Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-16
THOSE NEW RULES
CHANGES IN BASEBALL REGULA-
TIONs ARE NOT ALL GOOD.
The PITCHER TOO MUCH HAMPERED.
The Changes Made With View to
Having the Ball Hit Oftener, HUI
That Schedule Meeting.

The changes which have been made in
the rules and the innovations introduced
into baseball this year are numerous
and far-reaching in their effect, and 1t is
safe to say that but few of the patrons
of the game have any conception of what
the changes are, or what results will be
obtained from them.
In many respects the changes are de-
sirable and beneficial 20 tho game, but
I'm other Instances they are apt TO work
narm The rule giving the umpire alb
sol.lte -disers tion.s. % 1.-THE 81 tsn ,i.i and
making him master OF the entire field
IS good one. as is also that provision
which positively prohibits any player or
manager questioning the umpires judg-
ment.
Another rule which is in the interest Of
order is that which prevents the coachers
on the line from talking TO. or comment
ing on, the spectators or speaking 10. or
about. the players on the opposing team.
The coachers now are required TO talk
only to their own players or TO keep
silent This rule takes some of the humor
out OF the game, but it will pre-
vent trouble i'm many instances and ope-
rate largely to prevent bad feeling be-
ing engendered among the players.
Another good change in the rules is the
Introduction of "a provision which re-
quires that every player shall be uni
formed in the prescribed garb of his team.
In other words players shall not here
after appear IN nOndescript garb. and
the wonderful "Josephs coat which
have here and there appeared on the dia-
monds in this city will be relegated to the
past.
SO much for the good changes; now for
the bad. The most Objectionable rule is
that which prescribes that any motion of
"a pitcher save that of delivering the Dail
10 the bat is a bdlk, and as such entities
not only every bdse-runner TO base. but
converts the batsman into a base-runner.
In following this rule the pitcher is too
much hampered TO admit of his doing
the good work that is expected of him.
II he has "a man or two on bases, he is
bound 10 keep his eye upon them at all
times. else they will steal on him, and
if man makes move as though 10 run
10 a base IL is the most natural thing IN
the world for the pitcher 10 make a mo-
tiOn as if 10 throw TO the base the object
being TO stop the runner and keep him
from advancing. This rule has hereto
fore worked very WELL but the wiseacres
composing the Rules Committee Of the
national organization decided that a
change must be made, and they have
prescribed that where a pitcher makes a
feint TO throw To base he must throw,
and throw instantly else the umpire shall /
call a balk and not only the runner but
the hatsman is advanced.
This causes the pitcher TO lose his head
frequently, and the result is that the run
column is greatly fattened and the game
considerably prolonged. In olden days
a balk in baseball was the rarest thlns
in the game; now If game IS played /
without one or more balks ii is peculiar 4
Another bad rule is that which makes !
a foul tip from the bat when caught while |
the catcher is standing back from the /
plate a strike instead Of an out. Why |
the rule-makers Should distinguish be- !
tween this and any other fly caught IS !
a mystery. This rule was no doubt /
adopted I'm the interest of those who love /
to see the ball hit i'm the air. That Is ]
really a good idea so far as IL goes. but it
would have been much better 10 have |
placed the pitcher a little further from !
The plate. The rule-changes in the past !
ten wears have all been OF nature 20 /
nrevent the batsman from connecting /
with the ball and now the tendency Is 10 /
give The pitcher less scope and the bats
man more but it was folly TO interfere
with foul flies. The rule, as II now
stands. merely gives the batsman longer !
re as such. but does not operate save
Indirectly. to have the ball hit.
In davs gone by the pitcher was forced
IN MITCH what was known as an UNDER
,ond ball. In other words, he was not
permitted. i'm delivering the ball. TO raise
mis- hand above his shoulders. The move
mont thus enforced was awkward ana
mar was abolished. The pitcher, too was
niaced much further from the hatsman
nan he now stands. This gave the wielder
NJ the ash a better chance Of determining
the nature of the ball approaching him.
and To prepare for H. and hence the
sphere was hit oftener. In those days. too.
mere was more rubber I'm the ball. and
Il went further when hit Now the ban
Is practically dead and it only goes as
far as the bat can force H. without any
Impetus OF its own.
More hitting is undoubtedly desirable
hat Is what the people pay their money
for. The crowd love 20 see the bali go
40 IN the air and watch the players chase
after IL. but II this is TO be secured by
everybody I'm the diamond
With ironclad rules. almost impossible OF