Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-13

ledger. Cobb is not TO be blamed for
trying to get all the money possible for
his services. II ever there was ball
player deserving of $4,000 season 1t is
COBB. but to pay him that amount would
be an injustice to other players. not near
as brilliant perhaps and yet not so very
far behind him.
1t is absolutely certain that Cobb will
not get the salary he asks. No doubt
he could sign a contract tomorrow with
Detroit for more money than has ever
been paid a player in the history of the
game. but it won't be $4,000 per season.
So far as the club is concerned, 1T is in
position where it must Ntand pat. Cobb,
however, can come into the fold without
losing any prestige.
Cobb's suggestion that he be traded
is. of course, out of the question. In
the first place, Detroit, according to
base ball law, has an absolute claim
not the case, no club could afford to
make a bid for player holding out,
for 1T would encourage the practice, and
no club can tell when the time will
come when one of it's own players will
kick over the traces.
There is no reason, however, why
Cobb and the Detroit club should carry
on their negotiations through. the pub
lie prints. The chances are that if the
club and the player would have a con-
ference or two matters could be adj
justed, and both sides of the proposition
should aim to bring this about. The
game is not helped by having a player
like Cobb out Of harness. The game. of
course, will go without him, and in
year or two he would be forgotten,
but he is too brilliant a performer to
have the public deprived of the oppor-
tunity of seeing him in action.
1t is almost a certainty that Griffith
will carry seven or eight pitchers
through the entire season. Under eX-
listing conditions. team which hopes
to have something to say where the
next pennant shall float must be well
fortified on the pitchers slab 1t may
need but four regular workers, but it
must be fortified against accidents, and
be able to, go through siege of
double-headers without overworking any
of the pitchers. Griffith is strong for
his pitchers. He realizes the value of
a strong corps, and also the virtue of
being supplied with quantity as well as
quality.
Discipline on the ball field does not
date so very far back 1t is not so many
years ago when the game was done ir-
reparabIe injury because the players
were not properly disciplined. 1t is an
absolute fact that Cleveland as base
ball city was ruined and the club had
to be transferred because the conduct
OF the players hliicu the iitcieS' IA inc
sport.
Credit for the remarkable change which
has taken place is largely due to the
stern hand with which Ban Johnson
dealt with violators of the rules. Today
the conduct of the players on the field is
all that could be asked for. Umpires
make their decisions in fearless man
ner and few are the instances, indeed,
where the officials have any occasion for
inficting. punishment on the players.
This change for the better has been
brought about by the fact that Ban
to rule and there was no appeal from
their decisions. No doubt there have
been occasions when the innocent We're
punished, but On the whole much has
been done for base bell and the ball
player by the strict enforcement of the
rules
That the suggestion of Dave Fultz, the
president CT the Base Ball Players
Fraternity, to give the players fined or
punished By umpireS a hearing, should be
turned down Is not at ali surprising. 1t
would lie o step backward tn consider any
such proposition. The ball player who
lives up to the rules is never in trouble,
and he is of more value to his team as
result.
. After May 15 the major league clubs
must not have more than twenty-five
PLAYERS on their lists That is the maxi
mum number and should not be difficult
for any club to live up to. Griffith. for
instance, will be able to carry eight
pitchers. three catchers, six infielders and
five outfielders and then have room for
his two comedians, Altrock and Schaefer,
without violating any rules. The chances
are that the local club will be up to the
limit all year, as Griffith is especially
anxious to be we'll fortified in all posi- !
tons in the event of mishap to any Of