Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-19
EASIER FOR SLABMEN
MODERN SYSTEM OF PLAYING
BASEBALL SHOWS SCIENTIFIC
CHANGES.

TWrler Is Not Expected to Run, Hit
or Catch FIies-Must Use His
Strength on the Batsmen-Method
OF Long Ago. .-,l-t
Scientific baseball has so radically
changed the character of the game in
a decade that the duties of men play
ing the various positions have under
gone a complete transformation. Out
felders are no longer supposed to
dash in on low line balls, and. diving
headlong, scoop them out of the dust.
The cold-blooded, scientific method
says: "Play it safe and hold the hit
to single. Take it on an easy bound
so that it can't pass you and go for
three bases"
The first baseman has been con-
verted from a numbering slugger Of
the Brouthers sort, whose sole fielding
function was to stand anchored to the
bag and never move for bah, into
the mitted marvel of the Tenney type,
covering all kinds of ground, dashing
in for bunts and shifting all over the
!nfleld to care for the various types
Of hitters.
The new game has pulled the sec
ond baseman far over toward the first
base and out into right field. 1t has
made the catcher the pivot Of the
team work, decreased long hits and
made the ability to tap little ones to
the infield far more essential than the
power of lacing the sphere against the
fence.
4. Pitchers Work Lessened.
In fact, modern baseball has given
more work to everybody but the
pitcher; and this is said with a full
knowledge Of the fact that now he
has to field many hunts.
The tendency to specialization has
operated In the national game just as
IN all fields of endeavor, requiring
trained ability. The baseball strate-
gist looks on his twirler as holding
the success of the team in his hands,
80 he keeps the slabmen wrapped UP
in cotton.
The pitcher.of today is asked to fool
the opposing batsmen and field hunts.
That is all. No one expects him to
hit, run. or catch flies.
When a ball goes above the infleld
now, the pitcher stands helplessly in
the box, while catcher, the three base
men and the shortstop come rushing
toward him. The number Of men
after the ball always creates some
confusion. 1t may be a fly SO easy
that any kid on the lot could pull it
down one handed; but they all look at
each other panic-stricken till finally,
at the critical moment, some one
Jumps out from the UNNECESSARILY
the one who is farthest away-and,
by an almost impossible effort, gets
the ball that would have been joke
for the pitcher.
The theory that rules out the pitch
er is that he may injure finger in
pulling down high one. But in prac-
tice the same pitchers will handle the
games will go after lightning ground
ers and liners from the bats OF the La
joies and Wagners.
Sometimes it Is undoubtedly good
Judgment to let the catcher take the
high flies that he can reach, for he not
only profits by having on the big mitt,
but has the sun at his back. This,
however, applies to the backstop
alone. The pitcher is on an equality
with the other infielders, so far as ex-
posure to the suns disconcerting rays
goes.
Methods Fifteen Years Back.
Fifteen years ago the pitcher used
to catch everything that came near
him, and the twirlers of that day wore
no gloves, but faced the cannonading
with uncovered hands.
John Clarkson, standing in the box
would have been insulted at the
thought that Fred Pfeffer had to run
in from second base, a distance that
most people forget is as far as from
the left flelders position to short stop,
In order to get pop fly.
So, too, the twirler has been elm
mated as batting and base running
factor
Nobody expects him to run. The
most that is looked for is that he
strike out quickly or lay down for a
sacrifice. When he gets on the bases
unless the game is in critical stage
he is cautioned to take it easy. lest
he spend his strength and be in no
condition to pitch the next inning.
IlOW uAuClSuI lEOul luG DAYS OF
old?
Then the pitcher was frequently
such a good hitter that they batted
him third or fourth. Sometimes he
was the best batter on the nine.
When the Phillies had Ferguson and
Daley they played the one who was
not pitching in the outf1eld in order to
profit by the batting ability Of both.
Sanders was a noted slugger, Maui
once led the National League in bat
ting and Ortiz, Mcmahon and Gleason
were all men who could hit around
800.
Then 1t was no uncommon thing for
a pitchers hitting ability to lead him
to take some other position after his
days of box usefulness were over. In
this connection the names of Glea.
son, Wallace, Ward and Burkett come
Instantly to mind. Now about the only
job twirler with gone arm could
ill would be that of ground keeper