The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1909-07-31

i
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 70 sit
! through some pleasant afternoon In a
hotbed OF fans In stand or bleachers
and hear the quips handed out on the
play as these spectators see It.
or course, the fan pays his COCA
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
~ depends success or disappointment.
The captalncy OF major league
baseball club Of today is but hollow
honor Indeed. there Is virtually 10
such Office except In case Of strictly
bench manager, such rs George Stall
ings or Connie Mack In the latter
cases n held 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 tho manager directs
play, Dofcnsiyely the team, II IL
works tremendously. decides its STRAIT
cgies on the spur OF the moment, that
IL. SO far AZ accepting chances II
concerned. The neldors concerned al
ways try but the one who Is abso.
lutely sure Of the play calls for tho
chance. and IL Invariably allowed to
stand or fall on his own judgment
Naturally. the position OF the
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
gonce To both pitcher and innelder
concerned. The fielder Is ready for
the throw when tho pitcher wheels
quickly to let the ball go And II the
baseruuuor Is not equally alert he is
caught mapping,
The catcher signals the pitcher the
nature OF every ball no Is TO serve
tho batter Sometimes the pitcher
Will not agree with his battery mate
on tho point Thon the backstop sig
nails FOR different kinds OF balls until
he hits upon ono the pitcher thinks
viii do the trick-that Is. OF course.
II he has faith In tho twirer's Iudg
mont
But not alone the catcher profits by
tho sign language Of the battery. The
hawkeycd iuneldors and outtleldcrs
must be familiar with every sort OF
bah delivered Roth iunelders and
outncldcrs have to play differently on
| fast straight ono to what they could
1 on curve That Is Why one may
| often notice the gardeners shift their
positions frequently while tho Same
! man Is at bat. The center fielder can
see the siGnal and he tips on his tcl,
! low gardeners The second basemap
| and shortstop flash the third aud first
| basemnu II these are unable TO SEQ
| for themselves,
! or course, the catcher has TO be
! guarded In his WorI He must have
! several sets Of signals az his com.
| mand with which everyone il famil.
! lar otherwise n hrainy opponent on
| second would get on 10 those signs
! and I'm turn tip on the various oyor.
! iugs to the man AT bat 4 catcher
| cannot use the Same siSu twice be,
| fore rival Then. too he must
guard against the batsman pcekinS
back 70 catch his code. That is why
the backstop stoops in calling for
| balls lie covers tho hands. which
are used entirely for battery signals,
with his gloves and his legs ny
crouchlug he shuts out all possible
vision W the hatsman
/ ui course. battery signals are bun
one phase OF the situation That Is
the defensive sld,.or rather part of &c
luocldrrs often zip OK catchcrs on
chausos to uaN nasa runners Uut the
iuhylders in turn proa, In knowing
MIA, Is Co bc delivered ny being able
20 lay" for The ra,smau
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