The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-19

to make the game uncertain.
Occasionally, as was the case yes
| terday, there are a flock of hot
| grounders to the infield which arc
| hard to distinguish between a base hit
and an error. Here is what Spaldine
| says:
In endeavoring to fairly and intel
igently discriminate between the base
hit and the error. never for an instant
| be influenced by that favorite fallacy
of the ignorant, that If a fielder "gets
his hands on" the ball, he should be
given an error and the batter deprived
of a base hit he may have reasonably
made than in allowing this false doc
trine to influence results. Watch the
ball from the moment 1t leaves the
bat and be governed by common sense,
impartially applied.
II the ball proceeds along the
ground in fair territory and remains
fair. under the rules, with no fielder
getting near enough to 1t to handle it
question arises that it is a safe hit.
So far. SO good; but suppose the ball
travels so close to some infielder that
he makes a dive for it, stopping the
progress of the ball, without allowing
even the chance of a throw to make
the put-out. Credit batsman with a
base hit.
The reason for this line of action
is plain. All concerned in baseball
should aid in every legitimate way the
tendency to brilliant fielding. The
moment q fielder becomes convinced
that the scorer, in whose keeping his
record lies, is adding permanent
handicap to brilliant play, just so soon
than those he believes he is sure of
handling. He will look after the hit
driven directly his way, but he will
make no effort to accomplish the
near-impossible.
The same rule applies to outfielders
to whom flies are sent. If an out
fielder drops a ball for which he has
had ample time to ''set himself
charge him with an error. But If he
has had a long run and has barely
should he get it wholly within his
hands and yet drop it, give the batter
credit for a base hit.
But the application of common
sense principles should not be limited
to balls hit just out of easy fielding
distance of in or out-fielders. The
ball may travel at a moderate rate of
speed directly at an infielder planted
to receive it, when it may suddenly
strike a pebble or some inequality of
the turf and be DETECTED SO that no
human eye nor pair of hands could
make the requisite changes quickly
enough to insure perfect fielding.
Give the batsman a base hit. 1t is
q lucky NIT, DQL there Is no reason
why he should be deprived of the ad-
vantage or the fielder penalized for
an incident beyond human control.
Take into consideration the speed
with which the fielder must recognize
the character of the chance and must
to meet the ball, and the nee
essity on his part for exceptionally
speedy mechanical work with the ball
that is likely spinning, twisting and
jumping in all sorts of inconceivablel
ways and the reason for taking the
liberal stand advised becomes ap-
parent.
AS important as the foregoing IS /
the advice to scorers to give the bats
man the benefit of any legitimate
doubt arising. Score him base hit in
preference to charging the fielder an
error.
Section 4 of the scoring rules says:
A base hit shall be scored in the fol-
lowing cases:
When a fair hit ball is partially OF
wholly stopped by a fielder in motion.
but such player can not recover him. |
self in time to field the ball to first
before the striker reaches that base or
to force out another base runner.
When the ball be hit with such |
force to an infielder or pitcher that
he cannot handle it in time to put out
ner. In case of doubt over this class
of hits, a base hit should be scored
and the fielder exempted from the |
charge of an error.
When the ball ia hit so slowly to- |
ward a fielder that he cannot handle |
Il in time to put out the batgman or |
force out base runner.