San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-07
THE SNEAK BOUND

New York, April "A good scorer
is one who can always discriminate
in the matter of the sneak bound.
When the ball is deviated from its
seemingly correct flight by striking
some obstruction or because of the
twist that was given it when the bat
hit it and which is accelerated when
the baseball hits the ground, it is
30 to 1 that a sneak bound will fol-
low.
As a rule the sneak boInd goes
straight ahead but at confusin;
height. The fielder, for instance, will
play for the ball low and, SO far as
he can judge up TO the time that The
ball actually is in contact with his
hands, he has played it right. He may
play for it high and until he finds
that he isn't likely to get it high he
may be playing for it right. When
il is DETECTED in some way from its
true course and does not bound as
it should, judging by the line which
it has taken from the bat up TO the
time of contact with tie ground, it
is a sneak bound and % times out
Of hundred it should be given as
a hit.
1t is more common TO score such a
play as an erfor-the scorer in reality
making the error-.than it is TO score
it right. That IS largely due TO the
fact that the scorer has not followed
the fight of the ball as correctly as
he should have. 1t is also die to the
fact that many scorers have never
had practical baseball experience and
do not know that fielder would have
TO be instantaneous in moving and
might not be able to field n sneak
bound properly if he were instan-
tancouS.
The ball may seem TO be coming
directly for the knees and without the
slightest warning-because there is
only the flash Of n ray of light to
show the fielder what is happening
take an upward slant and go above
the fielder's knees. 1t is quite MS
likely to slide away just as viciously
from the ground contact and go below
the players knees an hit him in the
shins. There never has been n ball
player and there is no likely TO be
one for a long, long time who can
play a sneak bound with any success.
For that reason the scorer should give
that type of grounder as base hit
in his tabulation.
Bear in mind that most Of these
sneak bounds originate IN hard hit
balls. Now and then there is one
which is batted slowly and with little
force which will sneak as IL it were
a ''hot one but that will be the
exception. 1t is easier to tell, there.
fore. the hits with the sneaL bound
because they must have some speed
attached to them.
Often a fielder is accused OF play
ing the ball with his shns when DIS
a matter of fact he did not ! lay il at
all. The ball bounded INTO his shins
before he could stiff his hands TO
get it and when he first placed his
hands to field it he was undoubtedly
playing the ball rs it then seemed
likely TO go TO him.
Give the batter base hit on most
Of tLese plays. You must study the
fielder while the ball is going to him.
You don't have to think of the batter.
1t is the ball and the fielder that nre
rour detectives. You can almost surely |
tell by the manner in which the fielder |
tries to reverse himself whethe. the |
ball fooled him or whether he did not
play it right. This is ,ne of the PLAYS
in which the scorer can best estab-
ish his reputation. ms there will be
plenty to combat him. especially il
he play happens Ia be vital to the
,utpopoe of tho pame