The Washington times., 1906-05-05
QLD-T|ME PITCHERS
UNEQUALED TODAY
Kit Holds Rules Responsible
for Low Batting Averages.
M'GRAW EXPECTS EASY RACE
Giants and Nationals Meet in Boston
and Veterans Talk
II Over.
M'GRAW EXPECTS EASY RACE
By THOMAS S. RICE.

By THOMAS S. RICE.
BOSTON. May SIN a discussion of
the present cry Off more hitting Kit
tredge, of the Washington team, made
a suggestion the other day which
might well be adopted. He claims that
when man is put out trying 10 work
the hit and run game. or purposely
hits a bad one in order to help the
runner. 1t should be counted a sacri-
fee hit just as much as if he bunted
the ball with the intention of sacri-
ficiug.
There may be something in this and
it is worth considering.
kttredge denies absolutely that the
pitchers Of today are any better than
those of days gone. in fact. asserts
volubly that the oId-time stars have
no equals now on the diamond. Kit
Claims that there has been misap-
prehension about the pitchers because
the foul strike rule and other modern
innovations have reduced the averages
of the batters. He says there is an
abundance Of swatting now to make
the game interesting, but because there
is an apparent paucity Of 800 batters
the fans have an idea they are not get
ting their moneys worth.
Apparent, Not Real.
With this as a groundwork Kit
evolves the theory that the falling OF
in batting IS more apparent than real.
in that men are now frequently in
structed 10 go up and sacrifice them
selves by attempting the hit-and-run
or any one of the other tricks of that
sort in order TO advance the man on
the bag. These deliberate infeId hits
are counted against man in his bat
ting average, with the consequence
that at the end OF the year he has an
parently been failure with the stick
while in reality he may have been the
most useful man on the team.
Here again Malachi IS largely right
l have often thought that II it could
possibly be worked out, there should
De something on the score to show
what men advanced runners A careful
study OF these figures In coniunction
with the batting average as now COM
pied would give a manager or a fan
ability. This advancing and run Eei-I
ting Is big thing and Il should be
included in their dope when the fans
are making up their minds whether or
not player viii make good.
McGraw Confident.
John McGraw and the champion New
York Giants were in Boston. stopping
at the Copley Square Hotel when the
Washington team arrived and there was
n NoAA44ANN III udlG5 between the Amerf-
can and National League teams on that
date
McGraw and his henchmen were in
high spirits. as their game on Tuesday
was their tenth consecutive victory. But
while the Gothamites were pleased with
themselves the Boston PLAYERS and
newspapers were decidedly sore on them
Ihe trouble was caused by Ine rouRh-
mouse tactics of the Giants on Tuesday
Mhen tney practically sandbag gged the
Seaneaters for victory. This was
zone al the expense of having three
men put out of the game. but the New
workers were not in the least abashed
py TINS punishment or the severe roasts
McGraw is confident that his team
VIII make a runaway race in the Ma
uonal League and win the worlds title
again. lie has never been famous for
a lack Of confidence in anything he un-
dertook, but in this case his self-assur-
ee edness seems to be justified, judging
ents Of the Giants thus far.
Used to Be Rough Game.
McGraw and Kittredge exchanged
many "reminiscences of the old davs
when baseball was a much rougher
game than now, not only toward the
umpires, but between the players them
selves. One Of the KICKS winch caused
trouble in the Tuesday game was the
interference Of the batter with the
catcher. Kittredge remarked that in the
old days there was many a time when
the catcher could not get the ball away
az an In trying 70 stop a steal. for the |
simple reason that the batter got busy
with his club and blocked the throw |
ana the other catchers present agreed /
ruefully that such was the case
dcGraw told a story Of Jake Stencil |
who was exceedingly "goosy'' and fell /
victim of the wiles of the old Balti- |
more team on that account. It was an |
rrlr
ing, and Stencil at the bat Jake had |
peen hitting the ball hard. and it was
feared that he would repeat the per-
tormance- He had two strikes and no |
pals on when McGraw gave a signal |
Inc pltcher sent one straight over the
plate. and just as he let go. Robinson 1
gave a little yelp and touched Stencil /
IN the ribs. Jake Jumped about six feet /
tne umpire called II a strike and the /
side was retired. Nobody tumbIad 10 |
: eii@ erIch, ana altnough Stencil let out
a tremendous roar, he received no sat |
Pays Attention to Base Running.
MeCraw has insisted that his team
pay a great deal of attention TO |
base running. He says that the prac-
tice and discussion of that art has been /
responsible for the poor showing of |
many teams which otherwise had the
earmarks of winners. He is himself /
ore of the greatest steaIers in the busi- |
ness, and nowadays when he gets a |
chance 10 put his theories into practice
thTough the running of other men he |
Ieils tnem TO go the limit On Tues /
day the Giants were allowed TO exert
themselves in this particular and tbcy
were credited with nine purloined sacks 4
puL AcIraT insists that with perfect /
even dozen