The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-24

cred after that. / made it point TO warm
I'D gradually and never 70 throw Dali
hard till [ felt myself perspiring. The
chill which strikes the exposed muscles
seems to parslyze them, and belleye IL
should be carefully avoided. i nave
spoken of this matter at some length. De-
cause speed is so absolutely essential TO
man playing my position, and because 4
believe that many young players are IN
turing themselves, as L might have done
but for Suttons advice.
In throwing cultivate the muscles Of the
wrist and forearm. An infielder must be
able TO ''snap" the ball as well as throw 1t.
That is how he makes many OF his pref
test plays. And always field ball with
reference to the throw.
I never pick mp ball except in posi-
ton 70 throw unless by an error, for which
l condemn myself afterwards. Especially
In case OF tumble, pick up the ball In
position to throw II, for you haven't
tenth part of second TO lose. 1T
it bounds high. grab it right out OF
the air and throw IL from the shoulder;
have the snap so fine in practice that there
is no luck about its going TO the right
place. If the fumbled ball is behind you,
always turn SO that your swing will bring
you into position to throw. Tommy"
Burns. whom / regard as one of the BRAIN
lest ball players on the field, takes ad-
vantage of this principle in way that
gives him many an assist that another
man might lose
In fielding batted ball the bound is al
WAYS your first choice. of course, but look
out for your runner. Ii he is fast get in on
the ball and take the pickup. That IS the
second choice. Where you haven't any
choice you must prepare for the short
bound, as it is sometimes called. There
YOU meet the ball while il is coming up
off the ground, and it is the hardest way
to handle it, as most players have learned.
/ call il fighting the bail, - and Long. the
Boston short stop, is the only man know
who seems to like it. He is almost as sure
of that difficult play as man can be OF
anything. But. for my part. avoid 1t,
except in practice, when, OF course, 1t
must be studied.
Beginners often Eight the ball" this
way in a game where care would enable
them to avoid doing so. They do not
realize the value of making a choice, or
are no. quick and alert enough TO take
advantage of an opportunity. There Is
always a right way to field a ball and
there are several other ways that are
wrong inexperienced players do not
carry their head work far enough to take
advantage of every possibility when they
see Datted ball coming at them. lwould
recommend that man should never be
felded the ball, if he has done
it in such way as to give an
unnecessary chance of losing ii. Carry
this principle as far az il will go. What
ever is worth doing is worth doing well,
and if you are going to play the game
play every point there is in it. There is
nothing too small TO be attended 10. For
instance, | have seen Long, when abb
solutely unable to handle fumbied ball
in time kick il into baseman's hands
and thus make the play. This is not ac-
cident; he has done il in practice until he
is reasonably sure of putting the ball
pretty near where he wants it TO go. He
might not have chance to do that in a
hundred games, and, again, he might save
game by 1t.
In practice a man should always have n
definite idea of improvement. He should
know exactly where his weak spots are
and should remedy his defects by no hap
hazard work. Some young players, ind
ing that certain plays come easy TO them.
devote all their attention TO periecting
that is not the way to be player.
Practice for your weak points, but
don't do any practicing in game. There
the player is all for his team. If he can
guard his weakness he must do it. A
third baseman who is weak on his right
side. who isn't so sure of ball when he
runs to the left, should play nearer the
bag on that account. And so with every
point of play. 1t is study of himself which
makes the best of man.
One of the hardest things / had to learn
was how to touch a runner. 1t Is easy
enough to say how it should be done, If
the ball is thrown properly and every
thing works well. But there are about a
million different ways that it may happen,
and man must be prepared for any
one of them. Of course. the baseman has
the probable play in mind. / always
measure my distance from my base |
know just how many steps ! must take
before throwing myself into position.
run to the base without looking at it;
plant my right foot firmly against it. and
extend the left with the leg braced out to-
ward the runner. Then all depends on
the throw. / must follow the ball where
ever it goes. The advantage of the cor
rect position is that l take every chance