Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-04
SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON D. s.
CRIFF'SPITCHINC STAFF
IS BEST IN LEAGUE
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Nor is it apt to ever be able to equal
the old leagues from an artistic stand
point Competent base ball men have
been in charge of the teams of the majors
for the last decade. Players have been
educated along modern lines, and the out
siders. should they go into the field. would
hardly be able to conduct the game along
the high plane which it has attained
during recent years.
1t is questionable If the public demands
rule which will eliminate the tnten-
tional base on balls. but no harm would
result if a handicap was placed on the
pitcher who resorted to this bit OF STRAIT
egg. It does not look like real sports
manship to make the Intentional pass SO
apparent that the spectators can tell
what is about to be done before q single
ball has been pitched to the waiting
batter. That is done under the present
system, because the catcher stands so
far away from the plate to receive the
ball that it is impossible for the batter
to reach it. If the rule was changed 50
as to keep the catcher behind the plate
it would not eliminate the intentional
pass. but it would require perfect con-
troll on the part of the pitcher to make the
play possible. He would have to keep the
bali near to the plate to prevent wild
pitch, yet he would not dare to put a
regulation strike over for fear of having
the ball hit. If anything is done with
reference to the intentional pass. the
changing of the catchers lines seem to
be the most plausible, though the game
will not suffer to any extent if the pres
ent system is continued.
Any innovation in base ball requires
time to become popular. When the foul
strike rule was adopted it was claimed that
the game would lose it's popularity as a
result. yet it was not long before 1t was
forgotten that there was a time when
fouls did not count for strikes.
There isn't any doubt that the inten-
tional pass mars the sport to some ex-
tent. OF course, when the home team
before a home crowd resorts to this
practice and gets away with it 1t brings
forth a lot of praise and enthusiasm. but
such Is not the case when conditions are
reversed. Besides. it looks unfair to
he is intended for. To eliminate the
free pass would by no means hurt the
game or rob it Of any of its STRAIT
egg which managers employ.
Tom Hughes has been given permission
to negotiate with the Los Angeles club
of the Pacific Coast League. Convinced
that he could not land Hughes on any
of the first-class umpire STATS. Manager
Griffith decided to let the veteran tWirler
Angeles wants Hughes and the player
has been notified of this fact and has
been given the privilege of doing his own
negotiating with that club.
Hughes is the third player Griffith has
sent to Los Angeles since the season
closed. Barton and Calvo being the other
two. Love, the tall southpaw. Is also
apt to be sent there with Hughes while
it is not unlikely that several other OF
the recruits will be turned over to Man
ager Dillon. who is Griff1th's cousin.
Hughes has most likely ended his major
league career. but the chances are that
he will be star out on the coast, for sc
far as knowledge of the art is concerned
Hughes has few equals in the game. Be
sides. he is in perfect physical condition
and if given plenty of rest between
games is sure to be winner. Hughes
hopes eventually to land a job as an UNI
pire, a position for which he considers
himself well fitted. But for several
years more he is apt to shine as a class
A minor league pitcher.