The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-18
WAGNER WOULD START
 AMATEUR TEAMS RIGHT Former Star Of Diamond Concluding His 'Examina- tion Papers Comments For Age-Herald Upon
 Very Interesting Points .-

Bsifsin. Cubs. Japan and South Am.rie. by North American Nswspaper Alliance for Ky HANS WAaSER
 As . conclusion to my baseball ex- animation papers. I present the fol. teams this spring. A close study and discussion of them, feel sure. will help:
 Stealing Bases
 1-Ts the art of stealing bases on the decline?
 chiefly in the lead and quick start or in speed?
 s-Is stealing third advisable with none or one out?
 Do you use the double steal with
 SHas the half-balk motion of pitch CTS interfered with stealing? 6rIs the throwing of catchers more speedy and accurate?
 EIs it easier to steal third than second?
 slave pitchers improved in hold ing runners on bases?
 EDo you advise stealing home' If The answer to the first question, of course, is yes. This decline is due largely to the chances of hitting the lively ball safely. They arc greater I believe, than the chances of stealing successfully. ! It is not my purpose to answer all these questions, thereby killing what | interest they may have. For the bene- fit of the fan who Is not, so expert, however, I will explain that the steal ing of third is, or should be, easier than stealing second. Many ball play CTS contend that no man ought to be thrown out stealing third at any time. It is all in the start. An experienced ball player instinctively knows his own speed, and is a good judge of distance. Therefore, If he has enough start to steal third he ought to steal it. With a good lead, they can't throw him out. If he hasn't sufficient start, then he of a hundred, when a runner is thrown out stealing third, it is. a matter of bad judgment. Any skillful base rum ner can ti0e the play exactly. Of course, the pitchers and catchers both have improved, but not enough to ing. Most of that can be laid to the lively ball. Dy The Delayed Steal Ills the single delayed steal Q good play? Double?
 2-Is the proper time for the man on first to start when the catcher is in the act of returning the ball to the PttcucEB UT Just when tue CACucT lx actually throwing it to the pitcher? sDo you have a man stealing sec- ond go hard and then hold up near second, giving the man on third a chance to score, when there are run ners on first and third?
 The delayed steal is a very tricky and . very effective play at times. It is called delayed because the runner does not start until the catcher has the ball. The ordinary steal starts with the pitchers throw to the catch CT. If the runner can start the exact moment when the catcher is letting the ball so back to the pitcher. 1t will suc- ceed often. 1t then takes two throws to get the runner, and the catchers ( throw to the pitcher is never as fast as from the pitcher to the catcher The delayed steal also has the element of surprise.
 Substitute Pinch Hitters 1-Is substituting pinch hitters inn portant in offensive baseball? 2-Would you substitute a pinch hitter for a pitcher who is going all right at the middle of the game? S-Do you believe in shifting your lineup according to left or right handed pitching?
 %Give q code of signals that could be used in offensive baseball. 6-Which do you consider the more important, strong offense or a strong defense, including pitching? S-Have the new rules on pitching hurt the effectiveness of pitchers Gin league halD - (actually) - (psycholog- ically)?
 Has the rule compelling the catch CT to stay in the box until the pitcher has delivered the ball helped the of- fense? Has 1t prevented intentional passing of batters?
 S-Is there as much inside baseball used today as in former years? What Simple Signs Mean
 These questions. realize, open up a wide field of discussion. The opinion of any one man can not decide them.
 For instance, do not believe in shifting a lineup for left or right handed pitching. At least, believe . team ought to be constructed 50 that such shift would not be necessary. We never thought of such . thing in the old days. A good batter ought to be able to hit any kind of pitching. Still, there are very able managers who do make these shifts. There are critical moments, I admit, when 1t is good thing. But as . general prin. eiple I do not believe in it.,
 That the initiated may understand my question on . code of signals, let me explain that all ball clubs have one. I have asked this question in the hope that amateurs will make theirs simple. Any complicated set of