Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-12
FANS VIEW OF GAME.
Why Local Team Has Lost So Many
Times.

A base ball fan. writing to The Star.
says
Some time ago an item was published
in the sporting columns of one of our
daily papers by Fielder Jones Of the
White sox of the value of allowing the
first ball to go by without an offer on
the part of the batter to strike at 1t.
Heartily concurring with his views in
this respect. 1 beg to suggest this as the
most important reason Of indeed another
reason be found necessary for the local
teams losing so many close games which
seemingly should have been won. Abb
solutely no opportunity to advance run
ner by the aid OF possible wild pitch,
a hit batter. base on balls, etc, Is taken
advantage of or embraced by the local
team.
I'm fact, these opportunities are delib-
erately thrown away when the batter
connects fairly with the first ball. either
for a hit or, as is more often the case,
an out And further the tremendous ad-
vantage of working the opposing pitcher
is never utilized and seemingly lost sight
of entirely by the Washington club.
Only a few days ago 1 read OF our
locals being retired on three pitched balls;
could the opposing pitcher wish for any
thing better? This may also explain why
our team secures as many hits. but less
comparative runs than Its opponents.
Each local batter has his full three
healthy swings at the ball, beginning with
the first good ball pitched. with the pos
sibility of safe hits being trife in his
favor owing to his acceptance OF all his
opportunities, but even after he Is on
as a result of his safe 60 bingle the OPP
posing twirler, not having been worked,
is still able to pitch at top speed with
the consequent chances in his favor OF
retiring the remaining batters.
Thus II is easy to see why we fall
down in 'pinches,' as the expression goes
In the worlds series. when the number
Of balls pitched by each twtrler was pub
lished II was nearly always the case that
the team whose pitcher threw the least
number of balls during the game came
out victorious. Is this not significant? In
a game early in the season on our Local
grounds, SchlitZer of the Athletics simply
forced upon our batters seven bases or
balls. but each succeeding batter instead
OF waiting, batted into double play OF
forced the runner out.
The pitcher was wild on this occa
sion that the slightest bit OF patience OF
scientific ball playing would have resulted
In a victory instead OF defeat This In
cident and the one referred to-retireo
on three pitched balls'-suggested to me
the criticism l have volunteered to oner
! might add that the purely mechanica
ability OF the average major league pal
player differs so very little that it is JUS
trifes that result in advantages of one
team over another.
Did you ever see Cobb. Mcintyre Of
Fielder Jones hit at the first ball? No
Working the pitcher is the secret of sue
cess of the weak hitting White Sox team
Now. in conclusion. If Manager Can
ttlon will insist on his entire team fol
lowing this scheme of play, better re
suits will surely follow. 1t will do no gooe
for two or three or four men to do so
The difference per man Is so little tina
10 accomplish results every man mus
wait as long as his own safety will permt
in his endeavor to work the pitcher, an(
nine men in healthy cooperation In Thu
respect alone will help far greater thar
it is possible to calculate. 1t will be II
the last part of the game that this in
side BALI will indicate the pitchers weak
ness and bring forth results. Let thu
slogan go down the entire batting order
Work the pitcher