The Washington times., 1908-07-10
Johnson Couldn't Keep Bali
From Center of the Plate
Fear of Wild Pitch Responsible For HIS 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
off him. That was SO much better than
ever seemed likely to come 10 pass that
il offers many comforting reflections
which tend to make Us forget that raw
bit 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 5, that some explanation was nee
essary. When johnson was asked about
the sad affair ne said re was deeply de-
pressed, but said:
Il felt fine, and my arm was good,
but I simply couldn't get the ball to
roll off my fingers properly in the third
and fourth innings. II wouldn't curve
so I could tell where it was going. and
l couldn't even throw a perfectly
straight bali with any confidence. When
Doc White came TO bat in the third,
after Sullivan had walked / tried every
way / knew 10 get the ball over the
corner for him, but the delivery was so
erratic I was afraid of a wild pitch,
and in my desire 10 avoid that ! gave
him one straight over the heart Of the
plate, where he could have hit 1t with
his eyes shut.
My experience witt Hahn was ex-
actIy the same. ! was aiming 20 give
him a high one close to his body that
would keep him from getting a free
swing. but instead the ball sailed over
the middle Of the pan. and he got a ton
Of substance into it. In the fifth In
ming / was still having trouble. but
after that ! became better, although 7
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 let's a team like
Chicago down with three hits has done
a proper days work. and II is ND to
his support to 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 In 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 a case Of OUtguessinE the field
er, but the trouble was Ganley did
not recognize the three-base features
OF the drive until IL was too late fC
MIN 10 run back. either in the hope OF
catching II or Of knocking it into sub
mission before IL could count for more
than q single. 1t was a bad play, all
right and veXed many Of our leading
rOoters.
Walter Johnson is stu a youngster.
and should not let a little thing ike
that beating yesterday take his nerve.
Perhaps it was the fact that Jim ID.
saneI was on the JOB again in the press
DoN LhdJ caused the Nationals 10 lose
such a measly exhibition after the
good work OF the day before
Maybe in the golden summer. maybe
in the dreary winter of about the year
800 A d, the major leagues will wake
up and appoint two umqires for every
game When George Davis threw wild
IS yesterday trying 10 double up Shipke
at first, it was largely an element or
chance that caused Umpire SILK
OLoughlin TO see that the ball 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 to watch the runner go
ing to second and preparing TO wheel
for third. Suppose the ball had not
gone into the stand, but against the
fence. was there not q fat chance for
the runner to cut second without the
arbitrator seeing hinZ or, II he had
kept his eye on the runner, as he v IS
supposed TO do. and which was enough
Of a job for one man. he would nc {
have seen the ball 90 in and come out,
ami Washington would have lost run
The major leagues are Deeflng about
25-Cant baseball and stating that II Will
only be a short time before there Will be
no admissions at that price because or
the high and expensive quality of sport
demanded by their patrons If Sucn De
the case why don't the leagues open
up their treasures by apprOpriaung
salaries enough 10 prevent problems
ike lEdi or yesterday. WHICH 50 IRE
IUently arise. There Is no excuse un-
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 - coming To the
front more strongly than ever nova
days because Of the policy Of managers
In changing slabmen when they show
signs Of evapOratirg. At present the
system is so poor that the figures are
practically worthless. For instance, /
Falkenberg stands in the records as the
best Washington pitcher, according to
the number of games he is credited with
winning, vet in the estimation Of the
fans and league managers he probably