The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-09-01
HIT AND RUN GAME
HAS PROVED GOOD

One of the most effective plays that
has wedged its way into the exclusive
circles of the national pastime is the
hit-and-run play. AS a rule this per-
Torrance is negotiated when, with a
runner on the paths. a pitcher gets
himself into a hole by giving the batter
three and two. Invariably, the only
exception being when a good pinch
hitter, such as John Wagner of Pitts
burg, is at the bat and with runner on.
the safest move is to give the big
fellow a free ticket n keep his en-
larged stick inactive, a twirler will do
his best to slip the next ball across
the pan. Then it is up to the batter
to connect, for as the mound worker
makes the slightest movement toward
the plate a part of his motion the
runner digs his cleats and Is off for
other and more fruitful regions.
The high sign for this play is gen
orally wigwagged when d runner Is on
first and the batter has three balls on
him. Then if the next offering is wide
of the platter there is no chance of toss
me "a tiit Ailli1I dt oC1OIlu, lOI Ilt IL
advanced on the four balls. If the de-
livery is over the plate a connection
by the batter probably means some
thing doing.
AS in all other sports. the funda.
mental principle of defense is to break
up effective plays of this calibre. Ever
since the hit-and-run play broke into
the confines of baseball much a been
offered in the form of a remedy. But
the play is still worked effectively.
With a man IN first 1t is hard for the
second baseman or the shortstop to de-
%terinine whether the runner Is attempt
ing to pilfer the second pillow OF
whether the signal for the hit-and-run
play has been passed. That's where
the hitch comes in. and 1t is just this
element of uncertainty that has made
the play a success.
The pitcher, nine times out of every
ten. realizes that the play is to be at
tempted, and yet he has got himself in
a hole and Is helpless to mar it. He
hopes the batter in his anxiety to hit
the ball will misjudge it and swina
wildly, or that his mates behind him
will rise to the occasion and retire the
runner, possibly negotiating a double
play. But a handful doesn't go a very
long way in a baseball game of the
present day.
When a player attempts to steal sec
n a signal is passed between short
stop and second as to who will take
the throw from the catcher. As the
runner digs for the midway either the
shortfielder or his mate on the opposite
side of the cushion, as the case may
be, starts to cover the bag. 1t is right
here that the scientific part of the hit
and-run play figures. The batter tries
to place the ball through that portion
of the diamond left vacant by the
fielder trying to cover second. But
how many batters in baseball are mas
ters Of that phase of hitting-placing
the ball? If a census were taken it
would be found hat such experts are
greatly in the minority. ]
Every batter has a habit. He either
swings too.s 500 or too late. If he Is a
victim of the former ailment then he
lays the ball to the left of the plate,
and vice versa. With such the case, a
feasible plan of action is laid open to
the fielders to follow that may-and
according to many ~will-prove just as
effective in breaking up the hit-and-run
play as that play has been in the
past.