Evening star., 1917-05-20
UMP RIGHT N. GAME T. :. !.
.ETtIZ5 .lEf = .;--.
-a.1 +. -. a.. =
!. WHICH SOX PROTEST
Balk Called When Catcher Stopped
r.. Pitch Is Legal Under r,
the Rules.

Umpire Nallin OF the American League
staff provoked a protest from President
Comiskey of the White Sox by a deci-
sion which was absolutely correct, ac-
cording to the rules, but absolutely
wrong according to precedent. writes
the writer's hope that the incident will
result in enforcing the rule literally and
doing away with precedent that has
no origin, except ak-kneed umpir-
ing.
With the bases full and two out, three
balls and two strikes called on the bats
man, Nallin called 'balk on Pitcher
Danforth. who stopped in his delivery
because Catcher Schalk checked him by
a signal on account Of dust blowing in
the right of the Sox catcher to ask for
time with play in progress. According
to the rules Nallfn was correct, for a
play" specifically begins with the
start Of the pitchers wind-up and does
not terminate until the ball is again
held on the slab. ~"
Under that ruling. when two out
ffelders collide going afted a a fly
ball and both are knocked out, the
runners may advance until somebody
ball back to the center Of the diamond.
No matter II both outfielders are killed
by the collision, the qmpires cannot
call time until the play" has been COM
pleted by somebody. II it were not for
that an outfielder. after letting a ball
go over his head. might fake fall and
yell to have time called because he had
broken a leg, thereby preventing the
batsman or baserunners from advanc-
ing as far as they had right to go.
stant exception to that rule which has
had no Justification. The umpires have
allowed the hatsman to stop plays by
stepping out Of the batsman's box while
the pitcher was ready to deliver the
ball. or even after he had started his
wind-up.
Time Called Illegally.
You all have seen it. with pitcher
stailing for time on the slab, the bats
man often gets nervous. steps out of
his box, and feigns to have something in
his eye or. to need more dirt on his
hands. In. such cases the umpires have
let him get away with 1t, calling time
illegally in many cases.
The. rules specify that a mans time
at bat begins when he takes his position
and terminates the instant he becomes
a baserunner. There is no other way to
terminate 1t even temporarily. except
the batsman becomes incapacitated, and
as soon as the pitcher starts a windup
that play Is on, and it must be COM
pleted no matter II the batsman dies Of
heart disease while the slabman is
winding up.
II an outfelder trips and falls, down.
breaking his neck while chasing a line
drive, the umpire cannot call time ana
rob the batsman Of that hit. But, q
play" does not start when the ball is
hit. It begins when the pitcher starts
nor reasonablySto deprive q pitcher OF
strike II the batSnan steps out of his
box while that strike Is being deliv-
cred. Yet it has been done constantly.
~ lR u
lacked the nerve to- enforce the rule.
There IL, no more reason why q bats
man should ask for time II he gets dust
in his eyes than for. an outfielder to ask
for time II the sun gets in his eyes.
It's all In the game, and SUD and dust
are equally elements Of luck. The same
is true II the catcher gets dust in his
eyes. But IL batsman is allowed to
get away with stopping a pitcher on
account of inability to see the ball, 1t is
or for an outfielder to demand time in
the middle OF home run hit into the
bleachers. t.,..-
Any time the pitcher is on the slab
ready to deliver the ball it is up to the
batsman to defend the home plate from
having strikes pitched across It, and he
should not be allowed to leave his posi-
tion for any reason without accepting
across a strike while his opponent IL on
watch. s.
OF course, II the batsman, in striking
at the ball. throws his bat some distance
away 1t is proper for the umpire to call
time, as that individual play ended
when the bail was returned to the
pitcher. and the batsman without his
stick Is as much incapacitated as an
outfielder with q broken rib. The same
Is true when in ducking a wild pitch
the batsman has to fall to the ground.
He should be allowed time to regain
hts position before the pitcher begins
another play" by starting his next
wlndQp.
in favor OF the batsnan once the slab.
man starts . play. and II the Nallin
incident results In q ruling that will be
uniform 1t will correct . growing -avil,