The Washington herald., 1910-01-23

From the Boston Journal.
When there was a man on second and
a run needed either 10 tie the score
or to pull the game out Of the fire,
how many times have you heard the
fans at the ball park roar. ION. you
boneheadr' as the man on the third
base coaching line made his way to the
bench after that man on second had
tried TO reach third on a desperate
chance despite the antics. gesticulatons,
and shouting Of the coach?
OF course. the runner was ont and
il made the third out and cut Off that
fine chance to get in the game. Fans
seem to be suffering from the intense
desire 10 get that man around and al
ways figure that the man on the coach
ing line is at fault Just take a look
back and see if in many II not all, in
stances the fault was not with the base
runner
Heady Player on the Bench.
Then see If your memory doesn't show
you that the heady ball player the boy
who rarely gets caught off bag and
who takes chances only when there is
a chance. isn't found seated on the
bench during a game. He has TO desire
20 get out there on the lines to coach.
knowing from experience that if any
thing goes wrong with a man on the
bases the fans will set it down to his
"bonehead work" No ball player de-
sires 10 court this kind Of criticism. lie
on the field. doing his work stands for
all that kind OF stuff, but is bit shy
on seeking any more opportunities for
such blasts
This puts the question up % the fans
who delight 10 yell az the men doing
the best they can to keep their team
mate safe and TO guide him. Why
wouldn't Il be a good scheme 10 cut
that kind Of stuff and give the ball
players a chance to help their team?
In the course Of a season there isn't
any doubt but that many d coach spo-ls
| a chance 10 score. but it is more often
up to the runner, VINO usually hnds one
/ OF the less experienced men out on the
lines. The man on the bases figures
/ that he knows about as much about the
/ particular condition as the coach and
takes that chance which proves fatal.
A glance over the shoulder doesn't al
ways give the correct impression. What
/ looks 20 the runner ike 2 tumble may
be an awkward smothering OF hit,
| the fielder holding the bail and beating
the man 10 the bag by a throw
Players shan Coaching Job.
Coaching at first base is a cinchs COM
pared with that al third. The chances
OF getting in bad are less, as any fol-
lower Of the game will readily see
! Over az that third corner is where the
/ strain comes for the coach. The runner
may be at third, fast man on his feet
/ accustomed 20 taking chances. That man
Will dash for home on a slow infeld hit
I despite any protestation from the coach
/ whose only means Of holding him would
be 10 trip him Up. If he IS caught a.
the plate the crowd bowls. II the PLAY
is close-well, the coach has a slim
chance at being forgiven. II the player
makes the play stick, he is the nero
Is there little wonder that ball players
dislike tie job Of coaching?
This question was brought up yester
day afternoon at tanning bee Al th'
I Doves headquarters. and Manager LAKE
Ted the van in his arguments in favOl
OF publicity concerning this condition
He figures that If the fans realize th'
true situation they would not make iii.
miserable for the manager or playe
/ who IS doing the best he can by sigT
or voice 10 help the runner along
There isn't a particle OF excuse fol
a ball player being caught Of a ba.
by the old-tme trick Of the hidder