The Washington herald., 1911-01-15

Fred Payne, former Tiger and now
member Of Charles Comiskey's white
hosed crew. does not appear with credit
in the list of backstop victims in Eddie
Collins base-stealfng record for 1909 Col
Inns stole more bases on Payne last sea-
son than on any other catcher with one
exception. This other party is Stephens.
of the St Louis Browns. He is charged
with eleven of Collins pilfered sacks
while Payne is accused in seven instances.
In the record of Collins the injustice
done to catcher is fOrcibly displayed.
The rules are lax in this department and
the methods OF scoring put much blame
on a catcher that belongs elsewhere.
When Credit In Due.
runner should receive credit for a
stolen base when there is no chance Of
getting him at second or third or at the
plate, to whatever station he happens to
advance to by stealing. II the fielder gets
the ball in time to tag the man and makes
a misplay the fielder should be charged
with the error, but this rarely happens.
Expert base runners like Cobb, Collins,
Bush. and few others have the ability
to evade the man holding the ball. Cobb
can slide around nearly every infielder
So can Bush. 4 perfect throw that
reaches the infielder in plenty of time
often fails to result in the retirement Of
these runners. The catcher has done his
part we'll: il could not have been done
better. still he must suffer for the rum
ner'S advance
Sometimes II IL Pitcher's Fault.
1t is not always the infielder: the
pitcher is often to blame. Take Edgar
Willett and his wind-up-he always gives
the runner an advantage. Catchers have
to make hurried throws under this ham
dicap and if they get the ball near the
bag in time it often happens that the
throw is bad.
DOC" White. of the Chicago White
Sox. Is another example. Any good base
runner can have flying start on White
when he delivers that slow hook curve
which he uses quite frequently in his
f1insing repertoire.
IL base runner uses his brains he
can outguess the pitcher every time
Men like Cobb. Collins. Bush. and their
type know that big Frank Smith will
throw to first when he does not take a
look In that direction. Smith plans to
double-cross the runner He receives
his signal from the catcher. never caus-
ing himself to look to find out whether
of. When Smith does look the runner
knows that he will not throw the ball and
as soon as Smith turns the runner takes
flying start for the next bag. On the
other hand when he keeps his counte-
nance pointed in the direction OF the
home plate the runner will keep within
safe distance of the sack
These same runners know when
pitcher intends to throw TO first. II is
t.
Smiths. but every player betrays his in
tentions by some movement of the
shoulders. hips. or hands. The runner
who familfarizes himself with these can
and does constantly outguess the twirler.
With all these advantages held out to
the runner. not one-half of them look
toward the hpX to study the pitcher.
They are the lesser lights who go along
any old way day in and day out. They
look to the catcher or in any other di
rectior. but refuse to study the pitcher
and his motions.
Did Not Steal on Cy.
Few men stole on Young and Criger
when that pair became known as the
star battery of the country. Ind even
then Cy had that habit of holding the
ball close to his chest, both arms pressed
against the body. Cy facing the batter
and standing firm. He did not throw to
first to keep the runner close to the bag.
for with Criger as his battery mate
Young found ii unnecessary.
The first baseman can do much to
help the catcher. A good first-sacker
will be able to outguess the runner. He
can tell by a certain movement when
nine out of ten men intend to steal and
tip of the plan to the catcher. Isbell
had a lot Of good baseball sense in that
bald head of his and Isbell lent heaps
Of assistance to Billy Sullivan while
"Izzy'' was with the White Sox. He
generally knew when a man intended to
steal and the catcher found his lot easier.
So you will probably see that the catch
er is not always to blame.