New-York tribune., 1912-02-12
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Some Rules of Baseball which
Need Strengthening Out.
NO HANDICAP IN FOOTBALL
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

duNl 4 lOL OLCOoAOASNis
Baseball is looming up on the sporting
horizon. II will be two full months before
the first championship game is played. but
in the mean time there will be much to
keep the fans interested. The fun, in
fact, will begin this week, when the Ma
tional LeIgle meets in this city on Tues
day to adopt the playing schedule and
transact such other business as may be
necessary, and when the American League
meets in Chicago on Wednesday for the
same purpose. The week will be marked
also by the departure of some of the Giants
for the Southern training camp, following
which news will come bubbling forth Of
the dolngs OF this player or that in their
preparation for the pennant race.
The fans always look forward TO the
publication of the schedule. Few If any
changes are now made from year TO year,
but it is interesting to study over the dates
and find out exactly just what teams will
open the season and where. In view Of the
fact that the new home OF the Boston Red
Sox will not be finished in time for the
opening Of the season the usual sequence
IL likely to be broken. It was the turn Of
the Red Sox to open at home with the
Boston Braves on the road, but the rumor
has gone out that both leagues will respect
the predicament in which Jim McAleer
finds himself, which means q general shake
I'D Of the opening games in the East. The
Yankees, Of course, will set the ball roll
ing in this city with Washington or Bos-
ron, while the Philadelphia Athletics will
ret another opening day plum.
II the rumor is correct, the Philadelphia
club Of the National League must be the
one to accommodate the Boston Red Sox
by giving UP its opening day, while the
Boston Braves will profit by the transfer
and open at home with either the Phillies
3 or the Giants. The Superbas also will
begin the race on their own grounds, which
, means that they will have the Phillies for
opponents if the Giants 60 to Boston or
81 vice versa.
II present plans are carried out Joint
meeting of the rules committees Of the two
rlaior leagues also will be held in this city
. this week to consider some suggestions Of
fered for changes in the playing code II
IS quite possible, however, that this meet"
ing may not be held. According 10 Joe S.
jackson, a member of the American League
rules committee, no provision has been
made in the constitution Of either league
for definite call to be issued. 1t remains
then. for the two committees TO gather IN
session by mutual consent, while each is
in a position by refusing to block any
effort to amend the code.
There is need for joint meeting Of the
committees, If for no other reason than to
straighten out two or three little tangles
interpre1dtiOn
Of the rules Opinions differ as to just
Uhat constitutes an infeld fly, and its
being automatically an out with first
ord secon6. or first second and third
bases occupied and only one man down.
The Pittsburgh Pirates protested de-
cisiop under this rule last year, but IL
vas not upheld by President Lynch. 1t
appears that in a game with Cincinnati
the Reds had two men on the bases when
the batter, in attempting 10 bunt, put up
= little pop fly in front Of the plate, which
Gibson, the Pittsburgh catcher, just failed
70 reach. Both runners advanced base
and the game eventually went to the
Reds. Fred Clarke, manager Of the Pirates,
insisted that the batter was not on the In
field hy ruling, but the umpire ruled other
wise. and was sustained. The rule is bit
indefinite and should be amended TO make
II absolutely clear and 10 cover the point
in question.
Another question which arose last year
and which should be thTashed out has to
do with a play which occurred in Boston
last season. With one man out and run
ner on first base the batsman hammered
out a home run: the ball was felded TO the
catcher, who touched the runner who had
scored from first. The umpire then called
both rner out on the ground that the player
Who had been on the bag had failed 10
touch second base John NJ. Ward, who is
on the National League rules committee
this year. has upheld President Lynch, who
decided that the umpire's ruling was cor
rect Tom Connolly, the umpire, who has
heen named by Ban johnson as member
Of the American rules committee, takes
the opposite view, contending that the
bafsnan who had driven out the home run
should score inasmuch as he was in no
way responsible for the action Of the run
ner ahead Of him.
Just what precedent President Lynch and
John III. Ward have for the ruling l do not
know, but It seems TO me that Tom Con-
nally is absolutely right In his interpreta-
hon. The last named mas equity On us S!0S
I'm any case. / do not presume to be
ksssball lawyer, but first and last fairness
should be considered in interpreting any
rule. and there is no fairness, IN my
opinion, for one player to be deprived OF
home run and his team Of score through
the carelessness or fault OF some other
runner on the paths. The rules committee
would do well to pass on this question and
settle 1t for all time, as ii is likely to crop
out in almost any game.
John j. McGTaw, whose opinion must be
respected when baseball is under discus
sion, Is in favor Of a more stringent rule
10 govern the delivery Of pitcher, Or
better yet, to prevent the pitcher from edg-
ing up in delivering the ball TO the bats
man. He suggests that small, shallow
=. hole directly back OF the pitchers rubber,
should be dug on every major league dta-
mond, and that the umpire should insis,
on a pitcher keeping one foot in that
hole while delivering the ball. Clark Grtf-
ath, the new manager of the Washington
Senators, and once leading pitcher, Is ~
favor OF McGraw's suggestion, and Offers
a couple Of others which he thinks would
make for good. Griffith insists that pernla.
sion should be granted TO coach the batter
Ut any time, and urges that the field UNI