Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-15

Man Has Solution
For Weak Teams
By MORRIS SlEGEL

JUST WHEN TT BEGAN to appear that this space
today would have to be filled partially by Eddie Galaher
dinner bell menu"-and isn't that Gallaher versatile
one?-aong much tsster topic. courtesy Of one
Frank ]. Albus Of Spring Valley. .oa.
Abus is attorney professionally but at heart he's
baseball buff Like the rest Of he's concerned about the
status of the game, as well he might be.
He has suggestion which he thinks might help the
weak struggling teams the Senator'S being formidable
case of BOTH AlbuS' recommendation would require
drastic rules change and that kills the idea Immediately
The last change Of any consequence made in baseball
was the rule requiring eders to bring their gloves in with
them The only effect Of this revolutionary departure
been to insure cleaner felders mt development ap
pareny unnoticed by the customers whose absenteeism
is matter of profound concern for all.
ANYWAY, ON WITH Albus' recommendation. "I have
maintained" he writes that the strong teams in the
majors have substantial advantage the weaker
teams arising out Of the simple procedure whereby in
tense situation the offensive power Of the weak team
be practically nulfied by simply walking its good
hitter when his bat is needed the most
THE pitcher then pitches to a batter whose average
Is probably around 230 240 with corresponding de-
cline in the offensive power Of the weak team strong
team not penazed in this respect to the extent
as is a weak team II in tense situation the pitcher
walks 800 hitter of the strong team the chances are
that the next batter he faces viii also be 800 hitter
close to it.
THE only benefit to the weak team will be the crea
ton Of the defensive advantage in being able to set
force play at any Of the bases which ought to be the
only advantage that should out Of intentional
walk"
Abus II you've been paying attention, now has filled
the bases Here's how he proposes to get out of the
jam. ITO remove this advantage of the strong team
suggest rules change that if there runners on
third and second and the pitcher throws four balls to the
batter the manager of the batting team would have the
choice Of
(a) Letting the batter go to first base, or
(b) Letting the next batter in the lineup go to first
and permit the original batter to take another turn at bat
THE procedure would be repeated as often would
be necessary to give the good batter legitimate chance
to hit"
What Albus evidently is proposing here is form Of
unlimited substitution such they pro football
the idea being to have the specialist in the game at time
when his speciality is needed most. ~.
THIS RULE WOULD NOT prevent the defensive
team from filling the bases anytime it wanted to use this
procedure as defensive maneuveur" he continues ct
would simply prevent the team being deprived Of
the batting power of the two good htters on the
team.
Furthermore, 1t would not place upon the umpire
any burden calling for the judgment since the
rule would apply regardless of whether the walk was
Intentional not"
AS example of Albus' theory let's magine-and it
stretches the imagination to picture 1.-THE Senators with
runners on second and third, nobody out and Chuck
Hinton at bat in the late stages of close game Nor
may Hinton would be given Intentional pass to pitch
TO whoever followed him. patsy hitter to be sure.
Under the Albus rule the Senator'S If this happened
would have the choice Of sending the next batter after
Hinton Ken Hamn for example to first and let Hinton
continue batting. Manager Mickey Vernon would 60 for
this arrangement in second. He'd have to be cuck
not to.
ssaH
THE ALBUs THEORY sounds good, but there's flaw,
of George Selkrk the Senators answer man.
tells why.
Who" the current general manager asks, deter
mines which the strong team and which Is the weak"
George comedies that when the Senators play the Yankees
and several other Of their supposed peers 1t would
be difficult to determine which the have team and
which the have not
But who would decide between Kansas City and
Washington" sekirk wondered loud (which is the
weak and which is the strong in that combinations"
In the case Of the AS vs. the Senator'S, I'd suggest
they be allowed to make up their rules The ones
they're playing under currently don't to bring out
the best In them.