Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
STAR PITCHERS IN DEMAND.
OWNERS WILLING TO PAY
Since the Strength Of Team Rests Largely
in the Effectiveness of the Twirlers, Men
Who Can Deliver Are Welcomed.

many wild throws. due to players getting
hold of the moistened spot These are
just a few of the drawbacks to the spit
pali. Or course, every manager would
welcome an Ed Walsh. but there is only
one Ed Walsh. He's a rarity.
NOW when youngster comes up to the
majors, touted as a pitcher extraordinary,
inquiries are always made about his
habits, his disposition and his stock in
trade. Men of good habits and agree
preference. while fellows with speed and
curves are always gladly received Also
much stress is placed on the desire for
players with brains A fellow with a
nliillon-doliaN arm and ten cent head
doesn't make as good an impression on
the manager as player with a good arm
and million-dollar head. When infor-
nation has been received on all these
things the men interested usually say:
well. what kind of a move has he GOT
to first? Can he hold the runners on or
does he let them run wild?''
This possibly seems like a rather fool
1sh question to the average fan, yet it is
one of the utmost Importance to the prac-
tical base ball men. 1t would seem that
any pitcher ought to be able to develop
a move to first that would make the
runners hug the bag, vet no one part of
the pitching game is harder for the aver
age pitcher to master than a move to
first.
Speed, speed, speed is the cry Of every
base ball manager. He wants PLAYERS
VINO are fast. who can do things on the
bases, who are constantly taking
chances He wants speed on his team.
he realizes he must have it to be up
In the race. On the other hand, he
knows he must perfect a defense to cut.
down the speed of his opponents His
first move on the defensive always be-
hug the bags Take a number of
shots at them to let them know you are
watching them closely, and, incidentally.
you tire them by making them hit the
dirt. Such is the advice of every
manager to his recruit twirlers
Develop Move Toward First.
Developing a move is one thing every
pitcher must accomplish before he lis
real big Lacquer. Naturally every man.
ager pays all kinds of attention to this
feature. As result the umpires are kept
in constant hot Water trying to decipher
between a correct motion, a half balk
that passes muster and the real thing.
Pitchers seek to develop some little hitch
that causes the base runner to believe
they are about to pitch, and also de-
ceiFes the umpire as well. Players will
ten You that they fear Walsh's move to
first just as much as his spit ball. 7
know or any number of pitchers with
enough stuff to succeed in the big leagues
go back to the minors simply because
they could not hold the runners on the
bases. Try as they might,they could not
develop move that would keep the on
ponents from running wild
Take the case OF Harry Kraatse with
Toledo last year. One year he won tan
straight as big Lacquer before the clubs
got wise that his move was not decentivc
When the other clubs got wise to his
style OF delivery he just couldn't win
Connie Mack set out to teach Krause a
move that would increase his effective
ness. To show how important such a
feature Is regarded. Mack almost sacri-
need star to help Krause learn a move
He would send Krause out to pitch and
would have the entire infield in its
place. and always used Amos Strunk
as The base runner. 1t was Strunk's
duty to run wild on the bases During
one or these practice sessions Strunk
injured one of his knees, and for sew
eral years was useless. to the Athletics
Not until last year did the injured
member get strong.
Ambitious bushers who hope to shine
in the majors should pay lots Of atten-
ton TO acquiring move that makes
the base runners hug the sacks Once
saw Ed Walsh throw ITO first base
nineteen times. but he finally got his
man. The peculiar part about pitching
moves Is that every manager insists his
pitchers use perfectly legal delivery
while all the opposing twirlers use a
palpable balk. Funny, but true.
Copyright, 1918, by W. G. Evans)