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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1947)
- DUCKTRACKS By WALLY HUNTER Assistant Sports Editor 1 hough many fans took a rather dim view of the iifth inning argument precipitated in the first game of the Cougar-Duck series when Cougar Chuck Bray ton poled an intentional pitch out for three bases, Oregon s Howard Hobson had a very legiti mate 'beef on the proceedings. Here’s what happened. Bray ton, a heavy-hitter, was at the plate with two men on. Oregon strategy here called for an intentional walk for the batter. On the first pitch-out Catcher Carlson stepped out of the catcher’s box to catch the pitch. He was then warned by the umpire behind the plate that this was illegal. Carlson protested, but the ump was firm in his belief ~ T that the catcher was required to stay in position to receive the ball from the mound. So Carlson did stay in position— and as a result Brayton cracked the next ball for a two-run triple. Umpire Didn't Know the Rules Hobby's "beef" with the umpire came because the umpire behind the plate believed that the catcher was required to stay iu position. That rule was changed several years ago, and as it reads now (Rule 18) the pitcher is the only player required to take up a specific position. The rule reads: "The players of the team not at bat may be stationed at any points of the field on fair ground their captain may elect, regardless of the respective postions, except that the pitcher while in the act of delivering the ball to the bat must take his position . . So Hobby’s complaint to the arbiter was not over whether the batter bad stepped out of the batter's box to hit the pitch as many believed. As Hobby explained, that rule is rather loosely interpreted, and the Webfoots had no complaint on that score. They did figure, however, that any team has a legitimate howl coming when the men in charge of the game do not know the rules. A question as to whether an ump made a bad decision man be overlooked to a certain extent—but lack of knowledge of the rules of the game should by all means be the first require ment fulfilled by any man called on to make the decisions-. Which brings up the question of how much beefing a Coach or manager should be able to make to the umpire in a ball game. Many fans get a little peeved when the coach comes hopping cut to take issue with the men in black. But is that so bad? After all, a coach or manager isn’t out there just for kicks. He’s got a job to do. In most cases the pro testing gentleman is merely protecting the job that brings in the old bread and butter. Coaches Should Protect Their Rights Up to a certain extent the coach should be a gentleman. But he's got some rights out there and if the officials don't seem to be taking care of them its up to him to ask for a little more care in their decisions. This doesn't mean, of course, that anyone does or could condone a rabble-rouser who take issue with an official in an effort to make up for the deficiencies in his team. But when they do him wrong he should squawk. Most arguments with umpires don't spoil a ball game. On the other hand a good umpire-coach■ argument is one of the game's most colorful scenes. Take our rotund friend Buck Bailey. Me draws a crowd whevere he goes. He’s a good per ~centag.e of any game. Oregon students wait from year to year for WSC to come to town. Because if Buck Bailee came to town with a team composed of nine-year-old grammar school girls the crowd would be on hand to watch him operate. By an actual count after the first ball game 11 fans who watched all or part of the tussle did not know the name of the Cougar pitcher but not one of the lacked knowledge of Buck Bailey. Polling only 11 Spectators does not give con clusive proof that the spectators do not know the names of pitchers—but it is an indication that a colorful character like Bailey is a great drawing card. And he makes himself a drawing card mainly because of his Tiger tank charges at the umpires, such as his perforamnce yesterday when he dragged base ump “Doc” Taylor halfway across the dia mond by the front of the coat, and his strong man act with “Tiny” Coughlan, the umpire behind the plate. Beavers Don't Draw By way of comparing the drawing power of baseball between Oregon and Oregon State, it's interesting to note that \vhen WSC played OSC at Corvallis the opening day crowd on the Beaver field was 1500. The first game of the Cougar-Duck series here pulled in 3500 fans. Aihzn Cvalain* y<7' tfosimatian ai. Rain lr By FBED TAYLOR When Jim Aiken, shortly after his appointment as head football coach, announced his intention of employing the T-formation as the chief offensive weapon of the 1947 Oregon grid entry a pertinent ques tion was raised around these parts. What’s going to happen when it rains ? How will the adverse elements treat the high-geared, fast-moving, tricky T? Will the formation, call ing for rapid and accurate ball handling, bog down when the going gets sloppy, or worse yet, develop into a nightmare of fumbles? Coach Aiken feels that nothing short of actual mire will stop the T. Wet, slick fields won't hurt the T any more than they will squads using the conventional single-wing, Aiken says, as contrary to popular belief, the formation does not de mand any trickier ball-handling. If the backfield men learn their parts the T will function just as effec tively, rain or shine. Another reason the mentor is op timistic concerning his offensive is that he doesn’t anticipate that too many games will be played in mud. Two games of the nine will be played in the sunny southland. Cal ifornia, the state where Clark Shaughnessy's Stanford teams Crippled Harriers Prepare For Bearcat, Portland Meet r A sadly depleted Oregon track and field team went through light workouts yesterday in their final preparation for Saturday’s trian gular clash with Portland and Wil lamette universities at 1:30 on the local cinders. John Warren sent Colonel Bill Hayward’s proteges through the practice last night and several men did not do more than limber up after the stiff workouts of Monday and Tuesday. Lack Dasli Men Most of Oregon’s hopes for win ning the coming meet will rest with several of the strong men expected to take firsts. Carl Maxey is slated as the only Duck to go in the dashes although Hayward might reveal another starter when he arrives on the campus tomorrow. This week’s problem is much ' harder. Hayward doesn’t have the personnel to bank on. Dave Hen thorne, Merce Brown, and Chuck Beckner are gone for sure and Jake Leicht and Wally Still will probably not compete. # Without these sure point getters, Hayward has to juggle his team around to insure victory. Although the Pilots and Bearcats didn’t show too well against Oregon State, they can give the Ducks plenty of trou ble Saturday. 1 made the T-formation famous, is ideally suited for the fast action attack. Aiken also plans on keeping Ore gon’s own turf Hayward field in good shape. No one is going to be allowed to even walk on the turf with cleats during the fall, except on actual game days, in an attempt to keep the grass from being chewed up unnecessarily. This will provide solid underpinning for sev : eral games. Aiken will teach his gridders the rudiments of the single wing, to hold in reserve. RELAX! 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