Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-12
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

This has been most disastrous spring
for the ball clubs, weather conditions hav-
ing been such that a great many games
have been postponed and will have to be
played later as double headers. 1t is a
very fortunate state of affairs that the
leagues did not adopt the 16S-game sched-
ule, or 1t would mean that many of the
postponed games would never be played
off.
Scientists tell US that Halley's comet is
responsible for these beastly conditions,
but there Is some consolation for the fan
in the assurance that the comet only
makes it's appearance every seventy-seven
years. and there probably won't be any
regrets If 1t does not show up on schedule
time i'm the future.
Weather conditions may have had an
effect on several if not all of the teams.
so that when the weather opens up there
may be great change in the standing of
the teams. With but one month of the
season gone it does not follow that the
teams will finish as they are now placed.
1t may be different in July. Who knows?
Winning spurts by the Cleveland team
nave occurred SO often that the Maps are
seldom Inquired as having a real chance
for the flag, but this spring the team has
, shown so we'll that Jim McGuires club
is given credit for being one Of the teams
which will have hand in deciding where
| that one fourteen-inning tie game, the
Philadelphia critics are particularly sweet
| on McGuire's team. The veteran manager
seems to have injected a different spirit
Into his men and the result is that the
Maps are playing intelligent and hustling
base ball. Then, too, the wonderful inn
provement in Lajoie's batting since he
has been relieved of the management has
had much to do with the teams success,
for with the big Frenchman hitting over
the 400 mark he has been responsible for
many victories
While no doubt Jeffries and Johnson are
as much apart as ever on the question of
| a referee for their fight, it is but natural
that this condition should exist, for neither
wants to appear in the light of having
| given in to the other. This means that
the promoters will do the selecting of
will be Charley White. But the public
is not vitality interested in who the third
man In the ring may be SO long as his
reputation is such as to assure both fight
ers Of an even break. Whites honesty or
competency cannot be questioned. He is
one of the few men who have been identi-
fed with the pugilistic game for dec
ade or more and has never been mixed
up in any sort of a scandal
With very few exceptions the most
consistent pitching has been done by
the youngsters this spring This would
years are not yet in form and need the
real hot weather to get them in shape.
There are very few teams in
either major league who are get
veteran pitchers that might be ex-
pected, and there must be some good
reason for this. Take the Cincinnati and
Philadelphia National League Teams
and neither has gotten any good work
out Of it's seasoned pitchers. The same
holds true with the Nationals and the
Chicago Cubs. and even Pittsburg has
won most of it's games by reason of the
good work Of its new men. which is the
case with Detroit and Cleveland to a
certain extent.
There are not many pitchers these days
who can win ball games by nothing more
than applying their natural ability. 1t re-
quires brains to pitch these days and
win. 1t is the pitcher who thinks before
he delivers every ball who is the most
troublesome to batsman. He must be
able to anticipate what the batter Is
expecting. and thus do the opposite To
just stand on the rubber and hurl speed
and curves Is not pitching of major
league caliber even though pitcher be
blessed with an abundance of speed and
be pitched without purpose. There
must be some good reason for every de-
livery. and the catcher cannot help out
in this.
He may sign for the curves or speed,
but merely to protect himself, but 1t is
up to the pitcher to know where the bali
should be Wien 1t passes over near the
plate. Strategy counts for much in pitch
ing, and the twirlcr who thinks that his
work does not require thought is not
going to be success very long.
A ball player of the reputation of Cobb
has much to contend with and must pos
sess real nerve i'm order to make good.
Everything that Cobb tries which fails
calls for general criticism, and weak
kneed individual would not take any
chances for fear O: this criticism
Cobb was struck out twice ir the game
at New York the other day, and it was
made the feature of every newspaper re-
port the following morning. A ball
player has to. have something besides
ability to get in the base ball limelight
and stay there for any length Of time.
q Z