BASEBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 27 September 1924, Page 26

BASEBALL.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME. (CONTINUED FKOM LAST SATURDAY.) RI |,K -Mi OWTIM'KD. fsec.tiou I tells the bait 4* r very plainly that it lie interferes with the catcher when the latter has. not caught the third strike, lie sutlers the. penalty ot being called out. ■•. Momentarily held. ' in section . means ‘‘firmly held - ’ in the sense that the ball is not alterwards di upped to the ground. ►Section 3. Ju this ease ‘•fielder, 7 ’ of course, refers to the catcher. It there is a runner on first base and no tine out, or only one out, the catcher does nut even have to hold the ball. The batter is out automatically (sec section oof rule di). It is a “hone” play for a runner who is on first to think he must run when the hatter has a third strike called on him and the catcher drops the Lull, unless two hands are out. ►Section 4 says “fielder,” because any fielder —pitcher, catcher, or first or sec-

oncl baseman —can touch the runner out it possible before the latter gets to first base. In other words, the first baseman does not have a monopoly of putting runners out at first base.

Section o detines the second way of putting runners out at first. It a fielder—moaning any player of side not at bat— with the ball in his possession, touches first base before the runner arrives at the base, the runner is out. Often when a hatter makes a long hit on which it appears he may go to second base, or third, or homo, he runs outside the base path while rounding first base and there arc some who instantly shout that he is out ‘dor tun - ning out of the lino.” Note what section 6 says. The runner is out only

for running out ot line il the bull is being fielded to first bate uiul he runs out to avoid being put out. It is apparent that the farther he deviates from the base path, the more he is handicapping himself. To rite an extraordinary circumstance: I lie runner could even stop, sit on the players’ bench and then resume his run to first base (provided be returned to the base path at the point from which he left it) without liability to be called out if the ball bad not been bold on first base before be reached it. W lien a hatter hits for a. home run the ball is not fielded to first base on the first play, except the runner is presumed to have omitted to touch first base, which is quite another matter from running out of line.

Section 7 holds the runner to the base line to avoid being touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder. On the other hand, it the runner is trying for a lone distance hit. the base line rule is not enacted. He can make his turn as best lie can so that he shall not cut the bases. The runner never is out if he runs behind a fielder who is trying to hold the ball. Ho may inn in front of the fielder; indeed, sometimes it, is almost impossible, to do otherwise., but he must be careful that he does not interfere t\ ith the fielder. Section Bis easily understood. If the fielders have run into one another, the runner is not at fault if the collision happens to he with that fielder who. in the opinion of the umpire, had the lesser opportunity to held the hall The present rule is clarified as compared with the original. The runner is always out at any time he is touched by the hall in the hands of a fielder, unless the runner is on the base to nhich he is legally entitled. The? ball, however, must bo held by the fielder after ho has touched the runner. 31 the runner deliberately knocks the ball out of the fielder's hands to avoid being put out, he must bo declared out. Note that the rule states explicitly that the ball cannot be juggled by the fielder. Section'll) means that the runner is out if he cannot get back to the base that he originally occupied, after a foul or fly catch has been made, and the hall has been thrown to the base ahead of him. For instance, a runner is on second base. The ball is hatted so hard and so close to the foul line that the runner is sure that it is a fair hit. lb* starts to run and when he arrives at third finds that the hit was foul. In the meantime the ball has been thrown to second ahead of him and held on the base. That retires the runner. The same prevails at first and third bases. If the runner slides hack to a base or jumps into it. and unloosens it from its fastening, he is safe because he does not follow the base, hut the base follows him. Tf a fielder can touch him with the hall before he can gain the original base, he is out. The new clause in the rule says the base-runner shall have. t.he. right to advance the moment a fly ball touches the fielder’s hands.