The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-04
PERSONALITY OF
MGR. COUNTS some

New York, March 4.-That personal
ideas and characteristics of the man
ager of a BALI club can be reflected
in the players Is proved in the records
which were recently issued, showing
that st. Louis led the National league
in the number of bases on balls, and
that the giants led the league in hit
ting.
Until Bresnahan became manager OF
st. Louis, the cardinals had never been
considered a good waiting" club. He
was the best waiter" that McGraw
ever had, and that is why he was put
at the top of the batting list. Roger
always insisted on waiting for that
fourth ball, even IL he ran the chance
Of being called out on strikes. With
two strikes and three balls on him, he
would often let the next one. go by in
the hope that the umpire would give
him the benefit of the doubt and call
1t ball. When Bresnahan went to St
Louis he carried that idea with him
and forced all of his players to become
waters" 1t so happened, however,
that Roger played it too strong and
the team did not get enough hits to
uElN6 Iu6 runners III.
Chronic Walters"
The cardinals became such chronic
walters" that they would always take
the first strike without making any
attempt to hit at IT, MatheWson said
they always allowed him to get the
first strike on them, and hat is a big
advantage. THE only man that
switched on me-" said Matty, "was
Koentchy and one day when / put him
an easy one over he hit it for three
bases. I was so surprised that for a
minute didn't know how to proceed"
In the case Of the giants, their hit
ting record also reflects the ideas of
McGraw. The giant manager, in his
playing days, was essentially a hitter
He always believed in protecting the
base runner II there is man on first,
he will always insist on the player hit
ting in behind the runner or working
the hit and run. He drove that idea
into the players, and in that way a
large number of hits were recorded
that would never have been made il
waiting policy had been pursued.
Didn't Hit Short.
/ had rather strike out than hit a
ball toward the shortstop with run
ner on first" McGraw said to Snod-
grass one day He has always insisted
that wallop in that direction does
more harm than a strikeout, as 1T gives
a chance for double play. On
strike-out the runner would at least
have a chance Of stealing second.
"A man who cannot hit into right
field or behind base runner is not a
good hitter, no matter how good may
be his eye." said the giant manager
the other night While the st. Louis
club got more bases on balls than any
other team, you will notice that they
did not get anything like as many runs.
A good waiter is valuable thing to
have on ball club, but there is q
limit to It, If everybody practiced It
we would have very few cleanup hits"
Cincinnati Some SteaIers.
Another peculiar fact that is shown
by the new records is that Cincinnati
was the best base stealing club in the
league. The reds were also a good
hitting team. Putting those two things
together. its is hard to understand why
they failed to make as many runs as
the Olners CLUBS arthur irwin epla1nS
Il by saying that the reds ran basses at
the wrong time re they had saved
their steam, according to ARTHUR and
had they used 1t when stolen base
meant a lot in the game. they would
have made many more runs. The reds
had a very bad habit OF trying to steal
second. with nobody out. The trouble
was that they tried It too often, and
the catchers got onto them. Arlie
Latham says that II the reds had prac-
ticed hitting In behind the runner when
the steals were attempted that they
would have been the hardest club in
the league TO beat.
Clark Grfffith has always beel a
great advocate Of base stealing. While
manager Of the hfghlanders he had a
wonderful base stealer in Davy FuItz.
IN fact, Davy led the league IN stolen
bases and hit far below. 800. There Is
q Let Of difference between the terms
''kare running and base stealing" A
player often shows himself good bass
runner by not trying to steal.