New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-22
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Crop of Runs Tells Story OF
Hard, Vicious Batting.
cAusEAsUBJECT OF DISPUTE
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

7, Is safe TO say that those baseoai'
critics and fans" who shouted so iouo's
last winter for some changes IN the ruies
~ bring about more batting VIII hold 'hei'
peace for some time 10 come. Ihe'e he
been enough hard hitting this season. anu
particularly in the last few weeks 10 saus-
~ the most strident bowler. Such Al
amazing crop of runs has not been garnereo
since the old days, when scores Oh -fo "
131. and the like. were not uncommon nv
csuse Of IL all may be the new cork centre
hall or mayhap. poor pitching, bur "ha.-
&C., :, &c the fans" have had their NIL
MANY OF the games have been dragged OUT
10 such lengths by the furious oa''ins anu
the marathon runs around the bases tnat
low scoring game is being welcomed
Hank O'Day and Christy Mathewsoh are
among those who have declared that weak
pitching is the chief cause for the Out
break OF heavy hitting. Others, however
are lust as sure that the livelier ball Is
responsible.
In nv opinion. the cause lies in little
hi, of both. The ball is livelier-of that
there is no doubt-and when fairly MI Is
bound to travel faster and further. Inc
r,narkable number of long hits and nome
runs can be accounted for in no other
way as II is unreasonable 10 believe that
the sluggers have acquired greater power
over winter Matty is right. however. IN
saving that many Of the pitchers are not
proving so effective as will be the case
later. The training season. and IN fact
the early playing season. was so cold ana
raw that arms were spared whenever pos
sible. Under the circumstances, dozens OF
the men on whom falls the brunt or the
work in the box have been backward IN
getting into condition. Too much MT
ting and too many runs robs the game OF
much of its snap an dash, and II IL hoped
that a representative Of one OF the manu-
facturers spoke truly when he said last
week that some changes would be made In
the ball. in an effort TO strike happy
medium If not some of the parks Will
have TO be enlarged TO make more room
for the felders
Before another week is over Cornell
Princeton or some other college will be
boasting of a victory in the intercollegiate
track and field meeting, which will be run
off in the stadium at Harvard on Friday
and Saturday. I will not presume TO ana
lyze the games, in view Of the fact that
one Of my able assistants, who has been
so successful in tIe last few years that
the table of point winners. before and after
have been almost identical. is now busily az
work doping" out the probable winners.
The result OF HIS labors will be published
in The Tribune probably on Friday morn
ing and l hereby commend my readers TO
his judgment and foresight.
l would like 10 say a word however, at
this time about what promises TO be one Of
the greatest one-mile races in ihe history
OF athletics. II Jones, of Cornell; PAUL, of
Pennsylvania. the present intercollegiate
champion and record holder. and Hanivan,
of Michigan. toe the mark in perfect condi-
ton, which is indicated by their recent
races. a struggle is promised which alone
will be worth a journey TO Cambridge.
PAUL has covered the distance in Al 40
the fastest time ever made by an American
born runner for one mile. Some two weeks
ago, however, in the dual meet between
Cornell and Pennsylvania. Jones defeated
PAUL rather easily in the fast time of
4ls4-5, and with speed in reserve, 10 all
appearances. f1dnlNdU ran luile iluoOl ;
last winter in 400, so there is no telling
what he will do when hard pressed over
the cinder track in the Harvard Stadium.
which is said by many to be the fastest in
tho country. Paull's intercollegiate record
of All 40 is almost sure to be shattered if
weather and track conditions are favorable,
u and there are those who do not hesitate 10
predict that Tommy Connects worlds anna
teur mark Of AIS So may be closely APP
preached, if not equalled or bettered. Per-
sonally. | have liking for Jones. and De-
lieye that he will show his heels TO his two
great rivals. l cannot believe. however
that Tommy Connects long standing record
Will be broken.