Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-13
Lynch Would
Reform the Game
President Of National League to Pre-
sent Many New Ideas at the
Big Meeting.

NEW YORK, Nov. l2-Presldent Tom
Lynch OF the National league win a0vo-
cate many base ball reforms st the annual
base ball meeting In this city in Decem-
Der The fact that certain club owners
In the circuit are seeking TO dethrone the
executive does not worry him. Re-eiec-
ton IL a secondary consideration with him.
In fact. he intimates that he will not Rc-
cept the office further unless It implies
term Of years.
III the National league believes In me-
said Mr. Lynch today, Il think 1 win be
able to introduce reforms that will benefit
the game. l have been criticised BY GER
tain magnates OF the league over my UNI
pirlnE staff. 1 have watched these Of
flclals work and believe in my heart that
have the most competent staff in the
major leagues.
THE trouble with the National league
umpiring lies, not In the officials, but In
the managers. In my league managers
and players are much more aggressive than
IN the American league. Where in john
sons circuit can you find such peppery
leaders as McGraw, Chance Clarke and
Bresnahsn2 Ban johnson win not stand
for the least semblance Of spirit on the
field. and that Is why his games appear
less lively. / like spirit. for / think IL is
good for the game. But where would
Johnson's umpires be in the National
league with every manager and most of
the public hammering7
Il do not believe In autocratic rule on
the part Of the umpires. Yet too much
leeway may have been given managers and
players. / do know that In the National
league there is more criticism OF umpires
than has been called for. It has got 10
such a stage where the public Is always
against the officials. There Is too much
kissing and evidences OF resentment II
shows a trend toward favoritsm for home
I umpiring, and when the day Of home UNI
pires comes base ball parks might just as
we'll be Dadlocked
ITO my mind another grave evil lies in
the nature of scoring. Official scorers at
present are newspaper men who score only
the games in their cities. 1 do not care
how honorable they may be, they are
bound to show favoritism. Ban Johnson
| automatically avoided serious scandal IN
his league as the result OF that double
header In st. Louis, where Lajoie secured
eight hits and almost beat out Ty Cobb
for the seasons batting honors.
Home scoring, like home umpir1ng, will
wreck the game in time. / advocate a
board Of official scorers to travel around
/
men who will be under obligations to no
players and no clubs and competent TO
| perform their work without favor or pref
udloe. These scorers should be reliable
men who know the game from the bottom.
Their work might not be confined to scor-
ing exclusively. Why not have them al
ways observe the work OF the umplres on
the side? A. league officials this could
be done without sense OF espionage
III the umpires were aware every day
that a league official was watching their
work. and that daily reports would be sent
70 headquarters, / am sure the officials
would always be more careful and con-
scientious. At our league meeting I will
advocate a staff Of official scorers"
Mr.. Lynch iE also dissatisfied with many
~ the existing scoring rules. Especially
20 IS regards the present system OF record
Ing the pitching averages. "A good pitcher
ON a poor club" says Lynch, hasn't q
chance, the way averages are now com.
piled To win half his games with q tail.
ender twtrler may pitch much better
ball during the season than the greatest
star Of q pennant- winning club. Yet h,
gets no credit At All IN a strict percentas,
stand OF victories and defeats. Really tn,
pitcher who holdH opponents to the fewes
number OF runs In the most number OF In
nings pitched should be given some credit
/ am sure some way will be found to Civ,
everyone chance. be he winner Of
trailer"