The Washington herald., 1908-07-19
FEW YOUNGSTERS STANDPACE
Seasoned Veterans Have the Call IN
the Major Leagues.
Majority of the Early Spring
PhenOms Are Turned Back
to the Minors.

Where have the phenomena fozu 70 -
asks Tim Muruane- During March and
early April the two big leagues were
crowded fun OF wonderful young bali
players The reliable old players were
booked for the brush I'VE must have
fast men, was the CITY OF the fan Tine
has shown the veteran 10 be the most
valuable asset ball club can control.
Speed doesn't amount 70 much unless the
player has all OF the other essentials that
go TO make up the winning combination
Looking over the two major leagues.
one is actually surprised al the failure OF
the young recruits 70 make good About
the only ones showing good form are
those who have been in the big leagues
before and went back 10 the minors for
more experience
Tom O-Brien, the clever Cleveland
scout. returned 70 Cleveland q few days
ago, after touring the country. and said
that he saw lsss than six men whom he
considered worth a trial And this Is
true OF all scouts Gathering a small
army Of half-baked youngsters is a losing
game, and viii be cut out hereafter by
most Of the clubs. and this VIII prove a
blessing for the smaller clubs. as Il VIII
help to keep their salaries down
There hasn't been a tine In ten years
where heady pitching IS telling as Il is
to-day The batsmen have found a way
10 meet the spit5aII; IN fact, they step in
and cut OF most Of the breaks a bail can
be made to take by a pitcher. with the
exception Of the outcurve. and II this
way have put the boxmen on the defsn-
game here last week between PhnadeI-
phia and Boston. with McQuinan and
Tom Mccarthy pitching, and that closed
the strike-out business fer the day. As
the score was close, both men worked
hard right through the game. but the
| ball was met and sent to the field. show
I ing that the day for strike-outs was on
the decline
The splendid showing that Tom Hughes
Bill Donovan, Jack Powell, Cy Young.
and other clever boxmen are making
this season simply goes 10 show that
hesdwork and command IN the box ara
going to count. as they did IL the day Of
| Radbourne. CIarkson. and other hesdy
pitchers. The death kneH OF the player
who broke into the game as a throweT
OF the spit bail has sounded. and bail
clubs must look about for pitchers with
command OF a variety OF curves and the
headwork 10 carry them through There
were several men Of this stamp three
years aEo, but they lost faith in their
ability TO keep up with the moist ball.
and taking up the new fad later. were
I soon out Of the running with lame arms.
wouldn't be surprised in the near fu-
ture to see the spit ball legislated against,
and the boxmen forced 20 pitch clean.
dry ball In time this would bring about
a more interesting game. and the pitchers
would be rated according 10 their real
ability
IF we only had the pitchers" seems
| TO be the cry OF the clubs This cry
must be kept up for the next two years,
as the young men breaking into the gsms
have ignored the science Of curve pitch
/ ing TO work along the lines OF the moist
ball. A new crop OF boxInen must be
developed. and this can only Be brought
about by 1egislatins against the unsan-
/ itary delivery OF 75 per cent Of the minor
| league boxmen-
I with the erratic style Of pitching con-
| ing into use. catcheTs became the back
bone OF a team. and unless an excep-
tionally strong. all-aTound man was De-
I hind the bat clubs had little chance
With the old style steady, heady pitch
/ ing. there was no digging the ball out
of the dirt and a catcher was given a
/ chance TO throw from a good position
Great cstchers have grown scarce. end
the good ones have been overworked. as
the clubs were afraid 10 take a chancs
with their second-string men