The Washington times., 1914-04-26
If Walsh "Comes Back" Windy
City Tribe May Surprise
Rest of the League.
BY TY COBB,
(Worl5's Greatest All-Around Player.)

(Worl5's Greatest All-Around Player
American League players who are
nursing their batting averages will
not relish playing against the White
Sox this season, judging by the fine
work the twirlers of Callahan's staff
has been doing. I said in my first
article of this series that the Windy
City club was very strong in the box,
and l cannot resist the temptation to
remark, 81 told you So" at this time.
On the showing made up to the
time of writing, Callahan undoubted-
ly has either the best lot of mounds
men in the league, or else has them
in the best condition. Possibly the
success of the Sox pitchers has been
due in part to the fact that the hit
tiers have not warmed to their work
as yet, but / am inclined to think
that this hasn't so very much to do
with it. That is a great gang of
pitchers mustered under the banner
of Callahan, and if Walsh comes
through and holds his strength all
season. there will DE some more gray
hairs in the heads of "Connie" Mack,
Clark Griffith, and others who are
figuring on the bunting as their per-
sonal property.
1t always has seemed to me pecu-
liar the way things average up in
baseball. Take the Chicago pitching
for No,,, - fLof
same collection of boxmen were with
the Athletics we could call the race
off. right now. There wouldn't be
anything to it except the battle for
second position. But Chicago, with
all this fine hurting. is a weak bat
ting club, and not above the average
in fielding aoility--below it, if any
thing, in the outfeld-so the pitchers
have to work hard for every game
they win. On the other hand, "Con-
ME" Mack. with his wonderful in
field and all his hitting strength, is
badly off for twirlers, and will need
whole hatful of runs to win many
Of the games that he is figuring on
anneAing. It is lucky thing that
there is such distribution of talent
as this, otherwise the league cham
pionships would be nothing but pro-
cessions.
reminded that styles in hurting change
lust as they do in dress Sometimes
speed pitching is all the rage. and
everybody wants smoke" Again, IL Is
Of fingers permanently injure their arms
throwing too many hooks or trying
10 learn new ones. When Chesbro was
in his prime and Walsh in his heydsy
every managed sought spitball throw
ers. and the scouts were instructed to
every manager sought spitball throw
who had the moist one. The supply OF
good "spitters" never was large. how
ever. and they didn't last long. so most
OF the leaders came out against the
deliver and turned their at
tention to something else.
At present. the change of pace is all
the rage and it is very effective too I
good slow ball is about IS valuable a. ,
anything in p pitchers repertoire. Jean |
Dubuc. OF the Tigers, is almost unhita- |
BILE when hc has his sIoW ball Ic.lav-
ing. The best Of the slusgers look fool |
ish against him when he is right" |
Even Walter Johnson the marveIou. |
Washington moundsman. Is using slow |
bail regularly. Walter got tired OF |
''buZzinP them through all the time |
and is making the curve and slow one |
do some OF the work that his speed |
used to do. He only bears down with !
his smoke in the pinches now. and |
" hen he docs. believe me. your chances |
Of getting hit aren't good enough TO |
6et on.
Did YOU ever see ANYTHING like the |
faTd luck the Maps are having? Detroit |
and Cleveland always have been bitter
rivals on the diamond. and most De-
roit fans would rather have us beat /
club than any other In