Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-07

bat, simply because they don't know
how.
"Still others disdain batting on the
principle that they are earning their
salaries by pitching and nothing but
pitching; thet they do enough along
those lines, and that 1t would be fool
ish for them to even attempt to bat
Still more of the slabmen allege that
batting and running the bases tires
them out so that they cannot do their
best with the curves, and hence they
are really serving their clubs most
faithfully when they do not try to
slug.
'All of these reasons are logical and
self-explanatory. OF course, a pitcher
who can bat has big advantage over
the fellows who are unable to swat the
leather. 1t means a lot of difference
when a team sends nine sluggers into
action, or eight batters and a sure out
for the ninth man. Some of the good
batting pitchers of the past-Luby,
Caruthers, Radbourn, Gumbert, for ex-
ample-won many of their best games
by slamming the ball themselves
Wish 1 could. II I can win 200 per
cent of my games batting as lightly as
l do now, wouldn't I very likely win
$50 per cent If could hit 1902"
If reports from Chicago are to be
believed, Jack Johnson is going to
rub it in by invading Jeffriesville and
playing a short theatrical engage
ment here. While denying the report
that he had suffered a nervous break
down and was all in, the heavyweight
champion announced his intention of
taking up some vaudeville offers and
touring the coast inside OF the next
three months. He will bring Walter
Monahan, the Frisco heavy, with him,
and include Los Angeles, San Fran.
cisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver and
other large burgs in his itinerary.
Hal Chase will not get in full win7
ter OF California sunshine this sea-
son, as he has in the past. In letter
to his father in San Jose the New
York Americans young manager told
of the death of his wife's father, and
further delay because of a meeting of
the Highlanders' stockholders Decem-
ber 49, Chase will get away as soon
as possible after that date and with
his wife stick until spring in San Jose.
Of the inf1eld positions on the Seals
for 1911 there is but one that is in
doubt, according to an announcement
issued last night by Danny Long,
manager of the club. That berth is
shortstop and there are several candi-
oates VINO VIII D6 lIlSu Oul uClOIC oAiS
one is permanently chosen. Tom Ten
nant will hold down first, Kid Mohler
will captain the club and play second,
and Oscar Witt has no rival for third.
For shortstop there are McArdle, who
was at that post last year; McAuley,
who was purchased by Cal Ewing
from the Appleton, Wis, club, and
Weaver from New York. Both of the
new men figure we'll on the dope sheet.
McAuley played third base for APP
pleton, this last season being his sec
ond with the club, and he led his
league in batting, with an average
of .344. Weaver hit .290 during the
season, and the last three weeks OF
the season was as high as .340. If
either of these men can keep lip that
lick In Coast league circles they will
press McArdle for shorstop, as the
weak point in McArdle's work Is his
inability to drive the ball safely. Nc
Ardle's fielding, however, Is of such
high class that he is assured of a job
with the team, even though he may
not be used as shortstop.
Jim Wilson'S College Inn ball tossers
are promised plenty of work for the
next few weeks. According to the
schedule they will play the western
Athletic club Sunday, Azusa on the
18th, Riverside the 26th, Pasadena New
Years and a return engagement with
Redlands January s. Papa" Wilson
will be out to see his babes perform
next Sunday, and if any action on coin
is wanted the Spring street joy dis
penser will stay with the job to take
on all comers.