The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-29

al LILY Will WkuSS III OFQor LQaC ne
may not be thanked. Every really
clever manager in major or minor
company, therefore, studies methods
and his men. True, many games are
won by lopsided scores, but the ma
1ority are decided by a run or two.
As clubs become more and more ev-
emily matched one error of tactical
judgment spells victory or defeat,
Obviously. in a close game the i'm
portant thing is to advance the run
ner already on base instead of forcing
him ut second or third, and for this
reason the hit-aad-run has come to
be favorite strategy. Some man.
ayers have almost discarded the sacri-
flee, relying on the batsman hitting
with the runner and possibly advanc-
ing two bases instead Of one. The
principal means of of-setting this
strategy is to pitch out II the back
stop thinks the runner is going on the
next ball, he signs for one wide of
the plate and tries to peg the runner
at second or third.
Hence, in comparing the ability OF
Cobb and Lajoie one must consider
how each performs in this, the most
essential feature of offensive play.
Which is the more reliable in advan-
cling a runner? Let us say, for sim
plicity. that both men have an average
Of $3.50, meaning that each makes S8
hits in every 100 times at bat. In
81 times of every 100 they fail to con-
meet, and it is that 81 which turns
the balance in Cobb's favor AS an
illustration let us say that the club
has a runner on first, one out and
4a11
sure hitter like either of these men
at bat, the hit and run would likely
be tried and the usual guessing match
take place between battery and bat
ter. In the case Of Lajoie the second
baseman could afford to play close to
the bag, the shortstop moving toward
gap unprotected. Any pitched ball
over the middle of the plate or inside
would be nearly certain to be clouted
at fielder and if there be no error
the hit-and-run is killed. The chances
are that Lajoie would be doubled and
venture to say that he hits into
four double plays to Cobb's one.
Contrarily, with Cobb in the same
situation, the fielders are at wits end
how to arrange their forces. A low
curve ball breaking sharply is suppos-
ed to be his weakness, and by all logic
he should pull it into right field. But
just to show, his versatility I recall
that In a game last summer with the
Yankees ne smashed a ball of this
sort past Austin for three bases, send
ing Bush home from first This was
the sixth inning and New York was
ahead, p. The score stood that way
RI he Ir+h C%ojI
hopes of winning With one man
down and a runner on second Cobb
again came up ad the Yankee catcher
signed for an outside ball, which by
all tokens Tyrus should have hit to
left. Instead of that he nearly car
ried away Chase's legs with another
triple just inside first base. The bali,
incidentally. was returned by Hemp
NIL to Chase who, seeing that Cobb
had turned third and was half way
nome, kept running in and feinting
at throw. Cobb danced I'D and
down the line and finally like a bull
let shot back to third, beating the
peg. Later On ne scored and won the
game.
In the matter Of speed and base
running the Georgian is superior to
Wv I1ChSuu1du, OuI II Is IN
the capacity to advance runners by
versatile hitting that he is particular
ly favored. Cobb is putting in that
100 all the time for his own club.
LaJoie is hitting SO times, but the
other So he is playing for the other
club.
Drawing upon history for CON-
parison one might liken the only La
loie to King Richard, Richard of the
Lion Heart, who fought in the Cru
sades against the Saracens to recover
Jerusalem. Greatest batter OF his age,
he would put On his armor every day
or so, arm himself with that famous
s1x-foot broadsword, mace and
lance and slam out a couple home
runs all on his own hook. Other
leaders were. there, King Philip and
the Emperor Frederick with their
troops, but Richard cared little for
them. Time and again he cleaned the
bases lone hand, always driving the
ball mile. But Saladan eventually
got onto him, for the style of play
never changed and he taught his foxy
horsemen just how to lay for the slug
ger, matching strategy against sheer
force and bravery, until the mighty
Richard finally lost his game
Cobb, On the other hand, suggests
that astonishing leader Hannibal who
at the age of twenty-six crossed from
Africa, went through France, crossed
the Alps and landed in Italy with
only fifty thousand foot and nine thou
sanr horse. The Romans at that time
could put in the field seven hundred
thousand foot and ninety thousand
| horse, and yet for a number of years
the ''Carthagenian Peach kept Rome
On the run.
Like him Cobb has a surprising
speed and perception. Every manager
in the American League frames up
strategies to bag him, but he rarely
| falls, l remember on one occasion,
and as the ruse did not work it is
no breach Of club house ethics to re-
late this, that the Yankees evolved
a plan to get him off third base. With
one man down the ball was to be
whipped to Chase, ostensibly to get
the the man running to first. Soon
as Cobb sees the ball turned loose
he always takes big lead off third.
The plan, therefore was for Chase
to whip the ball back to third without