The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-11

mind, any one of which may be called
upon to use at a seconds time.
AT the bat we have three signs
which are working with the three men
preceding US in the batting order, and
three signs with the men following us
at bat. All these signs are different
as any sign used by two different play
ers would soon be detected by the op-
position. Besides these signs we have
sign from the manager when he
wants US to make a delayed steal or
to let the runner steal second and the
batter not hit the ball.
Must Take Every Sign.
4 I'm the field have to take every
sign given by the catcher to the pitch
er 50 that Evers and may know what
- TO be pitched. The catcher has four
signs. One finger In the glove il for
fast ball. two fingers In the glove for
curve ball, the thumb out and the
the hand closed a slow bail, and the
hand entirely closed q pitch out.
WITH these signs we have worked
up a method Of breaking ID the hit-
and-run play. and Evers and are the
only pair who use it. with a man on
first, q right-handed batter up. and a
right-handed pitcher working. and the
catcher signaling for q fast ball. we
figure the batter win hit the ball to-
ward right field. So when see this
combination, ] give Evers the sign
that he is to go after the ball and I
VIII cover second base. But with
right handed batter and right handed
pitcher, IL the catcher signals for n
curve, we figure the batter will hit to-
ward left field, and I must give E-vers
the signal TO cover the bag while / go
after the ball. In this way we have
succeeded practically in breaking up
the hit-and-run game. II the batter
is left-handed the whole thin Is re-
versed. OF course, and give Evers the
opposite signal.
Inside Work 4 Hard Study.
THAT IN what you call inside work.
That Is why Evers and / have been re-
garded IS a team Of two playing into
each others hands on all occasions. IT
requires close attention, hard study.
and clear head all the time. It
keeps a fellow on edge, and that is
why you see so many players peevish
and worn down at the end OF hard
fight for first place. It's because their
nerves are giving way under this
strain.
Il nave another sign to the pitcher
when man is ON second. This sign
gives the pitcher knowledge or the fact
that the base runner Is leading of
too far. and as sneak out from be-
hind the runner toward the base, the
v44k aH. ~
these days they don't stand for a play
er missing signal especially when
team is playing for championship.
Don't forget that If anybody does for
get signal he is told about il by the
manager and sometimes by the press.
not to speak OF the other players"
Opposes Abolition Of Spikes.
In an article opposing the proposed
abolition OF the spikes on players
shoes in favor OF some less harmful
device. Editor Tinker declares positive
", Keep the spikes" AS has come to
be the case of late, Joe holds the ma
tional commission responsible for any
thing connected with baseball which is
unpopular. overlooking the fact that
club owners are the only people who
can abolish the spikes, and that 1t is
for them to say. not the national COM
mission.
Every player in the game, says Joe
In his story, will protest should the
commission attempt to change t11e
spikes. ANY change will simply slow
up the game. make fielding slower. and
bass running slower. The best play
Ars cannot do all they want to now.
Both fleEders and base runners cannot
start rs fast an they want TO now. liz
football cIea4s were used, It would slow
this game Up and set us back ten years.
We win protest against anything Of
the kind.
Would Kill Base Runnins-
sTOr years tina sponsors OF the game
have been trying to improve base rum
ming. Nothing viii kill IL like cutting
DOWN the spEkea. The runner win start
slower. and it win be harder for him to
get under way. and the minute an in
fielder knows the runner has no spikes
- wlia hIonlg tne rEnner Of tha hag