The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-05
That is the One Thing in Base
ball YOwls of Fans Have
Not Affected
COBB AND JACKSON GET
THE MOST FREE PASSES
It is Up to Bobby Veach tO'Make
Good in the Pinches Cobb
Escapes
BY RALPH l.. YONKER.

fans nave never VOL
They have forced big league club
owners TO pay their stars bigger sal
saries than they ID. |. C. o. thought
they could; they have forced them 10
hire and fire managers; they nave
forced players and umpires TO give
them everything possible in the way
, of quick action and snappy Dali
games.
But they never yet have forced "A
pitcher to pitch to man, ii ne
wanted to pass him purposely. CROWDS
have Kissed Indignantly, they nave
yowled and threatened 10 mob the
pitcher: but he has thrown four I'M
possible ones to the batter and pass
ed his man.
Passing good hitters purposely when
there are men on the bases ahead o.
them waiting to score has been
thorn in the side OF every fan for
wears. All kinds OF schemes have been
suggested to make ii impossible 10
do this but nobody has been smart
enough as yet to think up any system
whereby pitchers could be forced TO
pitch to their batters.
Cobb. Jackson, and recently Frank
Baker, are the swatters in the Amer
lean league whose value to their CLUBS
has been diminished most regularly by
the refusal of pitchers to put the ball
where they can hit it in crises.
Hitting is one OF the most enjoy
able parts OF the game and ii detracts
much from the pleasure OF contest
To see q couple of men get on only TO
have our favorite slugger walked on
purpose.
Following Cobb as does Bobby
veach places u greater burden upon
Robert that II he were In any other
place In the batting order as far az
hitting In pinch comes. Every time
that ryrus IL presented with duly
countersigned pass, II means that
veach must hit In the pinch that
Cobb escaped.
II the burden bearer makes good.
the greater is the praise coming TO
him. But IL he falls down. there Is
feeling of unattonable resentment just
az IL the umpire had robbed the Tig-
ers Of the contest.
Manager Jennings of the Tigers has
said that there is no scheme whereby
the passing of men purposely could be
prohibited. They do II openly now
because II is considered part OF base,
ball. II they we're not allowed to do
II openly, they would do SO under
cover of Witness.
There Is no doubt that the system
robs baseball Of great deal, but what
can be done about 1t?
The Cincinnati base hit is being
Htried out for the first time In the
major leagues this season. Thus far
there have been some murmurings
against II, but there seems to be no
call as yet for its adjustment
There IL no doubt but that II often
gives batsman hit when he has
<done nothing whatsoever to deserve
lone, but nobody but the pitchers are
Kicking q great deal about that.
( On the other hand 1t is claimed
THAT the gifts only make up In the
Hong run for the hits that the players
tare robbed Of when they force men on
A. balls that could not be so handled as
Ito retire them at first.
The using Of the Cincy base hit has
nothing whatever to do with the rules
OF the game. Ii IL simply matter or
standafdizing scoring. Various scor-
ers had various methods OF scoring
the "helder's choice" Now all Official
scorers must give batter Cincy
base hit when he hits with one man or
more on the paths and an unsuccess-
ful errorless effort Is made to force
the man nearest the plate.
The report from Philadelphia that
Stanage has been benched by Ma(h.
ager Jennings sounds as II IL were
the straight dope.
Stanage has been playing as II he
didn't care whether school kept.
Hughie says that on the eastern trip
his lack OF pep has been woeful, that
/ he hasn't been throwing we'll, and
THAT he has been hitting minus .O30.
The benching OF Stanage means |
Ithat Mckee and Rondeau will bed
|giyen their chance to make good
II those Athletics will give Cobb
Ichance he'll give the Philadelphia
FANS their moneys worth. Every time
The II allowed to get on n he bags over
let that Philly town, ne shows the
|Elophants up He doesn't always
|conform TO what would appear to be
THE best team baseball at the time
hut by his very doing so. he man,
lagos to get the Athletics so unsettled
(tl>t hs can pull of seemingly impos.
Esible stunts.
II is q matter OF personal pride
with Cobb to show the Philadelphia
club mp.
HARRY STEiNFELDT TO