Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-14
DECISIONS AND INSIDE STUFF
HANDED OUT BY UMPIRE EVANS
Settles Fly Catch-Leaving- Third Contro-
versy-Another Good Story About
Walter Johnson.

neve that the base runners of today had
any thing on the speeders of years ago.
Yet, like my fan friend, I have also no.
ticed that the number Of men retired at
the plate seems to have fallen off in re-
cent years.
If were to offer any reason for the
scarcity of men retired at the plate l
would say that it was due to the use of
better judgment on the bases as we'll
as superior brand of coaching. In the
old days the players respected no arm
to the extent they do today. A base run
ner would take chance just as readily
with punk arm. Naturally, that dis
position tended to give the crack throw
ers a better chance to demonstrate their
ability and incidentally resulted in a lot
of exciting situations
In the modern game the players have the
outfielders with good arms spotted They
are instructed to take no foolish chances
when the ball is hit into this or that
players territory. On the other hand they
know it is the play to run wild when a
drive is hit in the direction of some other
outfielder. Players with arms like Speak
err, Magee, Cobb, Paskert. Jackson, Bir-
mingham and other great throwers sell
dom get even chance to test their
whips. Few chances are taken on balls
hit their way.
A southern fan writes me asking why
Walter Johnson has not famed more
batters than he did several years ago.
when he whitfield 313. The fan says he
reads continually where Johnson is a
much improved pitcher. yet he doesn't
strike out as many men as he used to-.
He wants to know If Johnson is losing
any of his speed. If such is not the case,
out record has fallen off of late.
Relative to Johnson's speed. only wish
the fan in question might umpire game
in which Johnson pitched. If he ever
did, I'll bet he would be willing to wager
that thirteen-inch gun couldn't hurl
the ball any faster than Johnson. If he
was unfortunate enough to stop a foul
tip with his leg or foot. he would bet his
life on such statement. No, Mr.. Fan.
Walter Johnson isn't losing any of his
speed. He has as much, if not more, than
he ever did. but Walter has discovered
there are other things beside speed that
a pitcher can use successfully.
In 1910, when Johnson struck out 313
men. it was freely stated in the papers
that he had established a major league
record. month before the close of the
season there was much comment on
Johnson's performance. 1t was generally
believed that he would add a major
league record to his credit johnson nat
urally worked his hardest to beat Wad-
dell's 1904 record. which was said to be
3O3. instead of 343, which it really was.
For month after the close of the sea-
son Johnson was hailed as the modern
StIIhc-Oul hIuS, only later 10 discover
that he had only come within thirty Of
Waddells performance.
Within the last three years Walter
Johnson has learned lot about pitch
ing. He has developed a fine curve, has a
slow ball that is a corker and very
good change of pace. No longer is he
slipping the batters nothing but speed.
He is pitching the stuff that will make
his victory as easy as possible He never
throws his best until he gets in a pinch !;
then he has so much in reserve that the
batters are usually helpless before him.
Just to illustrate Johnson's method of
pitching. l recall a game he worked last
summer. 1t was a game wanted badly by
Griffith. and johnson opened at full speed
from the very start. He struck out seven
of the first nine men to face him. His
team got run for him in the second in
ming and five more in the third. When
Johnson started the first of the fourth
the score was to o in his favor. Fans
who had visions of seeing johnson make
strike-out record were doomed to dis
appointment. The Johnson who pitched
the fourth inning seemed like a different
fellow from the speed demon who had
worked the first three sessions. During
the rest of the game Johnson used a slow
ball and curve almost entirely. No
scoring was done. but he struck out only
one man in the last six innings. Johnson
isn't striking out SO many simply because
he isn't trying.