The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-09
CHANGE IN RULES
NOW SUGGESTED
Would Reduce Number of Balls.
Also Prohibit Intentionally
Passing Batter.

Chicago, February s.--When the
Joint rules committee. representing the
major leagues. meets this month two
radical changes in the code will be
suggested for consideration. John j.
Eyers. manager OF the Chicago Cubs,
believes, for various reasons, that the
number OF called balls should be re-
duced from four to three. and that
men on second and third bases should
move up when q pass Is purposely
handed TO a heavy batsman. Other
baseball men advocate a measure ex-
pected to do away with the practice
OF stealing signs" The Cubs enter
prising manager explains the idea in
this way:
when q pitcher Intentionally gives
. base on balls TO q heavy hitter 20
get a weaker one TO the plate. base
ball crowds usually cry out In pro-
teat. 1t is often the case that players
will reach third and second baseS
with a strong batsman coming UP. The
latter Is passed purposely and the next
man. comparatively poor hitter. il
oisposd OF easily.
Under tho rule / intend to submit
to the joint committee this practice
would be abolished II the pitcher
walked a big hitter with a man on
third. the latter would be permitted
TO score a run. while q man on second
would go TO third. II 10 my idea that
a pitcher should be compelled TO put
the bail over the plate under these
conditions. II only to improve the bat
ting and run making
THE foul strike rule has increased
the effectiveness Of the pitchers to an
alarming degree. so that. in ny opin-
i'm. they should not be allowed TO
tighten their grip on the hatsmen-
That is why ! VIII suggest that the
number Of called balls be reduced from
four to three. Then Il would lie i'm
possible for a pitcher TO waste balls
10 handicap the chances OF base run
ners."
Severa! baseball men who discussed
Eyerss suggestions seemed TO think
that the three-ball idea might find
favor. as II would tend TO lessen the
effectiveness of the boxmen, but they
also argued that II tbs Intention" of
a pitcher in giving a pass was left
10 the judgment of an umpire. wrans-
increased.
The stealing Of signs" has come
to be an evil which some OF the best
known club owners are anxious 10
squelch. The term stealing the
signs" doesn't always mean that the
coachers on the lines detect the Sig
nails In the catchers' mitts for the
guidance OF the men in the b)x. II Is
often the case that keen Observers
among the players observe certain Pc
culiaritiss in the delivery usec by a
pitcher which tips OF the kind Of ball
10 look for at the plate.
The Athletics perfected this method
of getting onto the signals some
time ago. the belief being that Chief
Bender was wizard in this respect
when stacioncd on the third base
coaching line.
But the r,agaates wb) think that
the catcher'g signs are easily read by
the coachers a. first and third bases
have a remedy In the shape Of rule
that will move the coaching lines back
ut least six feet further away from the
base paths. so that IL will be physi-
caiiy impossible 20 get in a line OF
vision with the interior OF the back
stops gloves. II was made serious
offence two years ago TO rig up
signal tipping bureau behind the out
field fence. from which. with the aid
OF powerful glasses. man could see
the catcher's signs and then "teie-
graph" them to the batsman- In the
American League IL IS understood
that expulsion must be the fate OF a
manager under whose auspices a tip
ping bureau Is conducted. whether ne
admits that ne knows Of it or not