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Show '.'DOPE" ON LENGTH OF BASEBALL GAMES The Ideal length of a game of baseball was the subject of an Interesting discussion discus-sion between Ned Hanlon, manager of the Brooklyn team, and President Kllfoyl of the Cleveland club recently. It Is worthy of note that these men, representatives represen-tatives of clubs in two major leagues, agreed perfectly that the tendency last season to, rush games through was wrong. "I do not believe in thes short games." said Hanlon. "To begin with, if the pitcher and catcher work too fast, they overlook many of the finer points of the game. They don't have a full grasp on the situation all the time, and are apt to make mistakes which at critical times may lose games. They don't play heady baseball. "The people don't like these Short games, .either. They pay for an afternoon's after-noon's entertainment and they are apt to feel they don't get their money's worth when they see a game rushed through In an hour nnri fifteen or twentv minutes. A game lasting nearer two hours suits them much better." - . Kllfoyl. in general, agreed with this opinion. i "I know, he said, 'that in Cleveland a lot of fans thought some of our games were too short But we had one crack batter that used to work like lightning. The ball went back and forth so fast you could hardly tell which was the pitcher." "That very quickness may havs cost you several games," remarked Hanlon. "But it didn't:' was the reply. "The pitcher In the battery I refer to -did the best work of the season. He won something some-thing like eighteen out of twenty-three games.". "Well, he's an exception to the rule," said Hanlon. "I always have my catchers catch-ers hold the pitchers down if the Jatter get to working too fast I want every one on the team to fully realise Just what the situation is before the ball is pitched.' If the battery works too fast they don't do this. Then the first thing you know some inexcusable play is made and it may cost you the game. ' "Two hours mav be a bit long for a game, though it did not use to be so considered, con-sidered, but I don't want my team to play a game In much less time thsn that , "Well," said Kllfoyl, "I think we have perhaps been playing a lot of our games too quickly, but It strikes me that two hours Is going to the other extreme. About an hour and forty minutes hits me as the ideal time for a game." "At least that." added Hanlon. "From and hour and forty to an hour and fifty minutes Is Just about right for the average aver-age game. This gives the players plenty of time to use their heads as well as their hands. Also. It Just about suits the crowd. They see enough baseball and get away from the gams In time for their dinners without having to kill half an hour or so In between." |