Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-10
BY J. ED GRILLO.

There is perhaps no more important po-
sition during bali game than the coach
er at third base. On the judgment Of the
individual filling that position many a
ball game depends. and yet one often
finds inexperienced youngsters sent there
to coach.
or nothing. only being of service when
the first baseman is playing behind the
base runner. for the coacher can watch
him sneaking to the bag to make a play
from the pitcher or catcher.
At third base it is different. The base
runner has the play behind him most of
the time. and must depend on the. coacher
at third as to whether to attempt to reach
the plate or remain at third. The coacher
must be a quick thinker, for under GER
tain conditions it is policy to take long
chances to score, while under other cir
cumstances it is foolhardy to make the
attempt.
Watch a we'll regulated ball team and
you will always find a player of expert
ence and wisdom coaching at third
base. 1t may send a player who can do
nothing but make noise to first for that
purpose. but intelligence should be taken
into consideration when the coacher for
third base is chosen
Barring the Athletics who on form fig
ure to win the pennant again this year.
the other seven teams of the American
League are sure to have a very interest
ing struggle. 1t stands to reason, of
course, that neither Washington nor st.
Louis is to be rated with the other Ave
contenders. unless there is a faH-down on
the part of these, but both the Nationals
and Browns are teams which are going to
prove troublesome for all their rivals.
1t is no easy matter this year to pick
to be conceded that the Athletics will re-
peat. Boston, New York. Detroit, Cleve-
land and Chicago all have chance to be
the runners-up. True, Chicago does not
look as formidable as it's rivals, but with
strong pitching staff and intelligent
management it is very apt to upset calcu-
lations and prove factor in the race.
There is no doubt about Cleveland having
a chance to be high up at the finish. Da-
Wis has what on paper appears to be a
eddy is much stronger than that team has
been in several years, while the change
of management and the elimination of
dissens1on are going to make a big differ
ence in the New York team.
There is no way to figure on past per-
ftrmance how either Washington or st.
Louis is going to beat out any of these
teams, and yet stranger things have hap
pened. but these two tailenders are very
apt to make 1t interesting for teams
which have ambitions to finish high up in
the race.
Inc game has perhaps never known a
queerer character than Bill Burns, once
a member of the local pitching staff. and
since leaving here a member of many
other teams.
In none Of his stays with major league
teams has he ever made good for the
reason that he did not take the necessary
amount of interest in his work, though
he possessed lots of ability. Washing
ton, Chicago Philadelphia and Cincinnati
all have had him, and when he finally
landed with Minneapolis it was taken for
granted that his major league career had
come to a close. But evidently Bill thinks
there is one more chance for him. He
must be satisfied Of this, for he dug
down in his jeans and gave up 81 500 for
his release, SO that he could join the De-
troit team. From the first time that
Burns ever saw the Tigers in action he
has had a yearning to be one of them.
He frequently expressed this wish while