Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-15
By cARisTY mATAEWsoN.


Among this seasons unexpected re-
yersals Of form-and there have been
many-is that of Walter Johnson. the
great Washington pitcher. Under
stand, | do not pretend 10 say that
Johnson is pitching poorly even now.
but his record shows that he has al
ready lost more games this season
than he did all last year. He may
have got some tough breaks and poor
support, as he has. He also has drop
ped several contests in succession, an
almost unheard OF thing for the Wash
ington wonder up to this time. What
is the cause Of this slump?
Much inside gossip floats around
both big leagues when bali players
get together, and certain information
has reached me which seems TO eX-
plain the comparatively poor showing
Johnson has made recently. | do not
care to diyulge my source OF informa-
ton, since it might lay him open TO
some criticism, as he is close to the
Washington club.
Speed Johnson's Asset.
Ever since Johnson started to pitch
in the big leagues his great ability
has been due to his wonderful speed,
and up to this year he had depended
almost entirely on a fast ball when in
the box. Batters naturally knew that
Johnson was going to use a fast enc
when they faced him, but even realiz-
ing what was coming did them little
good before that terrific speed of his
AS ! got the story, Clarke Griffith
contracted the notion early last spring
that Walter was wearing out his arm
by using so much speed constantly,
and that he could fool the batters this
his wing. Therefore Griffith directed
Johnson to cross the hitters by using
his curve ball regularly and depending
on his fast one only on occasions. 1t
used to be the other way around
Johnson would use his fast one right
through and only throw up a curve
once in while TO cross the hitter if
he seemed to be up there set for fast
one. But "Griff' is a great theorist
when IL comes to pitchers.
/ have had several American leag.
uers who have faced Walter this year
tell me that he is losing his speed,
even when he tries to shoot that fast
one across in pinches.
He hasn't got the old jump ball
now" declared an American Lacquer
to me recently. He may get ii
back, but he has been curve-balling
himself to death all year. | never
saw him use so many curves in a
season before as he did in one game
against us. 1t was curve after curve"
Changed Form Hurts Arm. .....
Many a pitcher who has tried to
change his form has hurt his efficien.
cy very materially by it, and believe
this Is what johnson will do if he con.
tinues to throw curves. To my mind
it Is bigger strain on the wrist and
arm to use curve than the fast one.
because you've got to keep giving that
wrist the old twist each time, and the
constant use of the curve ball reduces
a mans speed. A. man is generally
either natural curve ball pitcher or
a fast ball pitcher, and Johnson is
distinctly the latter. What II the bat
tiers did know when he was going to
throw his fast one? They could not
hit it. AS Germany" Schaefer said
about Walters speedy one:
you can't hit what you don't see."
And Walter used to work in his
curve only just often enough to keep
the batter from setting himself for
the fast ball. johnson is not old
enough in the game yet to begin to
lose his speed from plain wear and
tear, and it would be time enough for
him to take. up steady curve ball
pitching then. / believe he has made
a mistake If he has been curving them
constantly all year.
Dubue Uses Slow Balls.
Take man like Dubuc of Detroit.
He is slow ball pitcher, one of the
best in the business, from all that l
hear. He developed that slow ball in
the minors after he had had a chance
with the Cincinnati Reds several sea
sons ago and had been sent back to
the bushes. All batters know that
Dubuc is going to use that slow one,
but he would be crazy to figure that
he could cross them by switching to