The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-03
GR|FF|TH BELIEVES
IN OLD BALL RULES
PLAYING Code for National Game
Is Satisfactory
to All.
ne snecIal sporting Service.

Tribune Special Sporting Service.
NEW YORK, March Clarke Grif
ath, the manager of the Highlanders,
believes that there is less and less
tendency on the part of the rule max
srs in baseball to make changes in the
playing code
He rcckons that the public is fairly
veil pleased with the game as it is
,layed in these days. and prefers sport
N which single runs decide contests,
oitterly fought to the end, TO those in
Ehich there is so much batting that
he side is swamped. or that both sides
tcome so leg weary that they are
ESasss. sS'' 70 ''NS themselves "i''"'
&The great trouble with heavy bat
ing game" said the Highlander pilot,
land when ] speak of a heavy hitting
kame I mean one in which bundle of
base hits and a great bundle of runs
IRE made in one inning, is that The
ieam fortunate enough TO count them
gets so much edge on the other fellows
that they never have the ambition TO
eome back. Once in a while the team
which is behind will brace up and fight
desperately with the stick to overcome
.Rs rule load of five or six runs
lskes the ginger away from the contest,
On the other hand, in games which are
neck and neck ali through, one. side or
The other holding the lead in alternate
Innings. spectators find all the fun for
their money that they may possibly eX-
pect If the contest happens TO be
won by the home team in the ninth in
ming there is even more enthusiasm
for the patrons of the sport
SIN watching the temper of the
crowds which have been looking at
baseball for the last three years ]
have learned that there is vastly more
Fatisfaction on the part Of the enthu
giasts il they are able TO see a contest
Fought for run or two than if they
Rre treated 10 n slugging match No
matter if the home team does win in
fhe bombardment, there has been lack
ing that element of excitement upon
ghich so much of our baseball is based
II ASes me that the average crowd
3Till take the defeat of the home team
much better If the score is 3 to . or
to 3, or something OF that SORT, than
y will when the figures are 10 TO |,
although it is a fact that 10 to ]
defeat is no more vital in the race FOR
fne pennant than ! 10 0 beating.
The closer game, rs Z rule, keeps
fhe interest OF the spectators alive, and
when you can Z please the crowds who
eome to see your games your patronage
vii quickly begin to show it. From
me standpoint OF the manager of the
Hlehlanders, I would like 10 see them
WIN every game in which they take
part, no matter whether by small
score or by large one. That is what
Te play Tor, On the other hand, from
tne standpoint OF one who has the Ma
tlonal game ut heart, ] should like TO
pee all contests fought TO the finish.
Hnd suppose that once in while
snouid have TO put up with my own
team beng beaten. Take baseball in
general, and | believe at present we
ere giving better satisfaction to the
puohe, with the modern style OF play,
tnan the teams OF fifteen years ago
"erc giving, when there were more
one'sided scores. Tho more that YOU
cAn equaiizc the strength of teams the
eleater study which is made of the
contests by the regular baseball enthu-
eiasts, the more satisfaction viii they
W tney happen to be cXempliicd by the
pines, which are part of the Two major
teAgqes, and the minor leagues also.
~ the Eastern and Americsn associa.
tions they play so much better ball
powadays, that the managers OF those
|ie1gues rell NE they have twice the
|nold on the patrons of their cities that
|tnney did IN the past. II it woreu L that
sne rules are all right, and permit that
sOrt OF thing they would have their
ltloqples to get along. IT seems to me
H. be q tolcrablY good sport as it is
unnlng at prtseut''