New Britain herald., 1917-01-24
D. 3!SHz !!;!:! J!

The old fan was looking over 1916 baseball averages.
 ".All this stuT," he said. "gives me a large, hoarse laugh. mixed with sharp, distinctly localized pain.'
 What's the prevalent or protruding idea?" we requested.
 '"Thesc averages" he answered. "Why, there isn't .330 batsman in baseball today, and there are not as many as four 300 hitters in tho game"
 Where do you go out and obtain that stuff from?" we responded. Haven't you got the records before you?"
 I'm not discussing what they can hit in the records" the Old Fan said. I'm talking about what they can hit on the field; I'm talking about the ac- tual base hits they make, not the base hits they are given.'
 The Scoring Kick.
 The Old Fan is no creature of the imagination. He happens to be one of the best posted men on baseball in the land, one who has followed the game for over twenty-five years and who believes he knows what he happens 10 be talking about.
 1T stick by my contention" he went along. If base hits and errors were properly scored there wouldn't be a man in baseball batting .a3o. not even Cobb or Speaker--and there would not be over four men left in the 300 class I watch baseball closely. and I I hoN had fyyv h 1nC or chances that should have been han dled and were not scored next day as hits too hot to handle,' took a bad hop, didn't get his hands on it, and a dozen oher reasons for covering up bad error, or an error at the least of it."
 With the big gloves they have to- day and the proficiency they are sup- posed to have. an infelder, especially at short or second, should rarely ever find a ground ball too hot to handle. And if fumbles, as so many or them ara are to be scored as hits on account of the ball taking a sudden bound, there need be no errors left. Why not score everything that isn't an out os a hit and be done with it?'
 The Art of Scoring
 To a very great 'extent Old Fan is correct. Most scoring is done upon far too liberal system. "Too hot to handle" is badly overworked. Only A terrific smash, one of unusual pro- portions. should be too hot for a shortstop or second baseman playing well back to handle with the thick finger mitts now worn.
 Very frequently these hard hit balls ara much easier to handle than the slow. dribbling twisters that barely get to an infielder. for the latter must he collected and dispatched to first at top speed.
 All of which shows again how badly the ~orrense has been stopped by the defense For even with the most nberal sort of scoring batting averages have been declining swiftly before the pitching power developed.
 As for Courage.
 Dear Sir: Another conception of .ha definition of courage-not the de- f1nition.
 Courage is a quality of mind. The hasic principle is a conclusion or be- ,iaf that lies back in the unconscious thought. The mind acknowledges it. self that it can cope with any test re- ou,red Of it. thus removing fear. The natural quality is an innate confidence in the minds own faculties and nowers that any obstacle can be over come This attitude If mind creates a f,rmness of spirit which meets dan rar without fear. In other words, Consnicuousness of Efficiency.
 JAMES II. HOLDER (Detroit.)