The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-10
johnson Couldn't Keep Bali
From Center of the Plate
Fear of Wild Pitch Responsible For Hits BY White and
Hahn-Present Pitchers Records Entirely
WorthleSs-An Illustration.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

Anyhow, Washington not only scored
on Doc white, but got an earned run
or him. That was so much better than
ever seemed likely to come to pass that
it offers many comforting reflections
which tend TO make Us forget that raw
biz of judgment displayed by Ganley
in going after Hahn's fly
So weird was the form reversal dis
played by Walter Johnson in the third
and fourth innings yesterday, which re-
suited in Chicago beating Washington
by to 3, that some explanation was nee
essary. When Johnson was asked about
the sad affair he said he was deeply de-
pressed. but said:
Il felt fine, and my arm was good,
but ! simply couldn't get the ball to
roll of my fingers properly in the third
and fourth innings. 1t wouldn't curve
so ! could tell where it was going, and
/ couldn't even throw a perfectly
straight BAH with any confidence. When
Doc White came TO bat in the third,
after Sullivan had walked, tried every
way 1 knew to get the ball over the
corner for him. but the delivery was so
erratic l was afraid Of a wild pitch,
and in my desire TO avoid that I gave
him one straight over the heart Of the
plate. where he could have hit It with
his eyes shut.
My experience with Hahn was ex-
actly the same. / was aiming 20 give
him a high enc close TO his body that
would keep him from getting a free
swing. but instead the BAN sailed over
the middle Of the pan, and he got a ton
Of substance into it. In the fifth In
ming I was still having trouble, but
after that ! became better, although I
was bothered by lack OF control all
through the game"
Apart from the March hare delivery.
Johnson was the goods. and should
never have been beaten as bad as he
was A youngster who lets a team like
Chicago down with three hits has done
a proper days work. and il is up to
his support 10 make a few runs on
its own account. In playing the great
national game. your object IS not only
to keep the other fellows from scoring.
but to tally once in awhile for your
self. This is the policy recommended
by all the best critics. and is suggested
to the Washington club in a perfectly
friendly spirit.
Bob Ganley's error OF judgment on
Hahn's fly In the third inning was a
sore point with the Nationals last night.
Ganley played I'm short in left for Hahn,
who is left handler, and might ordi-
narily not be supposed to hit deeply in
that direction. SO far so good. and
when Hahn hit over his head il was
simply case Of outguessing the field
er, but the trouble was Ganley did
not recognize the three-base features
Of the drive until it was too late for
him to run back. either in the hope Of
catching it or Of knocking il into Sub
mission before II could count for more
than single. II was a bad play. all
right, and veXed many Of our leading
roOters-
Walter Johnson is stiu a youngster.
and should not let a little thing like
that beating yesterday take his nerve.
Perhaps it was the fact that Jim ID.
Sane! was on the job again in the press
box that caused the Nationals TO lose
such "a medsly exhibition after the
good work Of the day before.
Maybe in the golden summer, maybe
i'm the dreary winter of about the year
goo a. d. the MAJOR leagues will wake
up and appoint two umpires for every
game. When George Davis threw Wild
iy yesterday trying TO double UP Shipke
at first, it was largely an element or
chance that caused Umpire SILK
OLOUghlin TO see that the bali went
into the stand hit a post and bounded
out again. There were two exactly op-
pOsite directions in which Silk was sup
posed TO be looking at that time. one
was TO follow the ball behind first base
the other was 10 watch the runner go
ing TO second and preparing 10 wheel
gone into the stand, but against the
fence. was there not a fat cnance FOR
the runner TO cut second without the
arbitrator seeing him2 Or. II ne mad
kept his eye on the runner, as he was
supposed to do. and which was enough
of a Job for one man. he would not
have seen the ball go in and come out.
and Washington would have lost run
The major leagues are beefing about
25-cent baseball and stating that IL Will
only be a short time before there will be
no admissions at that price because OF
the high and expensive quality OF sport
demanded by their patrons. II such be
the case, why don't the leagues open
up their treasures by apprOpriating
salaries enough TO prevent problems
like that Of yesterday. which so ire
Quentlv arise There is no excuse I'M
der the sun for the single umpire sys-
tenn except for the annual enthusiastic
boost in salaries of tedrfully resisting
presidents Of the two big organizations
The whole subject of scoring winning
and losing pitchers u coming To the
front more strongly than ever nova
days because of the policy Of managers
in changing slaLmen when they show
signs Of eVapOrating. At present the
system is so poor that the figures are
practically worthless. For instance,
FaIkenberg stands in the records as the
best Washington pitcher. according to
the number Of games he Is credited with
winning. yet in the estimation of the
fans and league managers he probably
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