Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-06-26
THE coAcHER IMPORTANT.
Hugh Jennings Describes Him as an
Essential Cog in the Baseball
Machine.

The men who do the coaching are
important cogs in the baseball machine
that is to grind out victories. They
ara animated by tWo-fold purpose.
says Hugh Jennings, Detroit manager
and acknowledged king of coach line
cor'edians and strategists. They must
make the most of every successful er-
fort at bat and on the bases, taking
advantage OF every momentary weak
ness of the opposition to further their
own cause. They must never allow
enthusiasm to lag. but must keep the
players keyed up, regardless of tenn
porary success or failure.
Particularly is this true of the coach
stationed at third base At some stage
of almost every important game this
man must decide instantly whether d
scoring chance is presented To do
this he must know his men and their
opponents. He must prepare in ad-
vance for an emergency When the
time comes he must act without hest
ta.ion.
When I am on the coaching line
keep silent until we have a runner on
bases / may do something to let my
boys know I am hopeful but the rules
bar vocal encouragement OF the batter.
A batSman becomes a runner. Suppose
we say he singles. The next man sac
rifces. Occasionally on this play the
runner may take two bases, but this
car. be done cry when the infield plays
carelessly. We have a man on second
and one out. A safe hit. and the run
is the logical hope. Take it for granted
the batter will get that hit. If he does
not we can hardly hope to get the run
ner past third, and will be concerned
only with the ACCESSIBILITY of holding
second.
Expecting that hit, there's a lot in
having confidence in your men, believe
me- glance over the outfe1d. It may
have a, great thrower or a weak one--L
plan accordingly. The hit comes. 1t
is just over third, and the outfie1dcf
is a poor throWer. While the ball is
rolling / motion my runner to try for
the plate.
The crcwG expe cts him to be thrown
out. The play is close, but the runner
slides in ahead of the ball Meantime
the batter has been sent to second by
the coach on first. As a matter Of
fact, it was a play that would not
vary d fifth of q second in a dozen
trials. The third base coach must
keep constant F-atch on the infielders
with a. runner on second. The runner
watches the ball. The coach must
warn him when an opponent slips be-
hind him
Every baseball crowd likes clean,
legitimate notwithstanding free
from senseless yelling, biackg uardin g
pitchers and the ike. / believe we
could improve the game by allowing
the coachers more latitude, particular
ly when the game drags along inning
after inning without men getting on to
the bases.
IF at such times the coaches could
hand a line of encouragement to the
batter it would show that hope is. not
lost and carry the impression that the
team behind was trying, and game.
Further, I would not be surprised to
see the effect of such coaching appar-
ent in the score.
The present coaching rules We're
drafted when players were far less
under the control of the umpire than
they are at present. There is almost
no danger of abuse if more latitude is
allowed. Last year two unpires in
the American league permitted clean
coaching of batters on occasions. The
result was more interest and closer
competition.