The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-12
TOUCHING SECOND
Eversan Fullerton

Q0lre the greatest amount OF exact NOV
ing and timing Of both the ball and the
runner The shortstop and second base,
man, in order 10 catch a runner on
second base. either from the pitcher
or catcher. must assist each other ana
at the same time have the cooperation
Of the center fielder The play to catch
runner at second base, after he has
reached the bug. is made by the use ol
psychology as well as the hands ana
feet and the infelders who stndy hu-
man nature are the most successful
The shortstop and second baseman. as
soon as they decide upon an attempt
10 catch the runner, communicate with
each other by signals and commence Il
persistent campaign 10 stir UP the run
ncr. While their object is TO get the
runner two feet further from the base
than he can go in safety, their first
move is 10 pretend to be striving 10
al hold him up which means keep
him from citing lead away from
the base. This is a species of flattery
thinking they are afraid he will steal
third base. The felders strive to
arouse the runners natural combative-
ness so that when they appear to be
trying to keep him from getting a
lead, he naturally Will strive 10 get as
far as he can in safety. IL is a paradox
in baseball that it is much easier TO
a
bad one. The bad base-runner can
not he tempted far enough away from
the bag to be caught.
All the time the shortstop and sec
ond baseman know which is 10 take the
real throw when 1T comes and the one
who is to make the real effort is the
least active of the two in the prelimi-
nary iockeving. The base runner is
worked up to pitch of bativeness
and determination to gain few more
inches of distance from the base by the
threats of catcher or pitcher to throw,
and by the efforts of the shortstop and
second basemau to get behind him and
beat him to the base. Finally one of
the fclders, pretending TO abandon the
effort. does something to distract the
attention of the runner and gives blm
an opening TO take longer lead from
the base. II tho runner still is wary, |
the felders makes another move 10.
wards the bag, but laughingly stops and
seems to give up the attempt. At tha
instant the pitcher or catcher makes
the throw and the ielders who has been
least active in the maneuvering covers
second base, meets the throw and. un-
less the base-runuer is alert and think
ing every instant. he Will be blocked
of the base and caught.
Bill Iange, Dahlen and Egan made
the play in strange way. Egan and
Dahlen lockeyed with the runner and
then both appeared TO cease the effort
and returned TO their natural posi-
tions, drawing The runner further away
from the plate, while Lange, creeping
closer and closer, finally came with a
terrific burst Of speed from center field
and met the throw at the base,
The play 10 catch runners of first or
third bases is much simpler. depending
entirely upon its uneXpectedness. The
6ii
10 mlslead the runner. holding steadily
to his natural position, and when the
signal for the throw is made he makes
no move, depending upon quick dash
to reach the base Just as the ball does,
and in time 10 block off the runner
The play must be executed in perfect
timing, If the bascmap starts even Il
fraction of second too soon his move
warns the runner what to expect, and If
he is a fraction of second late in
reaching the bag, the ball Will go on to
right field.
The beauty Of these combination
plays to catch runners on the bases
lies chiefly in executing them in the
crises when some brilliant coup IS
the attac king team. The plays are
much easier to execute in such siiua
tons, as the attacking team always IS
over-eager and flushed with excitement
and expectation, and therefore likely to
be daring to the point of recklessness
The team which, either because of long
experience in playing together, or By
the power of a ool-hcaded leader, main
tains its self-possession and keeps think
ing instead of falling into panic, frc
queuty can stop the rallies of oppo
nents, and save the pitcher and the|
game. There is nothing that steadies
pitcher and defensive team, or
stops an attacking club quicker than TO
catch runner asleep on the bases in a
critical moment.
In this particular of catching runners
IN the crucial moments of games. John
King was the greatest in the business.
His ability and his GOODNESS in that
style of nlay alone was enough to stamp
him the best Of catchcrs. King proba-
bly, did not catch as many runners in
season as some other catchers did
but he caught them always at the right
moments. when they counted, and scores
Of games won by the Cubs during their
championship career was due 10 that
alone. King had n great advantage
In having such an lnficld 10 throw TO.
but when King signalcd his intention
of throwing the others were so full Of
confidence that they executed the play
with absolute certainty.
Unless the In6cldcrs think quickly
follow signals closely. and above all.
possess the faculty of meeting a thrown
ball at the right spot, the combination
plays of the team fall to pieces. Some
of the best PLAYERS in the country have
failed wretchedlv with certain teams.
not because they were bad ball play
ers, but because the men with whom
they were trying 10 work in combina-
tions failed at their end of the play.
Spectators cannot tell. when plav at
second base niscarries. which PLAYER
was at fault. When there is a bad ball
player and good one working to-
gether. especially around second base,
the better ball player looks worse than
the bad one. This is because the good
player always is trying 10 do some
thing and becausc the other man fails
TO get into the play properly. the man
who tried it is made to appear blum.
dcrcr.
Perhaps the worse fault. as far as
team work goes, an in6elder NAV pos
sess, is coming late to meet thrown balls
from any direction, as his delay is fatal
10 combination plays. There is one of
the finest ball players in the country
to-day who has bppD Scur 10 tbo