The Washington herald., 1917-02-11
FANS ARE SATISFIED
WITH RULES OF GAME
Suggestion of Big Baseball Moguls
Cannot Help National Pastime.

New York, Feb. lo-The good old game
Of baseball as she has been played for
number of years satisfies the PUBIC
as q rule. Outside OF the warsome stun
and the squabbies between the players
and the mighty magnates, the fans are
willing to let well enough alone.
But some OF the higher ups In the
baseball bizz have come out with the
opinion that changes should be made
In the rules which will enliven the past
time. And they probably know best
Ways and means to put more ginger
into a game of ball have been advanced
from many sources during the winter
and they include everything from the
elimination Of the good old spitball to
the enlarging OF the home platter.
Governor John K. Tener. who was once
, a pitcher OF no mean ability, admits now
what he would not have admitted when
he was trying to fool the batters-that
the pitchers have too great an advantage
under the rules that now prevail.
The governor says that in his opin-
ION this advantage can be Offset by wide
ming the home plate one inch and cutting
down the number OF balls, which Will
entitIe a player to his base, from fC1r
to three Mr.. Tener argues that the
slightly larger plate will gi2e the pitch
ers greater confidence N their ability
TO get the ball over the corners, and
the reduction in the number Of balls will
entice the ambitious batter to swing
ottener at the pill. As long as he knows
the pitcher will be trying to get the ap-
pie over the pan, the batter will do less
waiting at the platter and the result
win be more hitting
II you'll think back TO the days of the
Federal League you will no doubt re-
member that the powers of organized
ball scofred at the idea of the Feds IN
putting livelier ball into play. They at
triouted the fact that many of the Fed
batters piled up big averages because or
the lively ball that was used. They also
said the pitchers were far below the par
of the major leagues. All these argu-
ments were well and good But now
comes John McGraw with the expression
\ that Bvelier ball is the thing needed to
pep up the pastime in the majors today.
Charley Herzog says that foul strike
zone, which he would extend from the
home plate to first and third bases, re-
specttvely, and in which a ball hit by
the batsman would not count as a first
or second strike, would solve the prob
lem The batter often hits foul line
drives Just outside OF first and third base,
which. OF course, count against him as
strikes IL he Is not already in a hole. But
without such strikes counted the batter
would naturally be encouraged to swing
harder and oftener. Herzog's suggestion
looks plausible enough and 1t certainly
favors the batsman. Herzog is an in
fielder, not pitcher.
Percy Haughton, of the Braves, would
put the damper on the spitball and also
shorten the distance to first base, there
by giving the batsman a greater chance
against the pitcher and also the wings Of
the various infielders, who often throw
him out by one step.
All of these suggestions could be put
into use. As the old saying goes-they
can be tried out-and baseball can afford
to try most anything once.
No doubt there will be some lengthy
discussions at the meeting of the joint
rules committee, and II some of the high
erups in the game have their way,
changes will be made.
Give the public the fastest article Of
ball you can invent" says Gov. Tener,
'and the public will show its apprecta-
tion by attending the games in greater
numbers"