The Washington times., 1914-02-01
Georgia Peach" Talks to
Times Readers Today
About TWirIers.
By TY COBB.
(Big Leagues Best Batsman.)

time go to one of those film shows
it puts my eyes on the bum, and
can't hit next day." 1 heard Franl
Baker say after Dubuc, the little
pitcher with the Detroit club, haG
struck him out one day last sum.
mer.
Dubuc had been going good thai
afternoon. The Athletics had moi
been able to touch him. No matter
how much the Detroit team may look
like a dub outfit against other clubs
we always go well in our series with
Connie Mack's crowd.
This is part of the peculiar psy.
ehology of baseball. In every league
there is always some team, recog-
nized by its standing to be weaker,
that can consistently battle the
strong to finish. Brooklyn used to
be able to win consistently from the
old Cub machine when it was at its
best and was cleaning up regularly
on every other team in the National
League. The Detroit team has al
ways had difficulty in beating the
Yankees no matter how weak the
New York American League club
has been, and it has been very wob-
bly, at times in the last few years.
There is no particular reason for this
paradox, except that perhaps the
weaker club has won three of four
games from the stronger some time
before, and the idea is prevalent
among the players on it that they
can always win. This is the greatest
tendency toward victory, in any
thing, this idea that you have some
thing on the other fellow.
But to return to Baker and mis- crack
about Dubuc. That is one OF the COM
monest remarks heard on a ball field
when players are not batting. You will
see a pitcher 20 through a game al
lowing three or four hits. and You will
hear his victims in their club house
croaking afterwards:
I'VE certainly should nave gotten to
that guy out there today. He didn't
have a thing on the ball"
A famous instance OF this was the
case of Richie, of the old Cubs. and
his ability to beat the Giants. Lew"
ccCld stand the New York team On Its
head any time he started against them
for several reasons, get frequently
have 1 heard members Of the Giants
say:
He has nothing, no fast one, no good
curve, nothing but little dInky out"
Chief Meyers was one OF the worst
complainers against Richie. 1t used
TO peeve the chief badly to get up
there with his big bat ard Eupe in his
taliZing slow one Of Riches out oe the
lot, only to miss three. Meyers was
talking to me about it ono day dur
ing the 1872 worlds series, and his
plants were pitful 90 hear.
1T makes me rave" remarked the
chief" ito think that can't reach
that fellow Richie. He hasn't got
anything. I'll bet the next time we
shower bath about the third inning,
and will be glad to get there"
To the Shower Bath.
That is another familiar phrase OF
ballplayers. They are always going TO
drive the easy pitcher who keeps beat
ing them TO the shower bath the next
time they get d crack at him.
We only hope he starts against us
IL
show him up for what he is"
But he starts again, and they don't
show him up. He has something on
them. This is true Of Dubuc and the
Athletics. and especially Baker. other
clubs hit Dubic, but the Athletics sell
dom do And yet they all say he
hasn't got a thing" 1t makes Baker
particularly sore. as I honestly believe
Dubuc is the hardest pitcher in the
league for the great third baseman Of
Df,TT AL nH fn hi nd Il
likes his average. He can't connect with
Dubuc's slow ball. which Is an excellent
product. Baker maintains that moving
picture shows hurt his eyes. although
I call them eye tonic myself. I think
Baker always takes one IN the night be-
fore he expects Dubuc to work so as to
be sure of his alibi.
mo more movies repeats Bake"
after a bad day. "A ball player must be
crazy to take chances like that with his
eyes"
On the other hand, If a club is hitting
pitcher, the players will say he has
everything, but that they are enjoying
good day at bat. Take, for instance,
of the worlds series this last fall OF
course, there is the personal angle to
this. II a pitcher has a lot Of stuff
and the batters are banging him, IL is
all the more to their credit.
Griff "Rides" Players.
Clark Griffith is a great man to
ride" his players to keep them from
getting puffed up over their ability and
to keep them away from the prima
donna class and notions. We were play
ing a game with the Washington club
one day last summer, and the Senators
were slamming a young pitcher we had
working all over the field.
That kid hasn't got much,'' I heard
Griffith say to one Of his players dur
ing the contest. ITS pretty soft for
you hitters. You can fatten up your
batting averages out there today, and
they all need II.
Hasn't got much?' replied the player.
"I wish YOU would get out there and
take a look at his stuff. His curve has
a. nook on ii like. hairpin, and you can
hardly see his fast one. We've just
got our eyes with US today. That's ALL
The player in question had already
made three hits.
That's old bunk" returned Griffith.
whenever you guys are hitting, the
pitcher always has lots OF stuff. I wish
there was q fellow out there every day |
with a hok like hairpin on his curve, |
and a good fast one, If that gink has
all this stun.
When Marquard opened the worid's
series for the Giants last fall, he was |
very nervous, and seemed to discard all |
his nitching knowledge after he had en- |
tered the box. RE warmed up in such |
excellent style that McGraw made up |
his mind at the last minute to take a |
chance on him in the opening game.
"Rube" is naturally very nervous un-
der a strain so all the players who
know ANYTHING about him tell me.