The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-14

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Ter, al that we're left in town Of the
joint rules committee Of the Ameri-
can and National league. met today,
adopted all of the changes in the
scoring rules recommended by the
Baseball Writer'S association, and also
made some changes OF importance In
the playing rules An the changes
they made are official and final and
will go into the official rules Of base
ball. The scoring changes include the
Cincinnati HIT folders choice
taking its place.
a new section, I, has been added
to rule so Of the playing code. which
defines when base-runners are out,
as follows:
II ceacher at third touch or
hold q base-runner Al third base. or
a hase-runner who is rounding third
base for the home plate, the umpire
shall declare fsueh base-runner out
Hereafter when an umpire in fair
ground is hit by a thrown ball base
runners, instead Of having to return
10 bases. shall be entitled to sill the
bases they can make.
The change is effected By altering
section ! Of rule 50. the words ION
foul ground being stricken out: also
by rewording section of rule 50 to
conform to the change
Rule so. which has to do with the
delivery Of the ball to the bat, is
added to by the insertion Of the
clause "or on top OF the pitchers
plate" Pitchers always have stood
on top Of the plate ii they wanted
to, but il wasn't 50 nominated in the
bond.
Uniformity In Rules.
The Committee discussed the ques-
ton of uniformity in the two big
leagues as to whether it should be
considered a halk when the pitcher
dropped the bali when about to de-
liver it, This is balk in the Ma
tional league and not balk in the
American. The National leaguers told
johnson today they would retain Their
Interpretation. and Ban said he would
talk it over with his umpires before
agreeing TO come around To the Ma
tionafs way OF thinking.
Section g. under the head Of "Balk-
ing" was amended To read;
ANY delivery OF the ball to the
bat by the pitcher. while either foot
is back of and not in contact with
the plate.
The words and not in contact
with" are new. and are intended II
prevent wrangling started by the prac-
tice Of some pitchers in sneakinG
foot back OF the plate.
Words were inserted in section 2
of rule As. to emphasize that when
a batter drives a home run over the
fence he must always run around the
bases. There have been cases IN
which hatters didn't do this. and
wasn't compelled TO by the umpire.
Again in cases in which the fence
is less than 235 feet away, and such
hits go as two baggers, the batter al
ways must touch the bases in regu-
lar order.
To section 5. rule 81, dealing with
I when Batsmen Are out" are added
the words.
Except that the batsmen shall not
be out under this section IT me base
runner he declared out according 10
section Is. rule SIS"
Is Important Rule.
The point of this change is this:
There have been cases of the bat
ter interfering with the catcher when
man is coming in from third, on
the squeeze play, for instance. and
both the batter and base-runner being
declared out. Hereafter in such cases
only the runner shall be declared out.
1t wasn't considered fair TO rule both
men out and by declaring the run
ner out the off aiding team does not
get "A run through the uHttNiui AT
of the batter.
An addition was made TO section l9
tformeriy section is), of rule So which
bears on the subject OF base runners
being out by coachers at third base
running In such a way as to draw a
throw TO the plate by which the run
ner benefits The rule instanced while
a fielder is making or trying to make
a play on a batted ball not caught
on the fly. or thrown ball. and TO
this clause is added "or a fly ball. the
| absence of which words has been due
to an oversight
The coaching rules trule $50 are
changed so that "a coacher may adj
dress words OF assistance and direction
| to the ase-runners as well as the bats
man" 1t was against the National
| league idea to allow a coacher to talk
| to a batsman--though permissible in
| the American--and as the rule was
somewhat of deal letter 1T is done
away with.
| Ground ltuIes Changed.
| On the subject of ground rules. not
only will two bases be allowed after
this on thrown balls going into stand
| or the players bench. but on ball
which sticks in the screen protecting
| spectators.
| Under the heading Suspension OF
| Play"--ruIe "a. section Sis the fol-
| lowing sentence.
| Time shall not be called by the UNI
pire until the ball be held by the pitch
! err while standing in his position" To
| this il added: Except that this does
! not apply TO section 5. rule 81, nor does
| II apply in case Of fiSe. panic or Storm
Section 3. rule 81, prescribes the call
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