Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-29
Killing EXPOUNDS BASE BALL
Cub Catcher Beneves IN scientific
Playing OF the Game.
HOW GAMES ARE WON AND LOST
claims that Catcher Oftcn
Loses Game BY ThrowinE Away
the Rail at critical
Times.

Although John Kling the cubs famous
catcher, did not play up 80 his best form
IN the worlds series last fall he stil re-
ceives credit for knowing all OF the fine
points behind the bat King was asked
the other day to give talk on the soien-
ufc methods employed In base ball, and
this Is what he said.
when I was a pitcher in semi profes-
sional teams around Kansas City l lost
many games by trying TO do too much, by
throwing too often and BY wearing myself
out by wasted efforts I was failure as
ball player in several towns before expe-
rience taught me that one play at the
right instant is worth ten at any other
time. 1t was the old stitch in time to save
nine idea, but it did more for me than
anything else to win games and TO bring
me up in the profession.
When 1 began catching one Of the first
things ] learned was that the catcher can
break up team quicker than anyone else
can. He need not even make an error to
do IT, one OF the easiest ways to lose q
game is for the catcher to throw too much
re may throw perfectly and yet by keep
ing the infield moving and out OF posi-
ton. expecting his throws and studyinG
him instead OF watching the batter, he
may cause the game to be lost.
My idea has been to make plays when
they count and not to use too many sig
nails The infielders have a lot to watch
and II the catcher keeps them watching
him all the time he takes their minds of
their.other duties and causes them to make
blunders.
Catcher should BE Awake.
First and foremost in importance in
winning is that the catcher never shall
make or attempt to make any play, espe'
cially a throw, unless absolutely certain
that the other men In the play have caught
the signal understand what is to be at
tempted. and are prepared to make the
play with him
There comes time in almost every bal
game when the opposing team has q good
chance to win by scoring lot of runs II
bunch. The inning In which that happens
is the one in which the catcher ought tt
pull off his play. In such situation wher
a team is having batting rally 1t is twice
as easy for a catcher to catch men OF
bases by fast throws than 1t is at any
other stage OF the contest
THE team that Is rallying and sees vic
/ tory almost in hand always Is excited and
| the base runners take more liberties
| longer leads and lose their heads quicker
than at any other time. Excitement rob'
/ them OF their natural caution and thu
catcher who keeps cool and keeps think
/ ing can catch runners off their base'
frequently. and perhaps break up win
ming rally and save the game.
'rhe Cubs have done that many times
and it helped them win pennants | an
not claiming ! won those games. Conf
dence in each other is one of the big ele
ments in winning games. The catcher
who does not have confidence In his IN
field is afraid to throw, and even wher
he does throw he throws timidly.
"A bad first baseman or one in whom thu
others have no confidence makes bad
throws of all l believe in helping UNI
pires and doing all ] can 10 make thei
work easier II they are let alone and no
nagged at their work is much more salts
factory. ] am not put out OF ball games
take as much interest as anybody, blu
cannot see the use Of kicking on de
cisions"