The Washington times., 1911-02-14
NURPHYS REFORMS
PASS OVER JOHNSON
Berates Him for Indifference
to Plans of Chang
ing Rules.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
MEETS IN NEW YORK
American Magnate Serene in Spite
of Chance for a Big
Rumpus.

The vernal volubility of Charles Webb
Murphy, as heard previous to the spring
meeting of the National League in New
York today. was filled with chiding for
Ban johnson.
Murphy confided to a hundred re-
porters in the strictest confidence that
his mind bulged with reforms for the
great pastime. and that they would
surely become law. but for the cold in
difference of Mr.. johnson. Murphy an
nounced that one of his burning reforms
is a rule TO prevent Coachers seizing a
runner who has overslid a base and
casting him back like a bag of oats.
Mr.. Murphy would have the coacher
prohibited from touching the runner at
all.
But Mr.. johnson failed to name a
rules committee to attend a joint con-
ference, with the result that there can
be no tinkering with the rules. Whereat
Murphy RACES and declares that john
son has violated the national agree
ment. Johnson, who is busily engaged
in Chicago with his own baseball or
ganizatiOn, and his own business. smiles
in serene ignorance of the Murphy TRADE,
and calmly awaits the action of his col
leagues that may give him a large ad-
dition to his already plethOric salary.
1t is not at all likely that Murphy
will be able to start a rumpuS be-
tween the two major leagues, not
even for the publicity there would be
in it for him. But, should he manage
TO stir up strife over his great re-
forms, he would doubtless do as he
has in the past-lay down his pair of
deuces when called and murmur
That's good"
AS wearer of ornate vests. Muir
ply is a glittering success and trots
in the same class with Little Tim"
Woodruff, but as a baseball PROPOSE
ton, he is not taken too seriously.
There is one rule that a lot of men
who are entitled to respectful con-
sideration insist should be changed.
and that is the provision referring to
earned runs. Frank Richter declares
the earned run should be restored, as
1t is the most faithful index of the
effectiveness of the pitcher, and the
only method of determining the
merits of the slab men. It is also
suggested that bases on balls, wild
pitches and any misplay by the
pitcher that gives man first base or
advances a runner, should be included
IN calculating the earned run.
There is truth in the assertion, and
If the earned run were again In force,
the seasons records would be quite
different from what they are under
the present scoring plan A pitcher
like Walter johnson would shine if
earned runs were scored.
From Hot Springs, where a squad OF
the Nationals are trying to combine
baseball and snow, with the odds on
the snow, is waited the information
that Captain Mcbride, being unable to
obtain sufficient snow pIows to cleaI
off the diamond at Majestic Park, OIL
ganiZed an alpine club among his men
and started to climb the mountains in
that vicinity. He said he thought it
would be fine exercise for the boys, and
would serve to put their wind in good
condition.
Germany Schaefer did Some fine yod-
ling when he first began to climb, but
he soon found that he required all his
breath for the exercise.
Captain Mcbride said it would be
three or four days before he puts his
men in uniform. but as the boys would
remain there for three weeks, they
would have plenty of time.
Frank Farrell intends to give the
Yankees a half-mil ii"n-GOllIr bark to
play on by July 4, at Broadway and 221st
pecifcations, it should prove to be one
OF the finest ball grounds ever laid out.
1T was not so many years ago that the
National Leaguers laughed COEsumedly-
ly at the suggestion that the new or
ganization could find enough land on
Manhattan island to lay out one ground.
This new diamond is the second one for
HDITell.