The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-10
BASEBALL Is 0. K.
Public Is Satisfied With Old
Game as She's Played.
Yet, Everybody Wants to Make
Some Needed Improvements.
BY JACK vEIoCK.

! New York, Feb. 1O.-Ine soou oiu
game of baseball as she has been
played for a number of years salts
fies the public as a rule. OUTSIDE OF
the varsome stuff and the squabbles
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 maze
in the rules which will enliven the
pastime. And they probably know
best.
Ways and means to put more gin
ger into a game Of ball have been
advanced from many sources during
the winter, and they include every
thing from the elimination of the good
old spitbalI to the enlarging of the
home platter.
Gov. John X. Tener, who was once
a pitcher of no mean ability, admits
now what he would not have admit
ted when he was trying to fool the
/ batters-that the pitchers have too
great an advantage under the rules
that now prevail.
Tener's Scheme.
The governor says that in his opin-
| ion this advantage can be offset by
widening the home plate one inch and
cutting down the number of balls,
which will entitle a player to his
base from four to three. Mr.. Tener
argues that the slightly larger plate
will give the pitchers greater conf
dence in their ability to get the ball
over the corners, and the reduction
in the number of balls will entice the
am bilious batter to swing oftener at
the pill. AS long as he knows the
| n rnf n
pie over the pan, the batter will do
less waiting at the platter and the
result will be more hitting.
/ II you'll think back to the days of
the Federal league you will no doubt
remember that the powers of organ
| lied ball scoffed at the idea of the
Feds in putting a livelier ball into
play They attributed the fact that
many of the Fed batters piled up big
averages because of the lively ball
that was used. They also said the
pitchers were far below the par of
ments were well and good. But now
comes John McGraw with the express
sion that a livelier ball is the thing
needed to pep up the pastime in the
majors today.
Foul Strike Zone.
Charley Herzog says that a foul
strike zone, which he would extend
from the home plate to first and third
bases, respectively, and in which a
ball hit by the batsman would not
| count as a first or second strike,
would solve the problem. The batter
often hits foul line drives just out
side of first and third base, which,
of course, count against him as strikes
| if he is not already in hole. But
F; without such strikes counted the bat
ter would naturally be encouraged to
swing harder and oftener. Herzog' S
suggestion looks plausible enough and
it certainly favors the batsman. Her
zog is an tnfielder, not a pitcher.
! Percy Haughton, of the Braves,
would put the damper on the spitball
and also shorten the distance to first
base, thereby giving the batsman a
greater chance against the pitcher
and also the wings of the various in
fielders, 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 if some
of the higherups in the game have
their way, changes will be made
'Give the public the fastest article
| of ball you can invent" says Cover
nor Tener, land the public will show
| it's appreciation by attending the
games in greater numbers