The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-02
Baseball
ROGER BRESNAHAN
MUCH PRAISED

New York, Aug. 2.--Critics who have
studied the st. Louis cardinals this
Year say the remarkable success Of
the teams is due to heavy, constant
batting, fast base running and steady
fielding, a combination that has more
than onset an ordinary quality of
pitching. But practical baseball men
players on other National league
teams who can speak from actual ex-
perlence--say that Bresnahan's catch
ing, which means the expert handling
of young pitchers, the direction of de-
fensive tactics, and the breaking up Of
the opponents hit and run game. has
worked wonders.
"Bresnahan is using a headful of
gray matter" said a prominent ball
player the other day. 'EIe learned in
side baseball when he caught for the
giants under McGraw's management
and he has gradually drummed the
principles of that style OF play into
his pliable team. In the first place
Roger has impressed upon his pitchers
the fact that they must follow his In
structions to the letter and that they
must work in regular rotation. He has
made them practice control until at
least four OF them, Sallee. Harmon,
Golden and Steele, have 1t down fine.
Bresnahan calls for more balls over
the plate than any other catcher. He
believes in putting a batsman in the
hole as quickly as possible, for he
says that IL the first ball is a strike
the confidence of the hitter is de-
creased as much as the pitchers con-
hdence is strengthened. Confidence is
a watchword with the cardinals man.
ager and he plays that game to the
limit.
BY making his pitchers work In
corners and the middle of the plate,
at the same time wasting ball now
and then at his direction. Bresnahan
has succeeded in developing box work
that is big factor in the teams VIC
tories. AS a student of batsmen's weak
points he has no superior and by
enabling his pitchers to work them he
Is getting results. Roger also keeps
an eye peeled for opposing base run
ners and is pegging them out with
some great throwing. He has taught
his men how to play the hit and run
game not only from first to second
base, but also from second home, and
that Is why many games have been
won.
''The cardinals have been infected |
with Bresnahan's confidence and en-
ergy and they actually believe they can
win the pennant. Bresnahan has point |
ed out to them that the worlds series /
means nearly $4,000 a piece and the
men are ready to fight to a finish. Ev |
4ha r -
Roger as a fair, square leader who |
asks them nothing that he cannot do /
himself. The discipline is perfect and i
the whole team is harmonious. Bres-
nahan learned these things from Nc
Graw."
1t is a matter Of record in profess
sional baseball that winning teams
must have first-class catchers. Go
back more than twenty years and you
will find that the champion giants of
1899 had the peerless Buck Ewing be-
hind the bat. Following them were
the Boston pennant winner with Char
ley Bennett, the Brooklyns with Doc
Bushong, the Baltimores with Robin
son, the Chicagos with King, the
giants Of 1905 with Bresnahan. Take
the present National league race and
you'll notice that the first five teams
are well fixed behind the bat, the
Philadelphias with the brainy Doom,
the giants with the improved Meyers,
the cubs with Archer and Graham, the
cardinals with Bresnahan and the
with Gibson.
There are some good catchers in los
Ing teams but they are severely handi-
capped by inferior teammates. The
for instance, have a
crackajack In Charley Street the Bos-
ton Nationals have Johnny King, the
depend upon Larry Nc
Lean, and so on, but they can't win
ball games single-handed, neither do
they class with such a backstop as