Evening star., 1928-06-09
GR|FFS NOW HAVE a
EXTRA T|LTSL|STED
Latest Cancellation Proves
Need for New Rule on
Starting Games.
BY JOHN II. KELLER.

CHlCAIrO, June S.~tSule ~ OF the
base bail code says in part 'the cap
tain of the home club shall be sole
Judge OF the fitness of the ground for
beginning a game" This Is Just another
one of the Jokes in the regulations of
the national pastime,
The business office of a ball club de-
cides whether the ground is tit for be-
ginning a game, not the captain of the
club It was the business Office of the
White Sox, not Capt. Willie Kamm. that
decided no game should be staged yes
terday between Nationals and White
Sox 1t did SO shortly before noon. al
though only light rain had fallen the
night before and at the hour of post
ponement the sky was only slightly over
cast. The day was warm and at the time
appointed for starting a game the sun
was on the Job in earnest
: It's high time that the league itself
should take a hand in determining
whether games should be started instead
Of leaving the matter TO the captain
OF the home club" The business office,
acting for "the captain of the home
club" generally thinks too much of
the few cash customers likely to at
tend at the time and the many apt
to be lured to the park by double
header later on.
UmpireS Could Decide.
Through its umpires. the league could
very we'll take care OF the situation.
Three umpires now are assigned to each
playing field and one of these could be
given the task of deciding whether the
day and the field were fit for con-
test. Arbitrary rulings might be made
With respect 10 minimum temperature
and rainfall at a certain time before
al cd hnlir
umpire IN reaching a decision. The fit
ness Of the ground. OF course, would
have to be left to his Judgment. IN 1t,
the league officials probably wol y not
be as biased as the business c. the
home club
The Washington club let it be said,
does as much il not more than any
other member of the league 10 give its
guest club and its patrons square
deal IN this respect. Generally post
ponents In CLARK Griffith Stadium are
not decided upon until it is quite evi-
dent the game cannot be started under
1t playing conditions. There have been
times this season in Washington when
contests were staged. beginning at the
regular hour. even though there had
been considerable rainfall shortly be-
fore the scheduled starting time. And
at other times games actually have
been started in light rains and con-
tillued until legal battle had been
waged.
TO its credit. the washington club has
not been influenced by the gate In
starting its games in inclement weather,
nor has 1t ordered postponements on
6inlSy grounds because the Nationals
we're not getting along any too well.
There has been much provocation for
pOstp0nements Of the latter kind this
season. t0o. Some OF the other outfits
Of the league might well follow the
example Of the Washington business
organization
Postponemenfs Piling Up.
The Nationals list Of postponements
Is Increasing alarmingly. With yes
tendETS added, the club now has IA
exfEz EenaeEstS 70 keep later In the
season This makes for an unusually
heavy prcgram, especially in the days
following the clubs return from the
jaunt through the West Starting on
June 10. the Nationals will be called
upon 70 enter II games in II days.
Eleven Of these games are TO be
played in Clark Grifith Stadium In
eight days. There is a twin sketch
with the Red Sox listed for June 10
and single games with the same club
on each Of the next three days. Fortu-
rlately, neither club happened TO be
scheduled for june 22, else they would
have tws0 double -lIeaders booked for
the series The Macks then visit
Washington for four days and six Tits
The doubse-aeaders with them win be
played on June % and Is, the inter-
yening day being Sunday, when one
contest win be put on.
From Washington To Boston the
Jump following the heavy home sched-
uie, will be case Of out OF the frying
pan into the fire for the Nationals.
They are slated 10 play three success
slye double-headerE in the Hub, as 1t
wIi5 be their last visit Of the season
10 the home Of the Rex Sox.
Have but Nine Pitchers.
Right n0w Ii seems the Nationals
viii iiaye pitching corps Of but nine
members With which 10 wade through
fi1if unusually long string Of games in
SUCH n short time. And 10 give the
club nife hi1riers Sam Jones viii have
to recover within another week from
tna ankle injury he sustained al st.
LOItge last Saturday and Bob Burke
win 1aye 10 be returned from Birming-
ham 10 which club he was loaned. q
week before the time the conditions
Of the loan require his return. Mine
pltchegs viii be apt 10 find plenty TO
Do frbu June 10 through June %.
Tigbe did not 20 slowly for the ath-
ietes son their second off-day here A
Yumsyer NJ the veterans Travelled To
Arlington Park 10 watch the bang tails
gs29w some foot and get a peek al the
starsf ~ the thoroughbred world who
were 10 line up this afternoon for
the American Derby. Most of the col
leglane with the club went 10 Soldier
Fysid 70, Eee the best Of the country'S
varsity tsack ard field talent COMPETE
jn the lrst days program NJ the Ma
tgrylaI Collegiate Athletic Association
NIT
Weather favorable and the business
Office NJ the Chicago American League
eiyb wiling. Nationals and White Eoz
wtre 10 conclude their series this aft
egnOoE. Tom Zachary Was expected
10 10 his SoBtnDaW singing for the
EaFYig8leD. WBlle Elphonse Thomas,
Tig9t-bafdeF, WaE slated ~ toll on thf
ialll fos the klanzster Hose,
Tonight ,be Nationals viii IN train
f0r cleyeian6. where q -four game sft
witA the Indians vii get under way
tonofre#.