The Washington times., 1912-06-17
MORGANS BATTING
DUE TO GR|FF|TH'S
CLEVER TUTELAGE
Youth From Danville, Light
Sticker Last Year, Is
Clouter Now.
By SENATOR"

The Improvement of Ray Morgan
as a batter is one of the greatest
things connected with the perform
ances of the Nationals of 1912. Last
year the little lad from Danville, Va,
was a light sticker Jimmy McAleer
despaired his ever shining in the big
league on that account. But Jimmy
better form at the bat. 1t remained
for Clark Griffith to do that
At Charlottesville Morgan was CIV
en- long and careful instruction on
get away from the plate and the kind
of a bat he should use. 1t was all
new to the lad. Never before had any
one tried to teach him. He had al
good enough in its way, too, but not
good enough for the big show.
When the season started Morgan
was only learning how to use all his
out the good ones and how to get
away from the plate. He was learn
ing rapidly. however, and when the
opportunity came for him to take his
place in the regular lineup day after
Gay, he was ready.
Now a Leader.
Morgan should be one of the teams
leading hitters this year. II he con-
| tinues his present work with the will
the doctrine being taught the team
by Griffith, he believes he can hit
any pitching served up to him.
Furthermore, he is doing 1t and has
been doing 1t all along.
| The Baltimore boy is using the
proper size Of stick now. He swings
with all his strength and weight and
Is one Of the longest hitters on the
team. His great speed enables him
to get the most out of his long drives
to the garden and as a sliding run
ner, only Moeller and Milan begin to
compare with him.
ALL" smiles Griffith, when talking of
his young second baseman. "He is
using all his ability now and should
be success all along. AS soon as he
the bag. he will be one Of the best
me. one of the best in the game"
What He Gives Cobb.
What do you give Ty Cobb. Walter?
the writer asked Walter Smokebal
Johnson the other day.
"Oh, about the same as do any left.
handed hitter" was the smiling reply
of the greatest pitcher in the American
League. cobb Is a great batter. H.
can hit anything, If he can get hold ol
1t in time. The theory is to keep II
: popping over the plate so that he cam
|
"An lefthanded hitters are weak or
a ball breaking In toward them and very
| close to their fingers. That's all evel
give Cobb when he's up in a pinch
or course, I put lot of stuff on th'
ball, but I put that on for them all
anyway. Cobb gets the same as th'
| rest of them"
In Detroit Davy Jones doubled OF
, slow ball to left field apd Cobb cam
up with FIRE in his eye The first on,
was fairly wide and he swung at II
; The next one he watched hook" owe
| the plate for a strike. The came tn
2 third. breaking sharply in toward hi1
and almost brushing his shirt front a.
he swung at II for the third strike
johnson had given a demonstration o
what he meant.
No Southpaws.
There is not a lefthanded throwe
among the Climbers, perhaps a singu
e lar thing unequaled by any club In tn
e major leagues. Furthermore, Milan
r Moeller, Schaefer, and Cashion are Il.
!, only lads who bat from the offside O
4 the pan. OF these Moeller and Schaet
a er switch to the orthodox side when
aVAr an ahud occupieH the hill