Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-12
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

The clamor for more hitting in base
ball seems to have been grained, out IN
SO doing those in charge of the game
have perhaps dealt 1t great INJURY.
That the ball with which the major league
teams are playing is decidedly hveier
than it has been in many years IS SHOWN
by the remarkable number OF hits made
in the two leagues yesterday.
Some of the scores of the major league
ra mes look like those of sand lot conAests.
This state of affairs is not going to help
base ball. 1t may be very edifying LOT
the home crowds on days that the home
team does the bulk Of the hitting, but
when the tables are turned there Is going
to be q lot Of growing.
Base ball was never more successful
than in recent years. when most every
game was q pitchers battle. But the old
timers who remember games In which
forty or Atty runs were scored. wanted
more hitting. 1t was >pointed out that
the public likes to see lot or action on
the ball field, and that to increase the
hitting would bring this about 1t seems
| that this element has had it's way. for
| without any announcement the ball has
been made livelier, and the result Is a lot
of lopsided scores. The fact that the
game was satisfactory before the ball
overlooked. and perhaps the sport has
been placed in jeopardy by the change
| in the ball that has been made and
which is responsible for the present
heavy base hit columns.
Had those who are responsible Tor tne
| change Of the ball remembered the rate
F.! Of the Brotherhood in 1890 they would
probably have left we'll enough alone.
The Brotherhood teams played with
| lively ball and the scores In those days
resembled very closely those Of the pres
ent time. But the lively ball on that
occasion Gid not make hit with the
public, which preferred to see pitchers
battles to slugging matches.
Games in which q team Is beaten by
fourteen runs are not calculated to slim
ulate interest in the sport. 1t may pc
pleasing enough to a few fans VINO want
| to see their team win. but 1t Is not a
contest such as base ball Is expected 10
| furnish. Such games are virtually over
| before few innings are played, and the
patrons do not feel that they got their
moneys worth.
II it could be assured that both teams
OF a game would hit on an equal basis
these hard-hitting contests might be
pleasing enough. but as rule but one
team does the hitting. and the result
is a one-sided game, in which interest is
absolutely lacking.
lively ball may have occasion before the
| season is over to regret the change, for
with lot of one-sided games being play
ed the season will not prove great
| financial success.
With not a single pitcher in form. Jim
McAleer is apt to go some time before he
will be able to win game with the
Nationals. Just what happened that
pitching staff no one seems able to ex
plain. When the team came back from
the south every pitcher apparently was
in good form. and for the first two weeks
Of the season they showed well against
the eastern teams. Then came the
breakdown of Johnson and with him went
the entire staff. There is no relief in
sight, either. AS Is usually the case. the
Nationals have been hitting better of late
| than at any time this season, but their
| hits avail them nothing. because Of the
weakness Of their pitchers. Indications
| are that this western trip will be one Of