Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1916 — STOP PASSING BATTER [ARTICLE]

STOP PASSING BATTER

Rule Suggested to Make Baseball More Interesting. Free Pass Evil Is “Booed” by Every Fan Who Really Loves GameBatter Always Anxious to Boost Batting Average. Whenever a batter receives a base on balls, or is hit by a pitched ball, the manager of the team at bat may have the alternative of permitting the batter to take first base, as has been customary under the present rules, or he may put a base runner on first base and permit the batter to continue at bat. The base runner substituted shall be permitted to re-enter the game at any other time %s a base runner, and the. batter shall not be forced out of the game as is the custom under the present rules when a man runs for him. The rule above will accomplish many things, make the game more speedy, make for more control on the part of the pitchers, make more and better base running, make itmecessary to keep at least one lightninglike runner on the squad and do away with intentional passes. Perhaps whert it will make the biggest hit with the players is that it will make for bigger batting averages. When a batter is hit by a pitched ball or passed by being given four balls, he is not credited with a time at bat, it is true, but, on the other hand, it is a time he does not have a chance to make a hit, and every batter wants as many chances to boost his batting averages as possible. The free pass evil is “booed” at by every fan who really loves the game. To not permit a brilliant hitsmith like Cobb to get a fair chance at making a hit, when a hit means runs and perhaps the game, -is something the fan frowns upon. _ He wants to see his hero stride up to the plate, pick out one to his liking and smash it out for a three-bagger or a homer and send in runs ahead of him.