Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-08-12
ODDS AND ENDS OF
BASEBALL GOSSIP
Mack Would Allow Men Four
Strikes Instead of
Three
WHITE SOX SHOULD
COME STRONG NEXT YEAR

Connie Mack, manager Of the Phil
adelphia Athletics, would like TO see
a little more hitting, and he thinks
the best way TO bring II about would
be to give the batsman four chances
to hit the ball I'm place of three. Four
and four, Mack holds, would be more
effective in placing the batsman on
an equal footing with the pitcher
than any other change that could safe
ly be made, unless Il be to abandon
the rule which calls a strike on a
batsman for fouling the ball. To
make both Of these changes would, in
the opinion of theAthletics' leader,
surely result IN more hitting.
The foul strike rule was adopted
for the purpose of stopping the prac-
tice Of fouling off good balls so as to
prevent man from getting to first on
called balls. Such batsmen as Mike
Kelly, early in the game, and later
Roy Thomas and a few others. became
so adept at this style that they could
get walk" on almost any pitcher
at will, and while others less expert
hatsmen who tried the same dodge
frequently came to grief, the effect
was demoralizing on a high-strung
pitcher in a close game, and the rule
makers decided that the practice
should be stopped.
The value of young players is
shown by the comparison OF the Am
erican League clubs OF two years age
and this season. Two years ago the
fight was between the Tigers, Maps
IA.
ished I'm that order The four East.
ern clubs were outclassed Last sea
son the Western club owners decided
to let well enough alone. They stood
pat. while New York, Boston and the
Athletics added new players. This
season the balance Of power is will
the Eactern clubs.
The Lesson, taught by experience
will probably never have to be giveI
again. Charles w. Somcrs, Of Cleve
land. is the owner who has profted by
! IT, The start he has made indicates
that the old-timers and the players
who are fair, but whose day of advan
cling is past, will be released. A lis
of these players includes Stovall
Bemis, Niles. Birmingham and Ball
Birmingham may stay as utility out
! fielder. Birmy's batting eye has lief
him long since, but he is still a won
derful fielder. All that can be sale
for the others is that they squirt nov
and then. but on the average are too
slow, and even this can no longer b.
said for Niles and Ball.
With any kind OF luck the Chicag
White Sox should begin TO show some
thing next season, with new an
hustling young outfeld. The Mar
and Browns are year behind the Sc
However. the Maps have the nucle,
Of good team I'm Larry, Crane
Turner. Easterly and Clarke. II he G.
come back, and the pitchers.
President John |. Taylor. Of Z
Boston Red Sox, showed good iud
ment when he traded Doc Gessler
Washington far Charley Smith.
looked like a queer deal. but Gesslel
failure to bat in his old-time form tn
season shows Taylor's wisdom.
Manager Stallings, of the Yankee
says Lajoie is the greatest hitter
baseball, and Frank Laporte, the Yai
KEGS utility infielder, the secor
greatest. Cobb has a greater ave
age than Larry because of his speed
explains Stallings. but when I ga
hitter | mean a batter who smashs
the ball hard week in and week GU
If Cobb could bat as well as Larry {
Laporte he would be the greatest hi
ter ever known, and the same is tru
of Larry and Laporte If they ha
Cobb's speed" Stallings says there
only one explanation for the Yankee
fine showing. we play the rigf
kind Of ball, and play it all the time
he says.