San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-13
THE 0NE-HAND PLAY.

| New York, April 13.-Close watch
must be kept on the tendency of some
fielders to play the ball with one hand.
There are plays which cannot be made
in any other way and as they are
usually difficult chances the fielders
should be given every bit his due and
not be charged with an error if he
makes a brave attempt to get the ball.
1t is the rule, or almost the rule, in
some sections invariably to give n
player an error il he tries to handle
the ball with one hand. This is not
just.
Side hits come into the diamond
which cannot be faced down by the
most agile fielder we have developed
since baseball began. The only possi-
bic chance that exists to stop the ball
is to try for it with one hand and if
the fielder is successful it is pretty
certain that he will be well applauded.
That is a test in which the spectators
bear their share in deciding the kind of
play that has been made.
If the fielder should miss on a play
of that kind the batter should be given
a base hit. 1t doesn't matter if the
fielder does touch the ball. Give the
hit to the batter.
There are times, of course, though
they be few, when it is proper to
score an error against a fielder who
plays the ball with one hand. If the
fielder is slow in going after the ball
and if he really drops to one side in
stead of trying to get in front OF it
where he can field it properly, there
| is no reason why he should not be
charged with an error. On the othe-
hand, there is every reason why he
should be charged with one because it
is quite essential that he play cor
rectly when he can. In other words,
a premium is not to be allowed on
carelessness.
Some outfielders have a marked
the ball and try to grab it with one
hand as they pass it instead of making
every effort to face it and block il
down. The mere fact of blocking the
ball often will cut off half home-run
or one base from a long distance hit.
When an outfielder plays bounding
ball carelessly he should be penalized
with an error. But il he plays the
ball vita one hand when it is evident
that he could not touch it in any other
way, the batter should be given full
credit for all the bases that he makes
on the hit.
What is true of ball that bounds
on the ground is true to an extent
of thrown balls. If the fielder puts
up one hand only to stop a thrown
ball when he should have played the
throw with both hands he should have
an error charged. against him. Many
such errors take place during the sea
son because fielders are inclined to
become careless in that respect. They
handle the ball so often that they
have a confidence which is not war.
ranted.
However, if a baseman is stretched
full length and has no chance to stor
the ball except by playing for it with
one hand he is not to be given the
error If the ball fails to stick in his
glove. 1t is to be charged against the
man who threw the ball for making
a wild throw.
1t is evident that all one-hand
plays must be watched carefully by 4
scorer in order to note the intent and
the attitude of the fielder who makes
them. When player is trying he is
not to be punished as severely as when
he shows lack of zeal, but IL is also
true that even when he is trying there
are plays which must be scored against
him as errors.