Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-16
Waivers Cannot Be Asked on
Ball Players Until Then.
ST. LOUIS AFTER PATTEN
Rules Proposed That May Improve
the Batting.
NEW ORLEANS RACING GOSSIP
Aftermath of the Six Day Cycle
Race-olympic Games Trials.
Booming Bowling Congress.

II ia more than likely that there VIII
he very few trades OF players in either
of the big leagues until after the first
of February. There is rule in the
Anne rican League to the effect that waiV-
ers cannot be asked on players who have
been purchased or drafted until after the
Ist OF February, and this will probably
clog the trading wheels until that date.
Old players do not come under ts>s ead,
but the chances are that all the man
ayers will rest up until February Out
in St. Louis the papers are touting Case
Patten for job with the Browns, but
IL is doubtful if Manager McAleer has
anything to offer Cantillon that will size
up with the veteran southpaw. WASH
ington has no use for Tom Jones. but
there is a possibility that McAleer can
frame up a three-cornered deal whereby
Patten may land in st. Louis.
Out in Clevela land II is reported that FLICK
and Bradley have positively declared that
they will not play with 1,ajoie next sea-
son. and Cantillon may talk business with
the leader of the Blues, as he and the
Frenchrnan are great friends. In this
respect. there is another chance for
three-cornered trade bringing in the New
Yorks at the other end. Washington
could use Elberfeid at short without try
ing very hard but we are afraid the
fifth is still stuck on Patten and Altizer.
There was a little furry among the
base ball fans last week as the two major
leagues met in annual session. Harmony
and progress We're the keynotes OF both
meetings. and so far as can be judged
the sport is on better and stronger
basis than ever before. The most i'm
portant measure. perhaps. passed by both
the National and American leagues was a
recommendation to the national commits
sion that any man drafted from minor
league should have the same status as a
player actually purchased. This means
that before a man so drafted can be re-
turned he must be offered to the other
clubs In the league and all claim waived.
II the recommendation is adopted, as II
is hoped 1t will be, it will make for fair
ness and put an end to the practice OF
covering up promising players for whom
any particular club may not have use at
some particular time. Changes in the
rules were discussed at some length at
the National League meeting. and In all
probability some important changes may
be made when the combined rules COM
mittee meets early next year. OF the sug-
gestions made two aroused more than
usual fnterest-the lowering of the pitch
er's box to a level with the diamond and
the reducing Of the number of balls en-
titling batter to base to three.
1t seems that the first would be
long step in the right direction, as II
would take away a slight advantage the
pitcher has and tend to more hitting.
which the fans want. and consequent
Improvement in the batting averages. The
second would not improve the game. No
body wants to see a game won on bases on
balls. The responsibilities of the pitcher
are now out of proportion to the respon-
sibilities of the other players, and why
make them greater and put a premium
on individual efforts at the expense of
team efforts? Interest in game in
creases as every player is called on to do
his part in its winning. 1t grows monot-
onous to see a pitcher and catcher
working like galley slaves and the out
del6ers standing around doing nothing. 1t
wooNQ hardly be well to limit the chances
a batter Mas to hit the ball out. President
JohnEkntS suggestions concerning double
header games should be adopted forth
with. HARNESS. and craftsmanship should
not be spbservient to commercialism, even
in frofeA sional base ball.
Boston will start out with new man.
ager in Joe Kelley. the former Baltimore
: and Cincinnati outfelder. and Catcher
BowermaD First Baseman Mccain.
Shortsta| Dahlen. Pitcher Ferguson and
0utfelder Browne will undoubtedly put
more ginger into their playing than they
dia last season.
n is the desire of every player who
has been traded TO SHOW up his former
manager. He desires to prove to his
ex-boss that mistake was made in let
ting him go. With five players all striv
ing earnestly toward the same end, Bos-
ton should cut quite a figure next year.
and the games between Boston and New
York should certainly be very peppery.
While Boston got the most old players.
Bowerman, Browne. McGann and Dahlen
are not yet back numbers by any means
None of them played quite up to their
regulations last season. but this can part
" be explained by the troubles among the
members of the New York team.
Both clubs, therefore, should find the
deal beneficial. and the trade should help
the league as whole.
To the lovers of base ball The country
over nothing could have been more graft
flying than the exchange of >Jngratula-
tions between the presidents of the two
leagues. 1t proved more eloquently than
anything else could that the war is
over" that the enmities engendered In
the hot conflict which marked the first
three years of the Americans invasion
of the east nave been buried. even IL they
fOrgoffen