Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-25
VARIOUS SOLUTIONS OFFERED
TO CURB PITCHERS STRATEGY
Making 1t Optional With Batsman Whether
He Accept Base or Continue as HIT
ter Might End Practice.

Umpire Billy Evans recently wrote
an article deploring the evil of the
intentional pass in the ma Tor leagues
which ,nade it possible for the
pitcher to eliminate "A dangerous hit
ter by giving him Il base on balls.
l.c called particular SIT ention to tIe
way pitchers. passed up Fade Ruth
in 4 pinch last year, thereby a.
priving tie fans OF an opportunity
to see Ruth 35at. the -vefy t',inE they
came to the game for. Billy put the
matter Up to the fans for a so
luton. ne received hundreds OF let
ters Offering suggestions 70 -eliIni-
nate tn evil From these he has
cuIled The more isIter, SANG, some Of
which have much merit ard are Of
tered herewith:
Wants Two StrisSes First.
Referri ng TO your article concern
the uupculur Intentional pass of p
batter and your Invitation to fans
10 express t:teir views, or to adj
vance a Remedy that might protect
heavy hitters and at The same time
make clear a rule that would not in
voIve the umpire more than at pres
ent.
1t seems to me If rule were in
force that when firs- se~ond or
third base WIS occupied YOU couW
rot compel the batter to take his
base on four called balls until nc
had at least two strikes called, then
make it ,cofnpufsnry--hGt it shout
be optional with the butter uhth ~
reaches two strikes the rule WouF
be clear and an UMPIRE would nor
be called upon to make de- io"S
other than the calling OF batls and
STRIKES. as at present..
II weak hitter vas ur and re-
ceived four balls before he reached
two strikes. h1' r1ate his own de-
cision as TO whether he wished 10
remain at pat o. take his base '"n
the other hand. the heavy hlt1el
would be sure OF at least two strikes
before being compelled to take us
base on called balls. This would
insure the anxious fans that then
favorite would get an opportunity Of
hitting if he came to the plate VII
one or more bases occupied. Inc
rule could be made to apply through
the game, instead of only when a
base was occupied, but the adv:sa-
bility of this would require the
thought of a close student OF nase
ball. A. Is. MILLER.
SuEgests One Over Plate.
In reference to the article by Billy
Evans in regard to pitchers passing
sluggers on four straight balls. would
like to sug sest that said pitcher be
compelled to put at least one over the
C. A. SEAMANS.
Another Two-Strike Idea.
In reference to the intentional pass.
may offer the following suggestion:
That, when any base is occupied by
runner, no batter can be passed TO
first until two strikes have been
called. This would give the batter a
chance and. in case pass looked
better to him than a chance, he
I
strike after four balls had been
called. G. A. BARRETT.
Would Advance Base Runner.
I would offer the following rule to
stop pitchers from intentionally pass
with one or more runners on the
bases, IL batsman receives four balls,
he may take his choice of going TO
first or advancing all base runners
one base. If he elects to advance
the base runners he commences an
other term at bat, ana may con.,aIs
to take turns at bat. as often as ne -ls
awarded four balls and there are
runners or a runner on the bases.
For each four balls awarded MN
runners shall always be entitled 70
a advance one base. This would take
away the premium now pIaceo vi
the passing of a hard hitter in a
pinch. and thereby eliminating MS
On q nces to break up the game.
'iA"'eo g. NJ CLARK.
Leaves 1t Up to Captain.
After reading your article on the IN
territorial passing of hard hitters IN
pinch, l offer the following sugges
ton to eliminate the evil: l Suggest
that, as the batsman approaches the
Mate his captain shall have the prlVl-
leee of notifying the umpire that the
batsman shall not accept a base on
halls In other words, the only way
he can be retired is by hitting the
hall into fair territory or strl KING
ont. If the batsman does not claim
the right to refuse a pass oeao. st M tn
batter steps into the box. he must pat
under the ro'es "0" /" Ell E. P. KING.
couId Demand More Pitching.
note your recent article relative
70 the evil Of the Intentional pass. 1t
has occurred to me that the evil
might be overcome by changing the
rules to allow any batter on receive
ing four balls the right to exercise
the option of accepting the pass, or
that the pltcner commune
the right to accept the pass to first
any time thereafter, unless. of course,
he had three strikes called. SUCH
change in the rules would relieve the
umpire OF any Responsibility IN Inc
matter. r. r. LOWELL
Gives Him Chance to Score.
I have read your article with ref
erence to the evil of the intentional
pass with much interest. / note the |
reference you made to the fans being !
deprived of seeing Babe Ruth in ac-
ton, and thereby failing to get the
thrills the big fellow might give with |
one of his long clouts. l have often
taken day off and made the round !
trip from my home in Springfield to
better than 200 miles. to see
Ruth hit the ball, and have been de-
MED the privilege because the pitch
ers refused to take a chance with ,
him in pinch. |
l would suggest the following So
luton: When the batsman receives
four balls he is entitled to one base.
but he continues at bat. If another !
four balls are received he is entitled
to another base and so on. How I,