Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-17
Nationals Staff
Of Umpires is Not
Popular With Fans
Lynch's Judges Are Much Berated by
Sport Writers and Self-Ap-
pointed Critics.

NEW YORK. Sept ls--As every one
knows. the most abused individuals In the
national game are the man behind the
catcher who decides whether pitched balls
are strikes or balls. and the field umpire.
Every time either renders a decision no
matter whether II favors the home team OF
not, a certain element in the grandstand
is ever ready TO utilize the moth-eaten ex-
pressions: "oh. you robber" Get pair
OF glasses" You know the others Also,
that the umpires are picked TO pieces by
2x4 judges, for men who appoint them are
too.
In Pittsburg the feeling toward President
Thomas J. Lynchs staff OF umpires 10 not
a kindly one. Persons who claim to he
authorities on the game have taken II upon
themselves to pen-hammer the men Presi-
dent Lynch has selected as the National
leagues arbitrators In the Smoky City 1t
is admitted that Lynch has several good
umpires But as a whole they state that
the staff this year is a joke.
Pittsburghers know something of the
game. This must be admitted; but invari-
ably their criticisms are as narrow as their
streets. Now. as a matter Of fact Lynchs
staff of umpires this year Is not Joke.
II one takes the trouble to go back over
the records this year he will find that
rowdy base ball has been checked by
Lynch and the men under him. Umpires
in the National league have been none too
lenient with players who attempt to mar
the game by fighting" the man who
renders decisions against them. The list OF
players who have drawn suspensions and
fines for batting umpires is a long one this
year These punishments teach players
that rowdyism doesn't pay
Lynch, having been an umpire himself
understands the umpires' position. Before
he announced his staff for 1911 he put his
men through a stiff examination to ascer-
tain whether they were tit for the places.
Before he appointed them he first wished
to learn II they knew base ball And those
who know Lynch say he did not allow
favoritism to enter his mind when he made
up his slate.
Other cities besides Pittsburgh have taken
dislike to Lynchs umpires. The feeling
against Ffnneran in Philadelphia is strong
There the fans accuse Lynch OF putting the
PhiIhes out of the race for the pennant
When Lynch suspended Sherwood Magee
| for assaulting Finneran there was nothing
| good Philadelphians would say about the
| National league president And even though
Magee is now back in the game, the Quaker
City fans have an antagonistic feeling to-
ward the National leagues head. However
| they realize that Lynch made them ac-
acquainted with the fact that he is the boss.
In Pittsburgh the dissatisfied ones deplore
| the fact that Lynch has been idle in the
matter of securing new umpires. This is
what one has to say:
Mr.. Lynch should not only get some
good umpires to help the few high-class
men he already has, but he should exercise
a little judgment in assigning them. For
| instance, Brennan is rated as one of the
best field umpires in the league, and yet
VIGOROUSLY poor man at Judging balls and
strikes. 1t follows that Mr., Brennan should
be assigned to regular work on the bases
and not sent behind the bat at all. The
same is true in the case of Finneran- He
is only fair man at the best and has not
improved much since he broke, into the
game. But his work behind the bat is out
rageous, and it is imposing on players and
patrons to have him working there"
Finneran is termed the poorest excuse
for workman behind the bat that has
shown in the National league since Jack
Doyle was tin-canned." They also say that
Rigler is very good man behind the plate,
but is an incompetnent officer on the bases.
Further delightful little passages follow:
'Lynch's staff this season has been a
joke. He has some good officials, but he
hasn't enough of them. It is significant
that practically every man appointed by
Lynch himself has failed to make good.
Some Of his appointments were so incon1-
petent as to be worse than ludicrous How
ever, his 'joke' failed Of appreciation on the
part Of the club owners and players who
suffered through their ignorance Of the
rules and of the first principles of conduct
| on the field.
IF reports are true. Lynch has secured
Owen, the best umpire in the American as
ISOLATION. This is a move in the right d.
| rection and there is no reason why he
should not go out and get two or three more
real complement men and then fire the in
competents from his staff"