Evening star., 1915-10-03
Inquisitiue Fans.

Sporting Editor Star:
/. II batter strikes at pitched ball
only count. as a strike, X 1t. is the first
or second strike? Q. Was the Sisler
case settled by the national commits
sion. and, II SO, on what grounds, and
If not settled, by what right does st.
Louis use him? STATS.
commission could not go behind its own
records of declaring Sisler free agent.
but it Is understood that 1t promised
to give the Pittsburgh clubs argument
further consideration Sisters con-
tract was held by Pittsburgh, but on
ground that he desired his amateur
record esta blished. he was made free
agent and thus Pittsburgh's claim
wiped out.
Sporting Editor Star:
Batter hits ball On fair ground, but
it takes a bound back and hits his bat
as he starts for first and he reaches
base safely; umpire calls him safe, but
the league president overrules him and
er could have thrown batter out. but
did not try, as he thought ball was
foul. What decision was correct?
HENNESSY.
In the first place, after the umpire
had decided the hall fair, that was the
matter of Judgment and not to be
questioned by players OF league presi-
dent. 1t would be fine league presi-
dent who overruled his umpires every
foul ball decision. II the ball hit the
bat and bounded back into foul ground,
we would call it foul.
Sporting Editor Star:
Runners on first and second when
hol nd
steps behind plate, then throws over
first base; runners, thinking. the ball Is
in play with pitcher in position, ad-
vance one base each on his bad throw /;
who steps into position and then
throws ball to first and second; one
umpire calls runners out and the other
umpire sends them back to bases.
Which is correct? C. P. G.
The umpire who sent runners back
gave the only sensible decision. Ball
was not in play until held by pitcher in
position and play" called by umpire
behind plate. Whatever an erratic
pitcher may have done with the bali
before 1t is in play does not matter
unless the umpire wants to fine him
for delaying the game. AS for call
ing runners out. there is no possible
logical rule. and the umpire who made
that decision must have had a BRAIN
storm.
Sporting Editor Star:
Runner goes from first to second,
beating catcher's throw; second base
man retains the ball and another ball
is thrown into field by spectator; Sec
ond baseman picks up this bali and
tosses 1t to field umpire; runner then
leads Off second and second baseman
tags him with. ball that was in play;
umpire calls runner out Was bali
dead or was 1t In play and was the
runner out or safe? ELDER.
Umpire should call time when ball
out of play Is thrown into diamond, but
play would be resumed where 1t left
Off and ball that is held by second
basehhan still is in play. Therefore, 1t
seems the umpire's decision is technic-
ally correct and we don't see how he
could rule otherwise.
Sporting Editor Star:
Game Is called OF on account of rain
at end of first half of ninth inning,
score 3 to 2 In favor Of team first at
bat, which scored its third run in first
half of ninth: umpire and captain of
team in lead left grounds without no.
tice. Who should win the game?
JOHNSON.
II game was called off," somebody
must have called 1t OF and only the
umpire could have done SO. SO he sure
ly gave some notice before leaving
grounds. But that does not affect the
played. It reverts to even innings.
which would make the score and 2 at
the end of the eighth inning No team
can win a game by playing more in
ntngs than Its opponents have an op-
.portunity to play.