Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-16
SENSE IS
. NEEDED BY PITCHERS
Christy MatheWson Explains
Secret of His Success.
TwirIer Must Think.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, August 16.-Fans who
have wondered at the remarkable pitch
Ing feats performed by Christy Mathew
son and have tried to solve what they
are pleased to term the great secret Of
his success. are apt to have their ideas
shattered when they learn that the great
pitcher himself bluntly explains IT thus:
THE secret Of pitching is nothing more
than plain. everyday common sense, as
sisted by a good arm"
MathewsCn seldom taiss that much at
one time. but his explanation was
brought out by a discussion of his feat
on Thursday in retiring the Reds with
out a run In the last mining of a game
when there were thee on bases and
none out.
There was but one tlrng to do when
they got two men on bases and none
out" said Matty, and that was to walk
the next man and fill up the bags. One
run would have tied the score, and we
at the risk of losing the game. With
the bases full, We had more chances Of
retiring the side, because the play would
be made at the plate and the runner,
being forced. would not have to be
touched"
But you changed your style of pitch
ing Immediately" was suggested.
Certainly" replied the big pitcher.
Our only salvation was to make the
next batters hit the ball into the dirt. in
stead OF lifting it in the air. Knowing
that this had to be done. 1 fed the sue
ceeding batters on curve balls-a big
drop. 1t IS very difffcult to hit a drop
curve up in the air. AS it is curving
on top and bounce 1t to one OF the in
fields. That Is exactly what happened,
and We got two men at the plate. The
next batter struck out"
Sounds very simple, doesn't 1t?
You know" said Mathewson, there
Is lot of difference in the style of
pitching when there are runners on base
and when the bases are empty. The
surest way Of winning a ball game is to
keep them from reaching first base.
There Is much more danger of a ground
ball going through for a hit or a batter
reaching first on an error than when the
ball Is hit into the air. But IL there Is
a runner on third, the ball must not be
hit into the air. as long fly would
score him.
Therefore. when there are no run
ners on the bases. II is common sense
to keep the ball high so that the batter
will hit under it and lift ii to fielder
Unless the game is very close. l use
very few curve balls under those cir
cumstances. The curve ball should be
used when there are men on the bags
ITO make that little palmer / would
say. Always Keep the ball in the air
when the bases are unoccupied. and al
ways keep 1t on the ground when the
plate is threatened
"A pitcher should always bear In mind
that base ball is a gamble. to large
extent, but he must figure which way
he has the most chances and work 1t out
on that line. For instance. q ground
ball is dangerous at all times. and es-
pecially SO when the infield Is playing In
close. But at the same time a fly ball
with a runner on third is fatal. The
pitcher must take the risk of a grounder
and take all on getting the man at the
plate IL the ball il hit hard the game
is lost. II vii, shoot between the In
fielders and 20 for q hit, but that Ii the
gamble of the game, and to take the
lesser Of two dangers Is nothing more
than common sense"