El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-14
COochers Can No Longer
WrestJe With Base Runners
Change in Playing Code Falls Hard on Third Base Coach
ers Especially; Football and Wrestling Tactics
Are Now Barred by Rule Adopted Re
GENTLY Handouts May Be Used
BY BILLY EVANS

OVERS Of football and wrestling viii
no longer get an occasional thrill at
ball game. Low tackles by the
coacher and impromptu wrestling
bouts between cOacher and base runner are
no longer the style Many a game mas
been saved, and perhaps lost, pecause oL
some daring tackle by the cOacher. Many
a game has furnished its wrestling feature
with the coacher on the defensive ana Ine
base runner on the offensive. Third base
territory was always the scene Of such hap
peuings
Judging from the rough methods many
coachers INDUCED in last year, IL Woulo
not be q bad idea for all managers 70 hanu-
cuff some Of them when sent to work az
third base At least so times last summer
T observed toachers interfering with the
base runner No doubt every other umpire
had as many situations arise In games IN
which he had charge In every instance
the method Of the COacher was brought
into play, because Of a difference OF opin-
ion between coacher and base runner, as 20
the chances Of the runner TO reaCh tne
plate in safety Perhaps majority OF
times, the judgment Of the coacher IS the
best due to the fact that he is in better
position to see the play and the possibili-
ties However. I have seen many import
ant games lost through the failure OF the
coacher to grasp the opportunities pre-
Coachers Duties Are Important.
There is no denying the TACT that me
duties Of the cOacher at third base are
most important. Under the new ruling ne
must be even more alert than ever ne
must reach his conclusions more quickly
and transmit them Immediately to the base
runner, for no longer can he protect him
self and the base runner, by reSorrng 70 a
low tackle wrestling hold 1t is gong
to be mighty hard for some of the coachers,
who were prone to indulge in 1oOtDall ana
wrestling tactics in slowing up the base
runner. Managers in the past usually sell
lected some fellow who would resort 10
such tactics Now these cOachers must re-
form. OF new ones be pressed into service
Tt has been the custom in the past Tor
umnires 10 call the runner out II the
ooacher interfered with the runner when
play was being made at the base. OIIen a
runner would Overrun third the ball Woulu
be thrown there to make a play on MIN,
stopping the runner. and hurting him back
in the direction Of third, he was often able
10 avoid being touched out In such cases
the umpire always called the base runner
out for the coacher's interference, because
he directly fnterfered with the play.
Was Hard to Draw the Lines
In many cases runners round third, Dent
on trying for the plate, but a Wei dlrecled
tackle of the coacher prevents them from
going through with their intention The
the action Of the coacher, no play Is pos
sible although it was a ten TO one bet
that had not the COacher 1ntertered, the
runner would have been an easy out In
over the activities Of the coacher. However,
there would always be a protest, and the
umpire would have a hard time explaining
lust where he drew the line Now II is an
easy matter the rule is very plain, the
base runner is out the moment the cOacher
where the play comes UP.
It is a good rule. 1t should improve base
running, for runners viii have to keep their
wits about them. and pay some attention to
stead Of running with their head down and
depending on a flying tackle or a strange