Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05
By Billy Evans.

The bases are filed, it is the ninth in
ming; two men are out, and the home
team is two runs behind.
1t is a tense situation, but one that
every base ball enthusiast has been
through any number Of times. The home
fans have visions of victory, for a singh
by the next batter is almost certain to tie
up the score, while double is almost
sure to bring victory.
The rooters have been SO busy aiding in
the ninth-inning rally that they have lost
track of the next hitter. To their dismay,
a glance at the score card reveals the
fact that the next man up is the pitcher.
Sometimes the pitcher hits pretty well;
quite often he doesn't.
Almost in one voice the fans yell for a
pinch hitter to take the place Of the
pitcher. Quite often 1t is the manager
intention to make a change, SO the appeal
Of the fans has little or no effect on his
plans. He looks over the men on the
bench and finally selects a man to fill in
the role Of emergency hitter.
The managers selection invariably
meets with the approval Of the crowd.
AS he steps to the plate he gets a round
Of applause. and Is implored to deliver
the hit that will entirely change the COM
plexion of the game. It is, indeed. a
mighty ticklish position in which the
player finds himself IT he makes a hit
ne Is heralded as a hero: if he fails-well.
that's an entirely different story No
matter what the result is, the fans leave
the grounds convinced that every possible
effort has been made to land the game.
Not All Weak Filters.
Are Pitchers, then, the weak hitters
that the fans generally regard them, is
the question that is suggested by the
above situation. Most fans look on the
twlrlers as being mighty feeble with the
willow. When they step TO the plate
they are generally labeled "easy outs
Little confidence is placed in their ability
to hit the bali safely; If they happen 10
connect 1t is usually regarded as a bit
In fact, the ability or inability Of the
pitcher to bat has Deen the cause of all
kinds OF comment. Many reforms have
been suggested to eliminate the pitcher
from the lineup as far as the batting Is
concerned. Some critics have proposed that
a substitute batter be allowed to hit for
the pitcher when it Is his turn at bat, while
others believe 1t would help the batting
end Of the game by simply eliminating
the pitcher as a batter, and allowing only
eight men to take their places at the
plate. 1t is my humble opinion that any
such a move would be In tie wrong di-
rectlon; also that pitchers are FAR from
being weaklinss at the bat.
1t is decidedly inter esting fact that
Otis Crandall, enc of the star pitchers
Of the New York Giants staff, leads the
National League in tattins. Mr.. Gran
dali took part in some forty-three games
and had the very respectable ave, age
.343, which was several points In excess
of that gathered by Sherwood Magee.
who is generally regarded as the premier
swatter of the older organization. 1t Is
also a noteworthy feature that about
dozen twirlers in each Of the major or
plantations pulled up for the year with
q batting average of I'D. Or better.
While an average OF 30 VII never win
any automobiles or loving cups, still there
are quite q few star players, other tnan
pitche S. who did not garner many more
points to their credit. Quite few pitch
ers failed to reach 10 In the swat
averages, yet any number OF them were
decidedly dangerous.
For instanca, there are Ed Walsh OF the
Chicago team and Walter Johnson Of the
Washington team. Neither of these two
great twirlers Is liable To win any battins
hono,s, yet both are much feared by the
twirIers in the American League circuit.
Both are ideal specimens of physical man.
hood, both like to take three healthy
swings when they step TO the plate. and.
although they often walk back to the
bench after having thrice f-ashed the at
mosphere, still the ball travels when they
connect. All the pitchers and outnelders
are we'll aware Of this fact. II you have
any doubt about it consult Ty Cobb. who
once chased q slashing drive by Johnson