The Washington times., 1914-06-10
By SPICK HALL.

BY SPlGk HALL.
LFvELAND.. Ohio. June 1o.-There
SO many events that occur on the
field that are either ineXplica-
to the fans or are not seen at al
them that the average person
attends major league games
nd scarcely credit the number OF
siderations which have to be taker
b account by every man on the
and the anount of conceQtrated
usht which is forced into Nvery
y. Even on so common and sim
a play as the hit-and-run fans
Re been known to hoot at a bats
D because he. struck at a-bad ball
er tipping, off the baserunner that
would hit with him. These fans
u apear 10 realize that that : is
ebsli. Likewise few Of them know
difficulties which have to be
rcome before a player can become
cient in his position in the field.
mos strunk the Athletics center
der, has worked out scientifically
best methods of playing in the
field and is therefore in a posi-
q 20 throw some interesting light
what an outfielder has to Go to
orns and remain efficient Like
|st outfielders, Strunk did not start
lying ball in that position. He
we d on the infield. chiefly at first
was playing on the diamond dur
mis- career at the DreXel School
Phiiadeiphia. Later. when he Went
Shamokin, he was put in the out
~ hne cir
telling some of the things which
Fe 10 be done and thought out by an
&c der. Strunk divides the fielding
ne into its three natural elements
htchfng fly balls. handling ground
Is batted TO the outfield and those
ttng paHt the infield on wild throws,
loving from the outfield position.
|OHe of the first essentials began
fu5k. is to learn the batters and
ere they are mos: apt TO hit TO the
&feld. u would oe, the natural sup
3itiHn. ton. that 4 center nelder would
ID 4 little toward left held for a
ht handed hitter and vice versa But
|-e are so many circGDj distances that
" occur with different batters that in
l.tv II is seldom that this rule Is
|Fo- instance, when Joe jackson.
" - d Is uE..s 1
" over into left held. The reason
that is that the pitchers pitch out
20 him. consequently he is more
ble to lit into left field than he l.
b light. He may hit to right. of
FrEe, and often does. but the per-
Ftage Is with you playing him for
/ field hit There is another thing
AZ has IN be watched, too. Different
chers pitch differently TO the same
tier. hence you have 10 know not
ly how given natter hits one pitch |
but how he Is apt to hit every one
your pitchers THAT'S where long
ps renee heIps iielder.
y here are Some pitchers, long tried IN
E major leagues, like Bender and
ank. for instance, who, direct the po-
ions of the outfielders themselves.
ey do this because they know the op-
sing batsrnen so well that they can
the outfield the greatest number of
lou remember in Bender's game
ailst the Giants In Philadelphia last
that Merkle hit home run, which |
lnded into the left field bleachers- |
hen the Chief pitched the ball that |
rkle hit he figured him to Ett It lust |
put where he did and he thought |
be was over there, but ne wasn't |
h far enough toward center. He /
oe great effort, missing the ball by |
he's Rube said after the game that |
vas playing Merkle wrong on that !
y case Of doubt about 2 batter. that
V'hen there Is a new man in the !
re, YOU have to play the percentage.
n Of balls were going to he pitched (
Jackson, and knowing that he hits !
D eft as well as right, I would play
! straight center on the percentage !
Is theory.
'Te have to figure on every batter on |
~ pitched ball. just as we do when /
are at the bat In the soutfeld, there
- way to know whether your pitcher !
TJing TO throw a fast one or q hook,
!oe you guess and try to be in posi- 4
D accordingly. II a signal were given !
The outhelders on curves and fast 1
r. thev would have to be given so /
inly. that the other club would be
20 your signals before an inning had
ised, so that can't be done.
N outfielder has to be constantly on
roes, ready 10 start in any direction |
other words. he has to be set like a
inter in order 70 be of al the crack
he bat l could name some out
-srs who lose a lot of putouts, Civ
their opponents hits. because they /
CSURht nat-rOoted. The differences
yetting off with the crack of the bat |
losing several steps in making |
m!nary judgment of the ball time
again means the difference between
tout and a long hit, and quite often
difference between winning and
g a game
. to the best method OF catching
BAN. can't say that there is any.
y depends on how a man can catch 1
n most surely. / take nearly all
5 out in front of me with the palms
while some other fielders, OIdTing
Cobb. for example. take them with |
hands almost against the chest The
a player can be most sure of him
is the way TO solve that problem.
purely one of individuality. Just
some players have better success at
bat by choking the stick and chop
:, while others do better by taking
InE. free swing. .s-s--r, T'..
have found that in going forward
a batted ball or to the side. espe-!
" on low drives or ground balls.
best 10 run as low as possible. In