The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-21
BRUSH TALKS A LITTLE
SAYS THE NATIONAL WILL MAIN
TAIN ORDER ON BALL FIELD.
Cites the Rules Adopted by Chicago
and Cincinnati Clubs-Sixteen-
Limit Rule Repealed.

"You can never tell to-day whether or not
1t will rain tomorrow" was John I.
Brush's characteristic reply yesterday to a
general inquiry as TO what was likely to
come before the executive committee of the
National League within the next day or
two. Something of Importance in the base
ball world is hanging fire, but the chair
man of the executive committee does not
care TO talk about ii at present. Nothing
we could do or say just now would be as
important or attract as much attention
as the terrible occurrence at Martinique,
Notwithstanding that a few people accuse
the National League of causing explosions
that are widely felt" continued Mr.. Brush.
Mr.. Brush has received the full report of
the trouble at st. Louis Sunday. in
which Shortstop Dahlen was put out Of
the game for Directing too strenuously to
a decision and using language that is not
set out in Sunday-school literature. The
executive committee suspended Dahlen for
three days, which expires to-day. Mr..
Brush cited an instance at a recent game
that he witnessed which shows how often
a player may cause the crowd TO unjustly
criticise the umpire Mr.. Brush sat di-
rectly behind the plate and the pitcher
tossed one over that was of the proper
height and which split the plate. The bat
ter fell out of the box, thinking probably
that the pitcher was pitching inshoot
and he might be hit. The umpire called a
strike, and because of the action of the
batter the official was criticised by specta-
tors on both sides of the field who could
not see that the ball was a good strike.
Mr.. Brush said that so far the National
League has endeaVored to maintain the
best of decorum on the ball field and will
continue to do so.
Il do not know if the other National
League clubs will adopt the policy ad-
vanced by the Chicago and Cincinnati Il
clubs of fning players who are ordered
out Of the game by the umpire, but | will
say that since those two clubs have made
that order there has not been a Cincin-
natl nor a Chicago player sent from the
game. The order does not affect the play
ing of the men either"
The executive committee of the National
League has repealed the rule made last
year limiting each club TO sixteen players.
Under the present system each club can
carry as many players as il desires. 1t is
believed that this will be a benefit, as ii
will allow the National League TO develop
some of the younger players instead OF
having to turn them adrift were the six
teen rule in effect.
Mr. Brush is we'll pleased with the way
the Cincinnati club has been playing in the
last few days. He points out the fact that
the Reds have played five games with the
Pittsburg team-more than any other club
and this largely accounts for the large
number of games lost, as the Pittsburgs
won all five games. Mr.. Brush said that
had the Cincinnati team played the same
article of ball since the season opened as
II has in the last few days there would
have been no excuse for having lost a
game.