Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-23
BY ] ED. GRILLO.

Before a young player coming into fast
company can lay claim to being good
hitter he should at least make one round
of the circuit and get chance against
various pitchers. His start may have
all the earmarks of his being clever
performer with the stick. but often this
is the result of the pitchers ignorance of
the batter's weakness. But once the
pitcher learns that there is a certain ball
on which the batter is weak, the batter
must either overcome this weakness or
he is through SO far as shining as hitter
is concerned.
There has been a lamentable falling off
in the stick work of Clarence Walker
during the four games the Nationals
played in Philadelphia It may be that
this is bat a temporary slump, but the
opinion seems to prevail that these wise
big league twirlers have found the spot
where Walker does not hit and are dish
ing him up just this kind of a delivery.
Pitchers help each other in this respect.
Let one of them discover a weakness in
the batter and the news spreads like
wildfire. When pitchers on opposing
teams meet they discuss the various bat
ranks he Is discussed to some extent to
find out what he can and what he cannot
hit, and the pitcher works accordingly:
Cunningham furnished an illustration
of this. If ever a youngster looked IKE
a natural hitter it was Cunny last fall.
No pitchers fooled him. and it seemed
that McAleer had found diamond in
the rough. But, while it took some time,
the pitchers eventually found where
Cunny was weak, and the result was
that his batting fell to nothing. His
benching followed six consecutive strike
outs.
1t would, of course. not be 1alr 10
Walker to pronounce him a weak man
with the bat because he failed to keep
up the pace in the series with the Ath-
letics, but there is no doubt that he is
facing a better judged class OF pitching
now than he did when he first Joined
the team, and it remains to be seen II
he can master this superior pitching.
Incidentally, 1t is no easy matter for
a young player breaking into the big
leaeu with a team like ours to show to
good advantage. Everything breaks
wrong and he is affected by the environ
ment of losing aggregation Then, too.
II is easier for the pitcher of years or
experience to battle youngster just
breaking in than it is for the newcomer
to learn the peculiar traits OF the pitch
err But If the recruit has the ability ne
will overcome whatever weakness ne
NAV have in due time.
Six games are to be played by the Ma
tionals in New York in four days. II
the team has rid itself of it's numerous
errors during the series with the Ath-
letics there is chance for it to win
game or two while In New York. john
son, for instance. stands chance and
so does Groom. Groom must be figured
because he has beaten the Highlanders
three times this season. Somehow or
other Chase's team finds Bob trouble
some, though every other team pounds
him at will After the games in New
York the Nationals return here for four
more with the Athletics and then go to
Boston for four previous to leaving on
it's second western trip. If st. Louis In
the meantime can find some team that IT
can take fall out of there is an excel
lent chance Of the locals finding them
selves in the last hole ere long.
When ball team wins twenty-four out
of twenty-seven, it must not only dis
play great strength, but it is having the