Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-14

schedule as arranged this year Is the
best that we have had Tor a long time,
and that is another point that conduees
to good games.
Bad umpirlng was the cause Of a good
deal OF the dissatisfaction expressed
last summer. At the beginning Of the
season It was thought that with the In
PRODUCTION Of the double umpire system
all trouble on that score would be ban
ished, but this was soon proved 10 be a
fallaoy The umplres gave wrong deci.
sions and would then squahble between
themselves over the renderings. Then
again IN some cases the umplres
couldn't decide whose business II was to
give the decision.
a case In point occurred at third base.
The umpire at the plate saw the play,
but wouldn't say anything, because he
declared II was In the jurisdiction Of his
partner. The latter declared he was
unable to see the play in question be-
cause several men got in his way. They
couldn't decide what 10 do for some
time, while the players stood around
listening 10 their wOrdy warfare.
There may be 70 good umplres In this
country, but II there are we couldn't
find them last year. One good umpire
Is better by far than two lncompetents,
so that for my part | am glad the
League has decided to 80 back to the
old system this season.
Some OF the umpires complained that
they were afraid to give right decisions
IN certain cities When the Cincinnati
team was playing against ST. Louis last
year in the latter town, Hank O'Day
made a rank decision in favor Of the
Browns. I asked him after the game
why he had made such a palpable error.
He frankly acknowledged that he had
given the decision wrongly and said he
knew II when he did So but that he was
afraid TO do otherwise, because he knew
that II he gave il TO us he would be
mobbed by the st, Louis players and
spectators.
And this brings me TO the subject Of
"rowdyism.' Of which so much has been
said As a matter OF fact, the specta-
tors are as a rule far more at fault than
the players for they urge on the men
with shouts and hurl epthets at the
umpires that make them afraid TO act
impartially as IN the case ! have Just
mentioned.
The rules committee has made very
few changes this year. The most i'm
portant alteration Is the one which
makes the pitcher face a side Instead Of
a corner Of the plate. This win tend to
increase the efficiency OF the pitching
department, for the twirers win have a
better mark 10 aim at. II will at the
same time / hope, do away with much
Of the present Kicking as to whether a
ban is strike or not, for the umpire
viii be able 10 decide much more surely
whether il goes over the plate or not.
The rule about balks created a good
deal OF trouble at the beginning Of last
season. but this arose chiefly from the
fact that the umpires misunderstood
The meaning Of the rule. remember
one case in point The pitcher was
standing behind the home plate, back
ing up the catcher after long hit. The
ball was thrown IN and stopped by the
pitcher while he was SIN on foul
ground, and while there he made a mo-
ton to throw 1t to third base, He did
not let the ball go, however, and the
umpire sent the next man. who had not
even come 20 the bat, 20 first base,
claiming that balk had been commits
ted by the pitcher.
Now. this Interpretation may possibly
have been technically correct according
TO the reading Of the rules. but It GER
talnly was not the intention Of the
trainers that II should be understood in
any such fashion. UmpIres In baseball,
Just as In other sports, are supposed 10