Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-09
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Agitation for change of the rules
which will increase the batting is going
on in certain quarters. though there is
hardly a chance that any of the many sug-
sestions made to bring about more stick
work will be acted upon. The club own
ers seem to agree that the game as now
played is popular with the public, ana 10
make a change of any sort might be
harmful. 1t is true, however, that or the
various suggestions offered none would
materially change the game nor add much
to the batting.
The elimination of the pitcher from the
batting order is, Of course, too absurd 10
warrant consideration. Leave the pitcher
out Of the batting and in many instances
it would help his effectiveness, for many
is the pitcher that is wallOped after he
has been forced around the circuit for a
hard run. If he had nothing to do but
pitch he would probably be able to go
through nine innings at top speed.
The reduction of the called balls from
four to three would not affect the batting
very much, for the pitchers would soon
master this handicap. The old howl about
the foul strike rule. too, is going up
again, it being suggested to call only the
first foul a strike. Then it is proposed to
change the strikes from three to four
and leave the called balls as they are
If the rule makers take up these pro-
posed changes at an. it is decidedly
doubtful whether they will consider any
of them favorably, but the chances are
that the matter will never come up, for, as
said before, the club owners seem to be
of the opinion that the game as now play
ed is good enough.
The experience of D. A. Fletcher. who
was heralded as third major league
promoter, proves that 1T is not difficult
matter to get a lot Of free advertising
out of base ball. Though it was proven
that Fletcher had absolutely no capital
to back his proposed scheme. yet he was
taken seriously enough all over the coun-
Fletcher started with nothing, but with
out much expense succeeded in gaining
notoriety from coast to coast. so that In
one respect at least his scheme was a
success.
In sizing up the material which the
other seven clubs of the American League
are supposed to offer for trade at the
coming league meeting. none seems to be
! In a better position to consummate dea
| than Jim McAleer unless it be that JohI
| l. Taylor make good his threat to lei
eight of his stars out. In that event the
Boston club would be leading the way
| but McAleer would be in a position to &c
| agement No other club has a player OF
| Charley Streets ability to put on the
market, and he should bring the cream Of
| the players Boston has to offer In adj
| dition to Street, McAleer would part will
Groom, Unglaub. Killifer, Gessler ane
any one of his other outtielders for the
| right man or men, SO that if the Other
! clubs who are talking trade are sincere
| in their efforts to make changes McAleel
looks like the man best fixed to tall
| business to.
| There have been very few occasions II
the history of the Washington club since
II has been in the American League tina
| it has been in a position to talk trades
AS a rule the team mas peen SO wear
! that to take from it that which othel
| clubs might want meant to ruin it entire
Nv. This year. however. it is we'll fortified
| with trading material.
| When Joe CantillOn took hold here Il
| the spring of 1907 he could not have got
| ten one good ball player for the entire
aggregation. True. the team has no