Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
Bv j. w. HeiSman.

an umpire should handle the de-
cisions that come up in a ball
anne while he is standing back of the
catcher and home plate. Problems of
somewhat different nature often
confront him when he takes his stand
cut in the field Of play behind the
itcher.
The umpire should take this latter
Osition whenever a man gets on
ase, with the idea of being nearer TO
the scene of action in case he should
I g called upon to render a base de-
Cision.
From this position he will find that
has a better view of the plate and
e pitched balls than when behind the
catcher. for the reason that the pitch
or in front of him will not interfere
50 much with his view of these plays
IS does a catcher.
Standing behind the pitcher an UNI
ire must always he expectant of the
itcher OF catcher throwing TO a base
to nail a runner, aud be should be
are to follow the play carefully or
ls'e he will find that something has
appened without his knowledge. He
should be quick to apprehend a throw
# the pitcher down to second and be
-
Must Get Close to Play.
The point that l consider most i'm
! ortant of all for an umpire to bear in
! lind is to get as close as possible to
lie base at which you expect to have
to make a decision, without being or
letting in the way Of the play itself
Suppose a man IS on first and the
after hits safely to right with the hit
nd run on 1t is certain the runner
n first will attempt to take third on
ne hit, and the right fielder will make
is throw to that sack. In such case
the umpire ought to be within a cou-
lie of feet of third base at the time
the throw and the runner get there, in
rder that he may be in the best pos
sible position to judge. The same
rule holds good for other plays at
Their bases; and if it appears that
there is likely to be a double play he
hould have the second play in mind
nd get after that one also. For the
life of me l can't understand why so
lany umpires think all in the world
rlace, look wise and make the best
uess they can. If they would only
love and get about the field, the
tame as a referee and umpire have to
in football, they would find them
elves working into positions where
they could give decisions that would
leet with more general satisfaction.
Take the case of a fly ball or line
rive hit right down the first or third
ase line. Often enough an umpire
as plenty of time in which to run
,ver and sight along the line before
he ball hits the ground but half of
lem never stir out of their tracks.
his is the result of lazinesH and such
man is unfit to umpire a game; If
II is mere thOughtlessness the fault
hOuld be corrected. and can easily be
Don't Argue With Players.
Some players seem born to kick in
all games, whether they are captain
r. not. If were umpiring a game |
r-ould never listen to anybody but the
,aptain and not him except in case of
IS differing with me as to the word
ing or Interpretation of rule, never
Ia case of q question Of fact. There
Is no reason on earth why baseball
layers should be allowed to argue
nd delay games as much as they do
is not permitted in tennis. basket
all, football, track or any other
ports In fact. II would be very bad
orm for players to question an off,
iaTs decision in other sports the way
hey do in baseball, and certainly in
other country are officials treated
18th the general discourtesy that we
ee exhibited by players to umpires in
every baseball game in this country.
But if, in umpiring a game, I found
] had made a mistake, whether in in
terpreting a rule or in deciding a
cuestion of fact, I would certainly
ave no hesitation whatever in re
ersing my decision on the spot. The
revalent idea that after an umpire
as once made a decision he can not
. hanga iS non or Cntlrsa ha
could not do so after the game had
fone on a while, other players come
10 the bat, etc. But if before any
urther playing has been done the
mpire ascertains that he has made
mistake he can undoubtedly re-
erse his decision In fact, we see II
cone every day. An umpire calls the
lunner safe, but right after, or soon
thereafter observes that the fielding
LAYER or haseman did not catch and
old the ball as he, the umpire, at
rst supposed he had. Clearly the
runner should have been called safe,
nd what choice has the umpire but
to reverse his decision and call him
so7
Jumps Fooled in Trapped Ball.
Quite often an umpire is called
pom TO decide whether an outfielder
caught a ball before it touched the
iround or whether he got IT on a trap.
zoo many umpiTcs are fooled by the
clever acting of the outfielder who
retends always that he caught it on
the fly. whether he really did or not
l-mpires should entirely disregard
the actions and behavior Of the play
,r after getting the ball and judge
entirely from the way his eyes saw
the play. This same proposition con-