The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-21
SAYS C0ACHERS
ARE BIC HELP
Are Important Cogs in Base
ball, Declares Tigers Peer
less Leader.
MUST KEEP PLAYERS
KEYED TO HIGH PITCH
Should Make Most of Every
Successful Effort at Bat
and on Bases.

The men who do the coaching are
important cogs in the baseball ma
chine that is to grind out victories.
They are animated by twofold pur-
pose, says Hugh Jennings, Detroit
manager and acknowledged king Of
coach line comedians and strategists.
They must make the most of every
successful effort at bat aud on the
bases, taking advantage of every mo.
mentary weakness Of the opposition to
further their own cause.
They must never allow enthusiasm to
lag, but must keep the players keyed
up, regardless of temporary 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 a
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
tation.
When | am on the coaching line I
keep silent until we have a runner
on bases. / may do something to let
my boys know j am hopeful, but the
rules bar vocal encoura cement of the
batter.
A batsmsn becomes runner. Sup.
pose we say he singles. The next man
sacrifices. Occasionally on this play
the runner may take two bases, but
this can be done only when the infeld
plays carelessly.
We have man on second and one
out: A safe hit. and the run is the
logical hope. Take il for granted the
batter will get that hit II he doesn It
we can hardly hope to get the run
ner past third, and will be concerned
only with the advisa bility of holding
second
Expecting that hit-there's lot in
having confidence in your men, believe
mel glance over the outfeld. 1t may
plan accordingly.
The hit comes. 1t is Just over third
and the out6elder is a poor thrower.
While the ball is rolling I motion nv
runner to try for the plate.
The crowd expects him TO be thrown
ont. The play is close, but the runner
slides in ahead of the ball. Meantime
fine batter has been sent to second by
the coach on first; The crowd thinks
it was a play that would not vary
fifth of second in dozen trials
The third base coach must keep con
stsnt watch on the inhelder with a run
mel. on second. The runner watches the
ball. The coach must warn him when
an opponent slips behind him.
Every baseball crowd likes clean.
legitimate coaching-coaching free
from senseless yelling, blackguardipg
pitchers, and the like. / believe we
could improve the game by allowing
the coachers more latitude, particularly
where the game drags along inning af-
ter inning without men getting onto
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, would not be surprised to see
the effect of such coaching apparent in
the score.
The present coaching rules were
drafted when players were far less un-
der the control of the umpires than
they are at present. There is almost
no danger of abuse if more latitude is