Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-07-18
FANS IGNOR ANT OF
i. THE INSIDE PLAYS
CRITICISM or. AVERAGE FOLLOW
Err OF BASEBALL Is GENER.
ALLY UNcALLED FOR. =
IMPORTANCE OF THE CATCHER

IMPORTANCE Of THE CATCHER
His Position Behind the Eat and Fac
Ing the Rest Of His Teammates
! Gives Him Best Command Of Stu
atlons That Arise-signals an I'm
portant Part Of the Game.
II the average fan could realize
how little he knows of baseball he
! might be less prone to criticism.
There is nothing more refreshing to a
| student Of the game than to sit
through some pleasant afternoon in q
| hotbed of fans In stand or bleachers
and hear the quips handed out on the
play as these spectators see it.
OF course, the fan pays his good
money to nourish the sport; then
who has a better right than he to- air
his views?
While the layman doubtless Is
aware OF, the fact that baseball OF to-
day embraces far more than Is shown
on the surface. few, very few. realize
the intricate complications of inside
baseball. Far too often are such cpl
thets as "bonehead,'' "lob." Ivory
skull and the like applied to the
wrong party. The game is progress
ing with the times. The team man
ager of to-day is the one supreme
power on whose judgment almost sole
ly depends success or disappointment.
The captaincy OF a major league
base ball club of to-day is but hollow
honor. Indeed, there is virtually no
such Office except in case of strictly
bench manager. such as George Stall.
ings or Connie Mack. In the latter
cases field captain is essential only
SO far as handing the umpires the bat
ting list and in advising officials OF
changes that may be made from time
to time.
Extensively the manager directs
play. Defensively the team, II 1t
works tremendously. decides It's STRAIT
egies on the spur Of the moment; that
is, so far as accepting chances is
concerned. The f1elders concerned al
ways try, but the one who is abso-
lutely sure Of the play calls for the
chance, and is invariably allowed to
stand or fall on his own judgment.
Naturally, the position of the
catcher gives him best, command of
all the situations that may arise. He
faces his other teammates and can
keep strict tab on the bases. II
base runner stray too far from his
station the catcher flashes the INTEL
gence to both pitcher and inf1elder
concerned. The fielder is ready for
the throw when the pitcher. wheels
quickly to let the ball go. And II the
baserunner is not equally alert he is
caught mapping. sst;:t - d. s5s& %s
ss The catcher signals the pitcher the
nature of every ball he is to serve
the batter. Sometimes the pitcher
will not agree with his battery mate
on the point. Then the backstop sig
nails for different kinds of balls until
he hits upon one the pitcher thinks
will do the trick-that is, Of course,
II he has faith In the twirler's judg.
mept. 5.a,s 49, III
But not alone the catcher profits by
the sign language of the battery. The
infielders and outhelders
must be familiar with every sort OF
ball delivered. Both inhelders and
outaelders have to play differently on
a fast straight one towhat they could
on a curve. That is why one may
often notice the gardeners shift their
positions frequently while the same
man is at bat. The center fielder can
see the signal and he tips OF his fell
low gardeners. The second baseman
and shortstop fash the third and first
baseman II these are unable to see
for themselves. ~ ~ - S'.@ f.
OF course, the catcher has to be
guarded in his work. He must have
several sets of signals at his COM
mand with which everyone is famil-
lar. Otherwise brainy opponent on
second would get on to those signs
and In turn tip on the various offer
ings to the man at bat. A catcher
cannot use the same sign twice be-
fore q rival. Then, too, he must
guard against the batsman peeking
back to catch his code. That is why
the backstop stoops In calling for
balls. He covers the hands, which
are used entirely for battery signals,
with his gloves and his legs. 2. BY
crouching he shuts out all possible
vision Of the batsnnan. J.. ~
OF course, battery signals are but
one phase OF the situation. That IL
the defensive side, or rather part Of It.
Inflelders often tip OF catchers on
chances to nail base runners. But the
inflelders in turn profit in knowing
what is to be delivered by being able
to lay for the batsman., ~
For example, the sort Of ball thrown
determines whether the second base
man or ;shortstop shall cover the bag
In case of an attempt to steal by q
base runner. The same tells the in
ner defense, in case "a bunt ts antici-