The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-24
BASE COACHING
is UNNECESSARY
So Says BreSnahan Who Wants
Side Limo Official Abolished.
WOULD RELY ON RUNNER.
Manager of the Cubs Radical Views
Expected to Cause Considerable Dis
cussion - Would Handicap Hushey
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Often Essential.


cussion Would Handicap Hushey
Jenninss-Coachers Often Essential.
Manager BreSnahan of the Chicago
Cubs takes an unusual view of third
and first base coachers. His idea may
occasion considerable gossip among
baseball men, fans and critics. He ia
vors the abolition of the coachers and
would approve of a rule to keep the
players off the side lines while the
game is in progress lie gives his rea-
sons why he believes that coachers are
unnecessary and says the game can be
played as Interestingly as if they were
on the field.
There are many managers who do
not agree with Bresnahan in his idea.
Hugh Jennings of the Detroit Tigers
does not think a contest complete I'M
less he is allowed to place himself il
the boxes at first and third, tear up
the grass and give his famous "E-yah'
yell. John McGraw is another who
would not favor the rule eliminating
the cbachers, as it would stop him
from signaling to his men at the plate
and on the bases. II also would pre-
vent his running up to argue with the
umpires and stop him from joshing the
third baseman.
Other managers are of the opinion
that coachers are essential, most par
ticularly at third, because they help
the runners in their journey around
the bases. Many players can circle
the sacks without paying any attention
80 the signals of the men on the side
lines because they have learned to use
their own judgment and know when and
when not to advance on n ball. But
there are many players who need the
advice of the coachers whether to come
ahead or remain at a base. Leaders
believe that coachers save many
contest Just through their judgment in
advising a man to attempt to score on
n hit or to stop at third base.
Many ball games are won and lost
during the course of playing season
through the actions of q cOacher at
first and third base The men gener-
ally selected to so to the boxes are
players who have had experience and
are supposed to have superior judg-
ment in plays. The Cubs used Tom
Needham for that purpose for years.
Now Manager Bresnahan does a great
deal Of 1t himself, but at the same time
does not think coaching necessary in a
game.
Manager Bresnahan contends that if
the coachers were abolished the play
ers would learn to be better base run
ners. They would acquire the habit of
doing things % their own initiative
instead of relying wholly upon the
coachers to tell them to come on OF
stop.
Base runners do not have to be
coached" said Bresnahan. "They
ought to be taught to use their OWL
judgment. The impression seems tC
prevail that n runner cannot run
around the hases and keep his eye OF
the ball. That is all nonsense. A maj
can travel with all his speed and al
the same time know what has become
of the ball. He does not have to fol
low the ball all the time.
"When the runner is making q turf
or going from one base to another III
can take one look. and if his judgmen
Is good he will know what to do
going from first to third on a hit HI
does not have to turn his head com
pletely IL the ball is batted to RICH
center or to center field. He need
only to turn his head little, and If tn
bali is going or fumbled he can deter
mine instantly what he should do
"Coachers have been in the game s
long that most of the base runners dc
pend on them. When q man turns SCI
Ond base the first thing he does is loo
Mt the coachers. They say that a ma
cannot go at his full speed and turl
That may be true, but, as said befor,
a runner does not have to turn con
pletely. All he has to do is to take
little peek. There are some runner
who can run at their full speed wit
their heads turned clear around. Helm
Zimmerman is one, and l imagine I
acquired II from practice
''Coachers are not of any accoul
when a runner is on first or seco1
base. 1t is entirely up to the runn'
TO watch the pitcher. If he allows Il
twirler to get the jump on him it
his own fault The man on the siC
lines cannot help him at first, for Il
runner has to be on his way to Il
bag as soon as the twirler makes
move to pitch over.
AT second base runner might
helped little, but If he takes his pc
United lead off the bag and turns /
head now and then to watch the !
aelders he will never get caught
the base.
Some think that it would slow
runner starting from second when
hit was to left or center field. / &C
lend that it will not IF a player
taught to watch the ball and use
.Dwn judgment. If q man is flatfoot
Mt second base when a hit is made L
doubtedly a coacher could assist h
Some, but he should not be standi