Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
THE RIGHT PITCHERS
Problem Hard to SoIve-No
Set Rule a Success.
MANY LINES OF PROCEDURE
Captain at Disadvantage in Making
His Selection-Judgment Of HUI
man Nature an Aid.
MANY LINES OF PROCEDURE

Inc CnOlce or pttcherS-how to select
the men to send against the various hos
tile teams. and in what rotation to work
them-has always been one OF the tough
est problems for a captain and In this
day OF scientific ball. with all the accom-
panying frills. is becoming still harder.
says Cincinnati writer.
Here are three lines Of procedure open
to q captain. and each line has its spe-
cial advantages. with special drawbacks:
First, to work the pitchers In a regular
rotation. never varying except IN case of
illness or disability; second, to work the
best pitchers against the more powerful
teams. giving the tailenders over to the
weaker slabmen, and. thirdly. to work the
good pitchers against the feebler clubs,
trusting to team strength and gameness
to carry the weaker hurlers to victories
| over the topnotchers.
AS side issues TO these problems must
be considered the advisability OF using
the left-handers of the club against teams
with number of left-handed batsmen,
and Of working the right-handers on the
reverse OF the same principle; also. the
wisdom Of using certain pitchers against
clubs which they are supposed to have
''buffaloed," or Of keeping other pitchers
out of reach Of certain teams that al
ways Idi SaVASely.
Matter Hard to Solve.
It 10 a complex and many-sided propo-
sitfon. and the manager who can solve It
most successfully is the fellow who can
win barrel Of games-even with q pitch
ing staff Of really inferior value.
The scheme Of working men in regular
order. irrespective Of any side issues.
works well when the STAFF IL evenly
balanced, but Is shot full OF holes when
the staff Is composed of men whose skill
Is widely varied, or when some one OF the
pitchers Is an tnvariable mark for any
particular club. II will only go through
successfully when the men are all on an
even plane Of ability and enjoy equally
the confidence and enthusiastic backing
of the feeders.
Many managers believe In saving the
greater pitchers for the grim battles with
the topliners. figuring that the weaker
pitchers, with good support behind them,
will dispose of the tailenders. This plan
works we'll when the taienders are really
feeble sisters, but in q close race, where
even the seventh-place team will stand as
high as 400 this will never do-the tall
enders In such a struggle are but the
faintest shade easier to whip than the
champions, and will everlastingly whale
the tar out Of the softer hurlers.
It Works Both Ways.
The reverse idea-using the best pitch
ers to NOW down the tailend teams. and
thus harvest a big crop OF games. while
the strength and honest gameness OF the
club are relied upon to take fair quota
Of decisions from the champions-is one
that works finely at times. and then,
again, turns up like a barrel hoop and
kicks its sponsor In the shins. 1t often
proves q sensible trick in q close race,
where the clubs class well up together,
but Is just as likely to prove q boom
erang.
Using left-hand twirlers when the hos
tiles have numerous left-handed hitters is
also a favorite plan OF battle. but is null
lifted to quite an extent nowadays by the
fact that nearly every team has at least
one right-handed slugger who. for that
game takes the place of the left-handed
regulars.
Sending certain pitchers against certain
teams which they are supposed to have
buffaloed Is a winning trick-for a while.
And then, just when q game Is most
needed. the worm Is sure to turn. and
Mr.. Cinch Is going to get the excelsior
stuffing belted out Of him.
Talk about generalship. judgment OF
human nature, close calculating as to
what the other fellows will or will not do
there Is nothing more strenuous in the
world than the proper selection and rota-
ton of pitchers. and even q game OF
chess doesn't call for more thought and
application.