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Show IOOTS ItHTBE HELP Fans Evidently Like to See Batters Bust th' 01' Pill. Reformer Suggests That Outfielders Play From ' Fixed Positions. Ey BILLY EVANS, American League Umpire. !:; it possible to improve baseball? I? ho. In what direction uro reforms needed? Abolition of trick pitching is receiving iiiuch cotvj deration. A innctinx of the ruU-M commit Leo is contemplated for the near future, to debate propound changes In several sections of the playing code. Jtwcently President IIeyillr of tho National Na-tional league was cpuoted as sayiirfc sug-fc'f.stifjns sug-fc'f.stifjns for improvement of the game wuuhi ho gladly received from patrons, fiM wi ll ad thoMO actively in the pastime. 'I'nere aro thousands of keen minds In-t--re:ued In tho game, and it would seem many must have suggestions that would merit consideration. Do patrons want more hitting? There In no ucnyiiiK tho mastery of the pitcher. It is generally behoved abolition of trick del-v:nttj HiKh as tho epitbali, tho shine-ball, shine-ball, and a score of otneia would tend to even up the situation. Posaibly so, but the element of doubt would still remain. re-main. And alter all, no one has proved there is an Insistent demand by the publ.c for more hitting. The fan likes a slugging match every now and then, where the final result is 113 to lu or there-ahoutH, there-ahoutH, but there is a doubt In my mind . as to whether ho would euro for it aa a steady diet. Fans Like Hits. I believe the average fan would Uko to nee a hit more hating, provided the Hcore was kept in the singio figures, but that is rather difficult.. When J say the la u ni.ght be interested in more hitting I do not necessarily mean he wants to nee more hits go ealo, but is as well satisfied sat-isfied if the batter hits the ball hard, though it doesn't go safe. Such condi-t.ons condi-t.ons mean a high grade of fielding, and the fan likes to see the players go and yet them. A difficult running catch by an outfielder makes a greater hit than ratching a fly without moving, because of the fielder's judgment in knowing whoro to play for the batter. I think Mr. Jleydler made a good suggestion sug-gestion when lie said patrons would be invited to offer any relurm they believed might help. The other day my mail brought me a letter from a prominent fan in a major league city of the west. After perusing it, 1 realized he had offered a suggestion unique and of merit. It st-emed tho change he suggested would help hitting to an extent. It was apparent appar-ent It would tund to make tho fielders pull many a sensational catch. Because tho lettt-r suggested an idea a bit different, differ-ent, and to my knowludgu never before considered, I shall reprint it, believing it to be of general interest to the baseball base-ball public. Here it is: Fix Fielders' Positions. "For years I have read much comment on tho demand for more hitting. I have read a number of sugges.lons to bring about such a condition. Some have been f i client, but I t hink most of them had little or no merit. I have never seen any- i one burst into print with the idea I have , had for several years, viz. : Place the outfielders in a box or circle about the i tdze of the pitcher's box or batter's box. ! Have a designated place for these boxes or circles in the field, all of them a certain cer-tain distance from the bases. These boundary lines r-ou'-d be definitely marked js are the foul lines and the eoaeher's bux. It would be necessary for trie outfielder out-fielder to remain within their lines until the ball was hit. That would not be difficult to enforce, because rarely does a fielder make a break for the ball dntil it conies into contact with the bat. That Is intuition on the part of tho player. "I think you will see at a glance, Mr. Kvans, provided yen have not already 'i ven it thought, the unlimited possibili-X possibili-X if s for spectacular fielding that, would if suit from compelling the outfielder to play a pennant nt position, instead of permitting him to roam over the outfield n t random. There is nothing more brilliant bril-liant in baseball than a running catch by an outfielder. It is a real thrill to watch the race between fielder and ball. On the other hand, what thrill is there in peeing some player hit the ball on the nose, a rule hiah and far away, and then to se.. some Speaker. Roush or Hooper moving in a nonchalant way right in the path of a ba!l. completing the catch without with-out apparent effort? I agree with you that it is wonderful judgment on the part of the fielder to know pretty well how to plav for each hatter, but ft removes much j of the vTT-crtaint y of the game, and it is the ih;"U o.i which the fans thrive. "Despite the fact that Babe Ruth broke the home-run record last year, It must be discouraging for him when he comes to the bat. Immediately the three outfielders out-fielders take themselves to remote spots in the outfield. It is almost impossible for Ruth to hit a long high fly( and get away with it. He must crash the ball on a line to the outfield, whale it through the infield on the ground, drop a Texas leaguer or hit out of the park. It Is the same when Wally Pipp of the New York Americans conies up. I'll wager Pipp is retired on at least fifty long drives during dur-ing the summer that would be two or three-base hits, possibly many of them home-runs, with most any other batter hitting. Likewise, it must be about as discouraging to Donie Bush of the Detroit De-troit Tigers. Bush has a fine eye and seldom strikes out, but he has no great driving power. So when Donie steps into the batter's box the outfielders piay in close. They make many a sensational catch of a Texas leaguer from Bush that would be a base hit ordinarily. "Now, if the outfielders were compelled to play a permanent position until the ball hit the bat. Bush would have an ; equal chance of his Texas leaguer going ; safe, as would Ruth with his mighty swat. I The outfielder would have to go about an equal distance to get either effort. It would make the outfielders step some to I cover the territory, instead of shifting : positions to suit each batter and condi-: condi-: tions of the game. Aside from Increasing the number of brill :ant catches by out-; out-; fielders, there would always be the added I chance of tho hit falling safe. j Might Help Base Running. I '"I believe such a condition would cause j more free hitting, because there would ; be more reason for taking a healthy cut at the ball. I also believe base runners would have a tendency to take a greater (lead. It would offer a greater chance for i runners to advance on caught fly balls, since the outfielder as a rule, afte'r mak-i mak-i lug a difficult catch, is usually in a poor ' position to make a throw. ' "However, I feel the greatest merit to ! my suggestion is that it eliminates to a i great extent the mechanical end of out- fielding. Possibly you will disagree with . me. when I explain what I mean by the i mechanical end of outi'ielding. I refer to the constant shitting of the fielder to meet the reputation the batsman may ; have al a hitter, as I have shown In the I - f T..tV. nn n,icS TT-i ,-V, - i cases of Ruth and Bush. Perhaps many ! people wi:i insist ability to know just j where to play for the batter is an art, i but I can't see it that way. Most out-i out-i fielders have the method of playing the '. batters down to such a scientific degree that it is mechanical, the men seem to shift their positions almost automatically. If not out of order, pleasa let me hear from you relative to my suggestion." You will have to admit my informant has slipped us something entirely new. There is r.o denying the logic of his contention con-tention that the fielding will he more spectacular. spec-tacular. It is also certain that with The f'.riders playing a permanent position until the ball hits the. bat many a hit would fait safe that is now easily taken care of. The suggestion Is so radical I fear U will not pet much consideration at this time. Nevertheless. I would like to so the idea given a trial and would he p eased to see some major league teams give it a workout in some of the sprint: training games. Often a suggestion sugges-tion that seems to hnve real meritdos not stand up under the acid test, which is real competition. However. I would like to see it given a trial. In conclusion let ine express ir.y thanks to the writer for uf.Vrir.g a sugJOMion that has originality, and si'emirm merit. i (Copyright, by W. G. Evans.) ' |
