The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-10

In order to stop the fouling off of strikes
by AicGraw. Hamilton. Jennings. Keller,
Sheckard, Jones. Thomas and others-not a
dozen in all-the League made a rule which
certain defined lines should be called
strikes. The rule should serve its purpose
as far as preventing the delay incident to
such fouiinr. bat it will also work mischief
to the weaker hitters who Will make I'M
intentional fouls. Tn umpire has always
had the discretionary power of calling any
bail which he believed 10 have been inten-
tional.y fouled off a strike. The rule does
not discern between a foul batted off, an
incipient strike or a foul incurred in reach
Ing after a wide ball. which can hardly be
anything but an unintentional foul. incurred
perhaps in endeavoring to help along a
base runner in a hit-and-rnu play. While
1t was provoking to see good strikes batted
foul by certain men. would it not have
been much better for Mr.. Young to have
instructed the umpires TO be particular in
enforcing the rules, which governed the case
ers like NcGraw. Thomas and Hamilton,
than TO have made a mandatory rule, which,
effective as it will be against the unfair
practitioners at whom 1t is directed. will
be much more effective against weak bat
tiers. who are twenty times more numerous
than the men at whom the rule Is aimed!
Had MIR. Young specifically ordered his UNI
nires TO watch NIcGraw. Thomas and other
notorious offenders and to call strikes upon
the slightest provocation. had he seen that
all umpires obeyed this rule, had he been
.tl ! " iCt'i men " " UcA-N -
the h~and!capping OF weak PLAYERS would be
avoided and the game much improved.
The more rules there are the more de-
cisiGns there will he. and the more decisions
there will he the more quarrelirg there will
be. Ifr. Young Is n good secretary, a good
e delightful man. But ne IS not
n man of force or power. His eakne In
the office OF president has done and Is doing
the rane of baseball iucalculable injury.
Loath to hurt the feelings of so faithful
and. in other lines. so efficient 4 servant
the National League has been Obliged to
make rules that are properly discretional,
most improperly mandatory. This hurts
the PLAYERS and It hurts the game. The
which impels the National League
to continue AIR. Young and other perfect
gentlemen and executive rigmieS In office
may be the admirable one Of gratitude. for
great services. But the National League
could much better afford to pension off
Messrs. Young. Day and other men. to
II IS under great obligations. at full
pay than to allow them to continue In Office
NJ any rrice. It world he much cneaDer
FOR the National League to pension off Mr..
and Mr.. Day at full pay. to engage
non to fill their nositions at increased SAL
'ries. than It is for It to continue Messrs.
Dav and Your= in executive offices. For
whenever a light man fs placed In a heavy
position which he IL not OF the ability to
hold down It becomes necessary to protect
lin by snecial rules and regulations which
IRE hound To work nsainst the logic Of eN-
bound to work incalculabIe harm to the
ran protected. to the men from whom he is |
ard to the business ne Is sup |