Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-11
BY j. ED GRILLo.

While Walter Johnson is given credit
FOR having more speed than any pitcher
the game has ever known. his control is
almost as remarkable. Bases on balls are
rare when Johnson is pitching. In fact.
he pitches decidedly few balls during d
.all game 1t is either a strike or a foul
with johnson, and If record We're kept
Of his games it would probably be found
that more fouls are made off his de-
livery than off that of any other twirler
This can be accounted for because of
the fact that Johnson sends his fast ball
over the center OF the plate time and
time again. The batter has every conf
dence In facing him, because he knows
his control is perfect, and he swings at
many balls fouls resulting in most In
stances. Any time johnson is working
an exposed press box behind the home
plate is not safe place to sit. The ter
rife speed with which the balls come up
there forces its occupants to be on the
alert. 1t Is Johnson's control which adds
much to his effectiveness. He is never
in a position where he has to let up to
get the ball over. as are many pitchers.
There is no waiting him out. but the bat
ter must take his chances and swing at
almost everything that is offered or be
called out on strikes.
When the Maps suffered their first de-
feat at Boston Birmingham made q
L
ner and substituting Lajoie at second
base. The winning combination has been
broken up and it remains to be seen
whether the team has been strengthened
or not by this change There is no doubt
about Lajoies ability as an individual
but whether he helps the Ginning pro-
clivities OF team or not is doubtful be-
cause there has been only one season
since Lajoie has been a member of the
Maps that the team has been a con-
tender In the race, and then it was I'M
der his own management.
The Cleveland critics are pointing out
the fAct that every team in the race il
strongest from when the Maps are Wis
itors. 1t is said that both Gardner and
Lewis of the Boston team We're on the
hospital list until the Maps arrived. when
both got into the game. 1t is also pre-
dicted that the Nationals will be intact by
the time Cleveland plays here, and 1t is
pointed out that President McA1esr has
recalled Pitcher Morseley from Yuungs-
town for the sole purpose OF having him
work against the Maps during the pres
ent series Morseley recently pitched a
no-hit game for Youngstown. and is
said to have shown u lot of ability.
4 club which is making a fight for the
pennant cannot expect its rivals to lay
down to it, and if it has the strength it
should not object to meeting the best
that their opponents can present.
Topsy Hartselrs job as manager Of
the Toledo club is in danger The
failure of the team to come up to eX-
pectations has soured the fans there
and the patronage is at the lowest ebb.
The cause of the teams failure is
placed on its owner. Charley Somers
of the Cleveland club. Having taken
Chapman and Falkenberg from Toledo
for his Cleveland team. 1t left the Mud
in, cf a
they have not been able to recover.
Toledo patrons Of the game have tired
of having their team used TO supplant
worthless players on the Cleveland
club Hartscll is said TO be slated to
leave as one Of the steps that are to
be taken to satisfy the fans.
Hal Chase was given raw deal by
New York fans when he made his APP
pearancc on the Polo Grounds in n
Chicago uniform. AZ result +. T.
Knox of the Evening Telegram gives
vent to the following well chosen
lines:
There remains but one thing to be
perfected in connection with the game
of base ball and that is beyond the juris
diction of official endeavor. 1t is purely
a personal matter with each spectator at
game.
"A certain element occasional L. attends
and does all within it's power to lower the
high plane of public favor that the sport
enjoys and at the same time not invite
arrest by violating any law of the state
or country 1t may even be that these
few do not conduct themselves in such
manner with any intent but their action
is none the less eXcusabc
"A person WHO sits in the stands and
voices his disapproval of a player is an
undesirable at the ball games today The
game has grown beyond that phase of
rowdyism. The person in question may
go derive some innate satisfaction that he
would be pleased To term pleasure, but ii