The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-12
DID NOT DISCUSS WAR
BUFFALO CONFERENCE WAS DE-
VOTED To REVISING RULES.
W. III. Watkins Explains the Change
in the Foul Strike RuIe-Umpires
VIII Have More Power.

W. II. Watkins who, with II. D. Quin,
of the Milwaukee club. represented the
American Association at the conference of
the various leagues for revising the rules
at Buffalo Monday and yesterday, returned
home last evening. He is perfectly salts
fed with the result of the conference.
1.-The American Association sent a COM
mittee TO Buffalo on the invitation of Pres
ident Johnson, of the American League"
said Mr.. Watkins last evening. Those
present at the conference were merely indi-
viduals representing various organizations
and there was nothing said or even init
mated regarding the fight between the Ma
tional and American Leagues or between
the American Association and the National
Association of Minor Leagues. We were
there for the purpose of revising the rules
to meet the views of all professional leagues
and we did not discuss the wars. We were
not even asked what kind of an Organiza-
ton the American Association had.
1.-THE principal change in the rules was
regarding the foul strike. The settlement
was a compromise between the rules Of
the National League of last season and
those Of the American League. The change
in that rule provides for line to be drawn
from first to third base and extending to
the boundaries Of the playing field. OF
course the line from third to first
base will only be imaginary, but
from the two bases to the fences there
will be a line that will be distinctly seen
by the umpire. Balls hit outside Of that
line in foul territory will be called fouls,
but those striking the ground inside the
lines between the lines and the home plate
called
with the hard drives that go foul outside of
the lines from being called strikes as they
were last season under the National League
rules. All bunt fouls, of course, will be
called strikes under the old rules.
Another change was the rule regarding
the time the pitcher can consume in pass
ing the ball TO basemen instead of pitch
ing it to the batter. Pitchers will be al
lowed to deliver five balls to basemen be-
fore the first batter takes his position and
after that he must deliver the ball to the
batsman within twenty seconds. The
changes In the rules will not only shorten
the game, but will give more general salts
faction, and will also give the umpires
more power The umpire can say yes or
no and his decision must be obeyed
When a pitcher insists on pitching the ball
to a baseman instead of the batter the
umpire may call each ball so delivered a
ball. There were "a few other minor
changes, but the two mentioned were the
most important
Following is the text of Sections and
4, of Rule A, defining a strike, as finally
adopted:
Section s. A foul-hit ball not caught on
the fly, unless two strikes have been all
ready called, which falls or settles on foul
ground inside or on the line of the terri
tory described by lines drawn from first
and third bases at right angles with an
imaginary line drawn from home to sec
ond base, and extending each side to
the limit of the playing field.
Sec. 4. Any intention or effort to hit the
ball TO foul ground outside of the lines
of the territory described by lines dra yyn
from first and third bases at right angles
with an imaginary line drawn from home
to second base and extending on each side
to the limit of the playing field.
A change in Rule II, adopted Monday
night it was found, would prevent the
catcher going for foul balls, and copse-
quently the words land at all times dur
ing the game at the end of the section
were ordered stricken out.
Section 2 of Rule 80 was also corrected
by adding the words Ito a baseman" so
that il now reads:
THE umpire shall call ball on the
pitcher each time he delays the game by
failing to deliver the ball to the batsman
when in position for a longer period than
twenty seconds, excepting that in the case
OF the first batsman in each inning the
pitcher may occupy not more than one min
ute in delivering not to exceed five balls
to a baseman."
Rule 6S was eliminated. 1t prohibited the
use during a game by manager, captain or
player of indecent or improper language
directed to a spectator, umpire, manager,
club official or a player. The members
then adjourned subject to the call of
Chairman Kilfoyl.