New Britain herald., 1924-06-05
By JOE DUG.sN
'hirl Baseman, New York Americans

i The old baseball saying, you either do or you don't" aptly applies 10 thirdbase play
 When the hot ones come straight at you, or to the right or left, you havo no time to judge the bound or the speed of the ball. In making a play on such ball you just put your hands where you think il win come and trust 10 luck. in thehope that you will either come up clean with the ball or knock it down.
 Experience alone perfects tho third haseman in such a play. instinct will guide your hands to the proper place.
 In my opinion the most difficult play a third baseman has to make is handling swinging bunt down the third base line. Instinct also guides the infsider in making such play. will illustrate.
 Dugan's Most Difficult Play
 We will assume that Harry Heil- mann, champion batsman of tho American league, Is up. lIeilmann hits a ball eiciously down tho third base line. This forces a third base man to play deep as a matter Of self preservation.
 Heilmann takes hard swing at the ball and tops its The result is a slow rolling beunder toward third hare Playing deep makes this q most dinfi- cult ball to handle.
 The moment see the ball has been topped I rush in at full speed and make a sweeping downward motion with my right hand ss I near the ball.
 1f l am lucky come up with tbe ball. which is the first stage in sue. eessfully making the play. Tn order 10 have a chance 10 get your man at first it is also necessary 10 throw to 1 that base without straightsning up. | This is a difficult thing 10 do accu- ! rately.
 Another difficult play 10 make Is created by batters of tho Cobb Iypn with 2 runner on second and one or none out. It deals with the bluff bunt.
 The batter flashes the hit and rim sign. the runner on second starting for third with the pitch. IT the third 1 baseman dashes in 10 play a bunt. the batsman merely bluffs and the run ner stalls third practically unmolest- ed, as it is impossible 10 get back 10 the bag in time 10 take a throw from The catcher
 On the other hand. if you start Co cover third when you see the runner stealing. the batter lays down a bunt md beats 1t easily, while the other runner advances to third.
 ] try to stop the play in this man 1er: With a batter up prone to null he play, move in closer 10 the plate md well over toward the bag. I stand Itock still until inc batter either bunfs ,r bluffs the bunt and make my play accordingly.
 Good Fielding Pitcher Helps.
 Another confusing play comes up on | bunted ball with first and eeconJ and no one out The batter invariably bunts down the third base inc. On such plays the pitcher and liird baseman always have q previous understanding who will take the ,uut.
 With good fielding pitcher who is ast or foot. l always cover third and ct him make the play either 10 third IF first. according to inc chances.
 With slow. poor fielding pitcher. always take the hunt and make one nan sure. If the ball is buntad hard. is often possible 70 force fhe run Ter at second and sometimes start q oubie play.
 The most difficult batters for me to Hay arc isft-handed hitters. spcad merchants. who hit hard dor the hird base line and in addition are Irver bUntsrs.
 hata in mind players like Cobb. 'risch. sisler and Tobin.
 
 MTEEIY ROLL pRIZIS