.. Harris Reco m IN en- da tions.

of Mr.. Harris Recon IN en- da tions.
Manager Hanloniiof the Baltimores will
probably not sign the report of the rules
committee of the National League, as
drawn up by President Hart of the Chicago
club, because Of his objection to number
of it's clauses. The report was received In
Baltimore Saturday, it having been sent by
Mr. Hart to A. L. Reach of Philadelphia,
the other member Of the committee, who
signed it, and sent it to Mr.. Hanlon.
Mr. Hart proposes a rule that where
there are two umpires, one shall be called
the referee umpire" and the other the
assistant umpire each to be assigned as
such and not changed during the progress
of a game The referee umpire shall judge
balls and strikes. fair or foul balls, de-
cisions at the home plate, be the judge of
when to call time and play, and, in fact, be
master of the field. The assistant umpire S
duties are simply to give base decisions.
Mr.. Hart proposes rule that there shall
be mo appeal from legal decision of an
umpire" that no decision shall be disputed
where an error of Judgment Is involved.
and that where the Interpretation of rule
is involved only the captain Of the tealh
shall call the decision in question. The
penalty provided by Mr.. Hart for disputing
an umpires decision. either by player or
manager, shall be, in the words of the
rules. prompt removal from the grounds
from the service of his club as the umpire
or president Of the league may elect I'm
der this rule a player who disputes a de-
cision may be suspended by an umpire for
months or years, as he may elect.
Mr.. Hanlon will oppose that regulation.
He is not opposed to suspension in aggra-
waited cases, but thinks it should be done
by a more responsible authority than an
umpire
rule proposed by Hart is also that when
the umpire has fired enough players of one
club, so that fewer than nine are left on the
field. the game shall be declared forfeited
to the other club.
The report provides for the total abolition
of the earned run rule without proposing a
substitute. Mr.. Hanon opposes that also.
He will propose a rule making all runs
earned runs for which the pitcher is respon-
sible. including those resulting from hits,
bases on balls, batters' hit. wild pitches
and fielding errors by the pitcher. He says
In that way only will pitchers effective
ness be known.
Another proposed change that Mr.. Han
Ion will oppose Is Mr.. Harris new rule on
stolen bases. 1t provides that a stolen base
shall be credited only where the runner
reaches his base without the aid of a field
ing or battery error or the ball being hit
by the batsman. 1t is far less liberal than
the old rule, and Mr.. Hanlon says dis
courages instead of encourages base run
ming.
Mr. Hart wants to change the definition
of the "infield fly from one that can be
handled by an infielder to one that falls
inside the diamond or within the space usu-
ally occupied by infielders. He wants to
add a rule that catcher shall not be cred
tied with an error for a bad throw to catch
a base runner unless an extra base Is
gained. and that no error shall be charged
on an attempt to complete double play
unless an extra base Is made.
The rule as to what the summary in the
score shall contain is materially altered.
and not for the best, Mr.. Hart also
changes the rule about times at bat, so that
when a batsman gets his base on balls he
Is to be charged, with a time at bat
Whether this is ar, oversight or intentional
is not known.