Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-04
THE DIAMOND.
Waterbury Parties Ask For the
 Hartford Franchise.

Tn All Probability Tom Reilly of Meri- den Will Get the Franchise-R Roger
 Connor Signs Another Waterbury l Player for his Team-Results of Games Yesterday.
 New Haven, April 4.-ICaptain Wins 1 low of the Yale baseball team yestef- day found it necessary to make several | changes in the varsity team, Cole, l who has been playing at left aeld, has been transferred to third base to take Don Thompson's place, he having been l put on the second team. Thom, the freshman pitcher, is taking Coles place now. He has become valuable mem Der of the team because of his batting. I This change leaves Captain Winslow short on pitchers. Patton cannot use his arm until warm weather, and Jack son has been for some time and Is be- hind in scholarship. He was expected to alternate with Bowman. but the lat ter will have to do all the work now, as Wesrtcott, who has pitched in the m1- nor games. cannot be relied on in the big games. Captain Winslow and Vanderpoo1 will have to do service be- hind the plate as catchers. Irwin the big freshman. was expected to do great work here. but he has fallen De- hind in his studies. and Farmer. who caught for the freshmen last year, IS out of college temporarily. The team will start on the Easter trip to the south next Wednesday.
 Atlanta. Ga April 4.---Manager Grif- filth had his men out practicing the sign manual yesterday morning and afternoon Griffith does not care much for the old time signs between the pitcher and catcher. He is perfecting the players in signs between the bats man and men on bases. Already the boys have got the hit-and-run game down to fine point, and 1t is the man. ager's ambition to have his team work on the bags as unit In fact, Grif- fth's primal idea is to get runs.
 Yesterday was Herman Longs birth day. A week ago he informed the manager that he wanted to get off on April 3 so that he could celebrate the anniversary of his. earthly advent. Long did celebrate the day. He cele- brated it by working harder ill short field than he has in any practice here.
 Its fun for me to play ball." said Herman after the work was over. I'd sooner jump around the infield than have money left to me. And Pm not ashamed of my age either. I'm 40 years old to-day I've been playing ball seventeen years, and thirteen of them were spent with the Boston Ma tionals. But the old man has plenty of pepper in him yet. I'm going to play ten years longer. and I'll be ill fast company all the time. Then I'll retire to give some of the young fel- lows like Jack O'Connor a chance"
 Washington. April 4.--At confer ence between President Pulliam and his staff Of National league umpires at Old Point Comfort yesterday, radi- cal measures were taken to enforce the rules against kicking and rowdyism. An important construction was placed on rule 20, relative to the pitchers po- sition. The rule is constructed as mean ing that the pitcher, in taking his po- sition, shall place no part of either foot back of the rubber. nor shall he take more than one step in delivering the ball to the batsman. The enforce ment of this.rlle will do away with all preliminary steps either to the rear of or side of the pitchers rubber.
 A stricter interpretation of the rules forbidding batsmen from baking the catcher and infielders from interfer- ing with baserunners caught between the bases was agreed upon. No bats man hereafter will De allowed to take first when hit by a slowly delivered ball.
 Emphasis is laid on the rule requir- ing runners to keep within the three-foot lines in going to first, and in general notice is given of the literal enforce ment' of the playing rules.
 Indianapolis, April 4.--For the first time since they began their spring training the Giants yesterday lost the chance to don their uniforms. It rained steadily all Thursday night and yesterday there was a snowstorm Manager Watkins of the Indianapolis team called the game off early. and the players stayed in the hotel all day. The sudden change i'll the weather from the warm climate of Georgia and Alabama to q freezing northeast cale. tied the players up tight, but there was no murmuring over the enforced rest
 President John T. Brush of the New York club called at the hotel yesterday and greeted his players, some of whom he met for the first time He had long consultation with Manager Me Graw, who gave a glowing account of the benefit the players lad derived from the southern trip.
 At Philadelphia.
 R.H.E.