Evening star., 1945-09-25
6riff Planning Scrap
For Change in A. |.
Umpiring Corps
BY JOHN b, KELLER.

Clark GrlmthS protest OF the
Athletics Sunday first-game win
over the Mats was fatty rejected,
but perhaps it will bring some good
to the Washington ball club and the
remainder of the American League.
AS result of the "kick" by Grit
fifth on Umpire Ed Rommel's ruling
that Buddy Lewis did not clearly
catch a fly ball-a ruling that blazed
the way to vital loss for the Mats
Qualification of the baseball rule on
a catch will be sought at the leagues
winter meeting and also general
shakeup of the leagues staff of UNI
pires.
AS now written, the rule covering
the apparent catch made by Lewis is
indefinite. According To Will Har-
ridge, president of the American
League. Lewis did not make a catch
in the judgment of the umpire. And
Harridge therefore refused to uphold
Griffith's protest for that reason as
well as for the fact that it was made
about 18 hours too late.
American League rules provide
that no protest can be made where
matter of an umpire's judgment
Is involved and also that no protest
may be entertained If not made dur
ing game in which a questioned
incident occurs.
Griff Demands Clarification.
But Griffith is not through with
the affair. He is going to carry his
argument to the winter meeting of
the league and ask for full rewrit-
ing Of rule 40, which has to do with
when base runners are out.
Griffith will insist that what con-
stitutes catch of a fly ball be
clearly defined so there can be no
question of an umpire's judgment.
He will demand an emphatic rule,
instead of the present one, SO hazy it
is open to various interpretations.
Griffith also will demand a full
revision of the umpire corps There
has been general dissatisfaction with
the work of the leagues arbiters this
season, among both fans and clubs.
And for good reason. The umpiring
in most instances has been poor.
OF the corps of 13 umpires, not more
than 4 are considered at all capable
by players in the circuit.
Club owners, too. repeatedly have
sought general change in the UNI
piring situation and will press their
point strongly at the annual session
of the circuit. Harridge, as presi-
dent of the league, is responsible for
the umpires. He hires and fires
them and he does the latter without
much argument. During the sum-
mer he fired Ernie Stewart, one of
the leagues better umpires, because
Ernie had the temerity to seek a
raise in pay.
Stewart Still Fighting.
The Stewart incident still is cook
ing. The umpire has not yet with
drawn his suit against Harridge and
there are likely to be some bitter
discussions about the entire situa-
ton when the owners gather for
their annual conclave.
The umpiring has been excep-
tionally poor this year. Obviously,
some of the arbiters don't come up
to big league, standard in any way.
Not more than four or five of those
now in the corps command the re-
spect Of the players. And when the
players have no faith in an umpire,
he just can't get along.
Their boss protest turned down,
the Mats are awaiting the outcome
of the two games the leading Detroit
Tigers have with Cleveland's In
dians. There was to be a workout
today at Griffith Stadium. which is
having its infleld resodded. 1t was
torn up badly by last Sundays
football game
Should the Tigers, only a game
ahead of the Mats, but with four
more games to play, lose one, the
Mats will 60 to the Bainbridge Naval
Training Station to establish a
training camp for the remainder OF
the week.
Until the Tigers win two more
games, the Mats, although through
for the year, remain in the race for
the league championship.