Evening journal., 1909-07-28
SPORTING NEWS
PITCHERS FAST
BECOMING HITTERS
Day is Past When Pitchers
FIRE Not Expected to Hit
The Ball

The day has arrived when the pitcher
Of one team must pitch Just as hard to
the pitcher Of the opposing team as to
any other batter. Pitchers who rank
high IN twrling and low IN hitting are
becoming rarity as the gnme advances
In baseballs past Il has been the Gus
tom for pitchers TO lease down" when
the opposing box worker stepped to the
plate. No pitcher pitches his best all
through the game. He takes things easy
when weak batter comes up. and this
batter generally happened TO be tho op-
posing twirler.
Pitchers are getting to rank high as
hitters One Of the necessary qualities
of a good pitcher is 10 win his game. and
pitchers are learning 20 win them by hit
ting effectively as we'll as pitching efec-
lively.
George Mullin. Of the Detroit Ameri-
cans. and Christy Matthewson. Of the
New York Nationals who have prob
ably made the best showing in the two
big leagues this year. have won many OF
their own games by hitting the hall hard
and effectively. Matthewson has piled up
long hits and ranks we'll up In the list or
big league hitters with a healthy aver
age.
The premier Tiger box star has been up
Il times, scored z runs and made 10 hits.
4 Of which we're for an extra base. His
average at bat Is 27s.
Charlie Bender. thefted skinned twirler
Of the Philadelphia Athletics leads the
American League pitchers In hitting. His
average Is .27s
Doc" White and Frank Smith, Of the
Chicago Americans. "Dode" Criss and
Jack Powell OF the ST. Louis Americans;
Arelianes, Of the Bosions; Lake Of New
York, and Willets. of the Tigers all have
better averages than several Of the other
men on their teams. Instead of decreas-
ing their hitting averages these pitchers
are increasing them. hitting better as
the season grows older and awakening TO
a retaliation OF their own opportunities at
bat.
The pitcher who Is pitching good ball
can no longer walk TO the plate. stand
up while the opposing twirler puts three
over without making any effort 10 meet
them and walk back to the bench The
fans expect the pitcher to do as much
In the way of hitting as any one else
on the team. lie must help himself
The argument has been that pitch
er wastes too much energy in running
bases and must make no effort TO hit the
ball. Therefore hitting became a lost
art IN the pitchers class.
They are regainnE the art and all OF
them seem TO be making an effort to
meet the ball
Take Addie Joss. OF Cleveland. and cd
gar Wilett, OF Detroit. two pitchers who
furnished an Illustration recently.
In the second game Of the last series
that the Tigers and the Maps played ~
Detroit, Donovan put one over the plate
for Joss. Tho big fellow swung with al
the strength he possessed, and the bal
bounded past O'Leary along third bas'
line and along tho left field foul line Z,
the fence II Joss had extended himself
he could have made third.
Willett furnished like illustration thu
next day when "Heinie" Berger "le
down" while pitching TO him. willett
swung as joss did on the day previous
and his hit went for three bases
In the National League there are man,
pitchers who can swat the ball hard
lOveral Of Chicago Is a good stick ar
tist. willis. of Pittshurg, is another
Foxen. OF Philadelphia. has made severa
homo runs the last two seasons. Brook
lyn has four box men who can bat Nc
Intyre. Hunter. scanlon and Rucker.