Clipping:A proposal to change scoring of pitchers stats to encourage offense
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| Date | Wednesday, October 3, 1888 |
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| Text | [from Harry Palmer's column] I have a suggestion to make on this batting question, but before I make it I want to make a suggestion or two: In the first place, what is the incentive that urges a pitcher to strike out as many of his opponents as possible and hold them down to a small number of base hits? As everybody knows, it is because hitting aids run-getting, and because a pitcher's value to his club is almost wholly determined by his ability to deceive the opposing batsmen in his delivery. Very well, then. If this incentive were removed; if the number of hits made off a pitcher were largely determined by the fielders or a team, and to comparatively no extent at all by the pitcher himself; if, on the contrary, it was the wish and object of a pitcher to have opposing batsmen hit the ball so that the in and outfields might do the decisive playing, would not the effect be desirable? If so, it can be had by substituting the following pitching and batting rules: Each batsman shall be entitled to three strikes, two called balls entitling him to take first base. In delivering the ball, the pitcher may stand and hold the ball as he pleases, so long as he does not resort to methods calculated to deceive a base-runner. A ball over the plate, between the knee and shoulder of the batsman shall be called a fair ball. Should a batsman be hit by a pitched ball, he shall be entitled to take second base. The number of base hits made off a pitcher shall in no way affect his standing in the official averages. His standing shall be determined by the percentage of opponents he has sent to first base on called balls to the number of opponents who have faced him. The percentage of opponents he has struck out will also go far to show his skill as a pitcher, under the three-strike and two-ball rule. A pitcher who shall hit a batsman with a pitched ball shall have two “bases on called balls” charged against him by the official scorer. … Under the rules I suggest a pitcher will avoid sending a batsman to base on balls, knowing that upon this point in his pitching depends his standing in the records. On the contrary, he will much prefer to put the ball where the batsman can hit it; knowing that his (the pitcher's) record will not be hurt by a a two-base hit, and that the chance of the batsman's being retired on a fly or infield hit, is preferable to the certainty of his taking first on called balls. Reducing the number of called balls from five to two almost compels the pitcher to deliver a fair ball, as he has but little margin to go upon. The penalty for hitting a batsman is also so great that a pitcher will much prefer putting the ball over the plate. In fact, the combined restrictions under which the pitcher would be placed under such rules would make him abandon the deadly curve ball, while as an offset he would be under no restrictions as to method of delivery, and would be at liberty to use all the speed, change of pace or drop and rise balls, of which he was master. It is dollars to cents that almost any league pitcher can put a ball over the plate time and time again without once missing., provided he resorts only to change of pace and lets the curve severely alone, so that if, under the rules suggested, a pitcher gave a batsman a base on balls he would have only himself to hold responsible. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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