The Detroit times., 1911-05-30
sx PAUL HALL eRuskE.

ne American league can put the
iiely bah into the discard just rs
Son a. Il desires to do 30, and the
}nanaeenent OF the Detroit club won't
hare.
This IL the substance OF DECLARE
ton issued by President Frank J..
Navin:
II don't care what Ban Johnson or
anyone else says" insists the De-
troit president; the people will never
take to an innovation that will pro-
long games for over two hours. The
lively ball does this right along. No
ball game should last more than an
hour and As minutes, unless II is an
cxtrarInning contest II the public
demands more batting, the games
should be shortened In some way that
would balance the increase in length
~ contests. The elimination OF the
Intentional bunt might attain that
end. It would make the batsmen hit
and run and would result In many a
double play that would shorten things
TITS Impossible TO start games at
3 o'clock and ger the crowd out; any
one who has ever studied the situa-
ton knows that On the other hand,
a man has to take into consideration
the hour of his evening meal, when
he starts for the park these days. De-
troit's ball yard is right down town
and Detroit people can get home
quicker than the public in any other
city, yet how often has 1t been this
season that, hustle the best we can,
We fail to get the crowd out OF the
park before six o'clock
mo lively ball for me, with the
tpresent conditions In yoguel"
Before the Tigers left on their long
"trip, Manager Jennings delivered him
self tn similar purport. II Is known
that the little Tiger boss doesn't be-
ilIeve it was advisable to increase the
|amount OF rubber In the sphere. This
despite the fact that HIS club well
fc0med the advent of the iegalized
frabbits by series OF victories
(Which turned the whole world OF
sport aghast.
Jennings thinks that the lively ball
nnllifes good pitching, reduces team
<of real hitters to very near the level
LOT bunch of wild-eyed swingers and
[places q premium on luck, rather
than good baseball. Sensational In
NEEDING is less often met with now
than formerly. The ball Is past be-
fore the fielder can really start.
M As matter OF fact, the introduc-
ton OF the additional rubber has made
* radical change in the style of the
IRamea change to which the Tigers
have been slower adapting themselves
than most OF their rivals.
The Tigers won their pennants by
Their ability TO hit the ball harder and
farther than their opponents. and won
most Of their victories by getting the
r7Dpst0 throwing the ball wildly around
the bases. Other teams have now
been able to counteract this advantage
tby the simple method OF meeting the
sphere and whacking II straight at
the pitcher. Most OF the ume II gets
past, the result being that the infield-
ers are unable to get It, and hits are
scored.
Time was when the demon base
runner Tyrus Cobb could put an en-
tire fnfeld up In the air and, by one
<hectic inning, secure for his mates
enough runs to win. The moment Ty
<Ko( on the sacks the hustifes became
the victims Of fright, and with good
feaeon.
Now things are changed The OPP
p0nents realize that, even should q
throw or two go wild, 1t is by no
noans impossible for them to get
noueh runs back to balance the
Irer margin. Az a result they aren't
atty purturbed by the sight OF
I<us on one of his dashes. The re-