Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-21

9.ioCl" re declared dead when Il hisSl
the umpire. merely granting the bats
man first base ana allowing no runners
10 advance unless forced
When Ball Is Foul.
1t seems batter who is allie IN l,i.
Il pau over the fence and have said hall
DE idlf when II goes out OF pla.ins, fer
ritory should be credited with a homo
un: The rule now calls for the umuire
10 follow the course OF the bali until II
finally disappears from view. and do.
n decision at that point
InfeId Fly Rule.
The infield fly is an excellent ,u,.
to protect the base runner. bur he
lleFe II would offer the runner over
Hiore protection if a hunted ffy hall
was not classified as an infieid A.
MAJOR league umpires never so call
~, unless the ball goes high and
there Is reason. We viii assuyna
there are runners on first and second
anu no one out 1t is desired to Sac
Iince the runners over. On such a pIay
.he lnneld is all out of position. ,rh1
iirst sacker runs in to take a bunt doyvp
.ne ,irSt baSe line, the pitcher goes over
10 the third base line the second hasa-
man covers first. the shortstop second
Mhiie me thlrd baseman stays at thiro
III hopes OF getting a force play at thai
point The base runners are an in &C.
Ion; A bunted fly ball always causes
Ihey are expected to adva nee, Vet n
the umpire rules an infield -fy. thew arr
m danger OF being retired. EIimination
OF bunted fly ball from the infieId nv
opinion. my
Holding the Ball.
If fielder in handling \ rv h,u ,,,N
giles II several times, but finally holds -
me pail is regarded as caught or be,S
II base runner is touched out and tba
nelder JuggleS the ball after the foucb
out retains possession, there is ALWAYS
Is out or safe. If there was a clans
I 9 nenniteiy says that any ball thar
uoeS not touch the groun1 is regar dod
as held, that would settle it.
Coacher at Third Base,
me rule governing touching a rum
iier oy coacher at third was meant
70 prevent interference by the coach.
cellent rule. However. when a hatt@r'
hits the ball over the fence for a hon.
run. all chance for a play ceases and
any action of the runner relative IN
the coacher should be overlooked, TIL
majors so rule. but the rules do not
SO specify, SO that hundreds of Dis
putes result every year.
Where Batter Stands.
Practically every batter in hi,tirs
at ball is carried partly out of the
box by his Stride | mean that mari
OF one foot is usually out of the boy
The rule says the batsman should b.,
declared out for having Illegally bat
ted ball. i believe it should be so
ruled only when both feet are out %
the box. There is no desire to cheat
when his stride carries him out of tho
box. hence no penalty should be in
dicted.
Interference BY Catcher.
A wise catcher by Interfering with.
the batsman can often spoil the
squeeze or a steal of home. if he be-
lIeves 1t to be of advantage to do so.
The rule sends the batter to first and
all runners must return to their
bases, unless forced to advance be-
cause of the batSman. That hardly
seems fair rule, as il places a pre-
MUM on interference.
When Fielder Gets Ban.
Every one knows a runner has a
right to advance the moment q e.
ball strikes the hands of fielder, yet
the rules do not definitely say SO
They should.
Disputes tend to make trouble. and
trouble never does any sport the least
bit of good. SO that any changes that
will eliminate disputes are surely
worth while.
copyright. 1919. By ". q. Ea.AD =