Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02

Q bane on the batter which fans do not
enjoy. His chief argument Il q COMPARE
son OF fielding averages twenty years aro
and today. For instance, he shows that such
stars as Jerry Denny and Jack Glasscock
were far below, In their averages, than
such men as Harry stelnfeldt and Johnny
Overs. or Bobby Wallace and Hans WaR-
ner. He lays the high percentage which the
player Of today is able to make entirely
TO the use Of the big glove. And there
is no doubt his argumsnt has truth in Il.
He does not advocate the total abolition
Of the giove, but wants It reduced in size.
The catcher, he says. should wear a glove
nearer the size and shape of his hand, and
neither he nor the first baseman should be
allowed to use a bed tick. He would not
object II the fielders did not wear any
gloves. This gentleman is on a false trail.
The glove is an element OF progress in the
development Of the greatest of games which
e greater today than In any previous
period OF It's history. The glove has come
o stay, and no matter how good the game
was yesterday without the glove, II Is bet
ter today with It. He argues that many a
batter now Is deprived OF a fair hit by
means Of the glove, and that but for the
glove we would see more good batting and
a higher grade OF play. Let's see? A ball
Is sent on a swift line to Mr.. Sbortstop,
Who, BY means Of his glove. is enabled to
get II and cut off a hit. Logically. without
the glove Mr.. shortstop would have tried
for the ball. but missed II. The result?
Error for Mr.. Shortstop. How do errors
raise the standard OF the gamer Or Mr..
shortstop, without the glove, would have
made no effort to get the ball, he couldn't,
and yet how Is your tandard elevatedP
Record ball never Improved the game.
The man who covers the widest area OF
ground 10 the man who is sought after and
the mar who makes the game interesting.
II lie not necessary and would not be Just
to impeach the character Of work of the
old-time player by saying that present-day
players are covering more ground than did
their fathers of yesterday. This makes the
game more spectacular and gives IL q hold
on the public which nothing can break.
-
The rule making u strike out Of a bali
that hits the bat without any fault or e.
fort Of the batsman and bounds off into
foul territory is becoming unpopular with
many managers. It will not be surprising
II a determined effort is made next winter
70 effaee this rule from the law book.
This rule had its origin in that general
movement to equalize matters between
pitcher and batsman and remove ali possj-
bihty for trickery on the part of the latter.
which would work hardship on the pitcher.
The motive was laudable, but the operation
OF the rule gives rise seriously to the c7les-
tion II the effect does not more than bal
ence the scales and leave the ODDS ma
terially against the man at bat. How often
DO we see this very play put a batsman
In the hole at a crucial time without add
ing interest to the game? There is no pro-
cess Of reasoning that viii remove from
consideration the element of apparent I'M
fairness and Injustice which this rule Inn
poses on the batter. ut takes but one to
nit IT, Is the coach's cry Of years. but how
often is that one wasted on an inshoot the
batter is positively unable to escape before
II strikes his bat and goes fowls It's a
strike. but it's not his fault. II he had his
way II would have been a ball: he had no
Intention of batting at It. The pitcher
should have no such advantage of the bats
man. A great deal was done for him in
ever creating the foul strike rule and put
ting the pass down to four baIls. That
should be sufficient, in the minds OF many
managers, to even up matters between him
ana the man at bat. The extension Of the
rule to the Involuntary foul bali savors
Just a bit Of unsportsmanlike advantage
and does not reflect great credit upon the
pitcher. It's a wild pitch or II wouldn't
have hit the bat, and il was not a strike
ball for the very same reason that II was
a wild pitch. and incidentally It does not
heishten the interest in base ball.
Herman Dutch) Schaefer has superseded
Bill coughlin as captain OF Detroit.
schaeter's promotion. which is admittedly
earned. followed the resignation OF Cough
lin. Coughlin displayed a fine spirit OF
team loyalty in his action. He realized
that his ff-wor this Season no longer in
spired the players as did the great playing
OF Dutch. and rather than stand In the
way OF what he regarded the best inter
ests OF his team he resigned to let another
take the lead. That is a sacrifice hit Far
too difficult for men OF less character and
loyalty than Bill Coughlln to make. Ola
Bill has been a great man and Is yet a
5000 one but II lie all too apparent that he
10 slowing up.
Denver laid down certain defiant untima-
tums for White Wings edification At the
beginning OF this season. But then no man
should be too severely criticized for Dem
ver's lack OF form this year. The team has
had the worst sort OF misfortune and this
Is something that managers and owners
cannot very well avoid. II all the Denver
players were az their best It would very
soon appear that a real effort had been
made to improve the team.
Detroit's management admits ry Cobb
mas won hadf It's games with his bat this
year That Is admistins that Ty Is worth
the S'Wo isn't M Incidentally, If they
cont look DOT they'll incur the odium Of
being called q one-man team.
Bader has crowded MeDonouEh out OF
first place in the league batting list and Oh
Chick is third. Kings ADVANCE is one az
the sensational features OF the league iost
now The little fellow has gone up 70 .2so
ana is still marching on.
The Giants have secured another ten
year lease on the polo grounds. This would
be more Interesting u the contract carried
win II a guaranty OF justice ana protec-
ton to visiting teams.
Up 70 date the humane Officers OF Ne
vada have done nothing In behalf OF Br'er
johnson and the plans for the Burns match