The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-01
SPORTING LIGHTS
THE UMplREs SAD LOT.
BY Grantland Ricc.l

- IISS.J
The umpire is the one official who is
always up against it. The football
referee or umpire may fail to see some
foul which is claimed and let it go
by default. The fight referee always
has the old alibi of a draw" in a
light spot. The Judge can put it up
to the jury oil clothe his answer in
such a mass of language that neither
side knows what the score is until said
judge has made his escape.
But in balloon the Jump must give
mis- decision n way or another and
give 1t with the play. And these de-
cisions mean as much or more to the
final score than the batting or fielding
of any two men involved.
The umpire, with close decisions
that may he given with fair Justice
at least 80 of the 1874 contests played
by each club.
Their are any number of decisions
that are based Upon plays where the
correct answer is a toss-up. And in
a close. hard fought battle the team
drawing the bulk of these close ones
will nose out in front. This accounts
in big measure for the fight some
managers make in keeping after the
judges of play for the close ones"
They figure that by constantly remind
ing the umpire that he has given the
rival club all the best of it upon these
neck-and-neck decisions he will he
more inclined to turn and even up.
Mctiraw is the leader along these
lines. The Giant leader. in making
his roar. isn't figuring on the play al
ready called. but is looking to the one
ahead.
What's the use of kicking now?"
queries the fan. The decision is al.
ready given and kicking can't change
H. which is true enough. But the
kicker is often working for effect: to
get the break at the next opening: to
make the m fee that he has given
him the worst of it and that the next
tight one is due the other way around.
Connie Mack works along different
lines. AS a starter. Connie isn't a
kicker anyhow and has but little to
say. His aggregation is cast within
a different mold from that of McCiraw,
B~reSnahan or even Chance and Jen-
ninss. And Connie also figures that
an umpire will he more inclined to
give that club an eve break or ever
n shade the best Of it which lets him
alone. Most of his people. in place OF
prodding h imp. arc always boost
ing him-always there with the polite
and friendly MISUNDERSTANDING him
along throughout the game.
Connie probably has the correct
SEStenl-but there are undoubtedly
types thai are more influenced by the
other method. For while McC;raw is
the most aggressive of the bunch.
Chance. Jennings. Clarke n others
are far from heing mild-mannered in
n hectic battle where the decisions are
apparently going against them.
Fielder Jones. one of the most sue
eessful managers that ever lived,
come i'll from center field about every
other inning to launch a heated de-
bate with some official-not so much
in the way of a kick over what had
been called. but for general effect up.
on others to come.
AS to whichever system is best from
a working viewpoint. in so far as we
are personally and even impersoually
concerned there will be no active COM
petition i'll bidding for tho umpire's
post. With most players and specta-
tors it isn't a question of the right
decision. but rather as to which club
is favored. Decisions look different
ron different parts of the field. but
as the umpire is generally on ton of
the job in about ninety cases out of
one hundred he is exactly right. This
may reach 95 per cent. but even an
average Of 900 is fair enough under
the handicap imposed.