Evening star., 1925-04-05

Griffith would change the pitching
rule SO that pitchers would have to
stand with only one foot-the pivot
foot-on the pitching rubber
He would allow pitchers to put thea
other foot behind the plate, in front
OF the plate or to one side of the
plate. The idea of permitting the
other foot to roam free is to give
the pitcher plenty of latitude to curve
the bah. side arm it or cross fire it.
1t would also give him a chance to
vary his speed better
Under the present r,ie pitchers
must stand with one foot on the plate
or both feet on the plate If one
loot is off it must be in front of the
plate. The rule does not say that the
foot may not be at the side of the
plate. where the pitchers frequently
do stand, but it does say that neither
loot must be back of the plate. Some
umpires will not allow the side.
Would be Aid i'm Control.
If only the pivot foot is on the
plate Grifith believes the nitcbere
will get better control of the ball in
a short time. 1t is his theory that
the rule, as 1t now reads, makes poor
pitchers out of promising material
because some pitchers find themselves
compelled to work from a very awk-
ward position.
Pitching would be farce If the
ruie were literally enforced that a
pltcner must stand squarely with
both feet on the plate and face the
patter, IN the act of delivering the
ball The rule was poorly written
as are many other rules, which were
written by men who have not played
base ball themselves
The young pitchers of the West
Tor some unexplained reason, seem to
have found 1t easy to make a curva
break better if they have one foot
pack of the plate. Some of them who
nave tried to get higher up in base
pail nave found themselves In ali
Kinds of trouble the moment they
have tried to pitch to suit big Ieappe
umpires, who compelled them to mt
poth feet on the plate. They have
oeeh unable to make their curves
oreak right at the shortened dis
tance.
Other Pilots Favor Change.
Miller Huggins. manager of the
ne" YORK Yankees, told the writer
ne wouldn't mind seeing the ruIa
changed to permit the pitcher 70 Iet
one foot ramble. Arthur Fletcher
ana Davy Bancroft were other hip
league pilots who thought the idea a
good one.
VI course, 1t would not nut an end
10 all free batting if the pitcher were
given more latitude in his work
There is no doubt that the fans like
10 see some heavy hitting occasion
ally, but they also like to see better
pitchlng than has been the ruIa in
the last three years.
One big inning by one sid. ., ,b.
early part of game makes IL dulI
sven "nen the home team has the
penent OF it A big inning at the
very finish of a game, If il js against
tne nome club, leaves the spectators
with a fiat taste. If there were close
innings and not these big innings
winch, after all, are usually the result
OF pondrous drives and consecutiva
hltting, Griffith believes that IN.
spectators would be better satisfied
He also believes close. low-scora
games would be more popular with
the amateurs because they would re-
store the old nip-and-tuck fights which
were so much part of base ball in
former days
Best Sugges ton Yet Made.
NO suggestion that has been offered
Io' improving the pitching is worth
as much consideration as this new idea
set Forth by Clark Griffith. who Was
a great pitcher himself in the days
or great pitchers.
until some change of the pftcbinr
rule is put into effect the batter will
continue to have the advantage over
the pitcher and the games which have
peeh played in the South and on the
coast this Spring have demonstrated
that the latter has not even started TO
regain MS mastery over the former