Evening star., 1915-06-15
''RIDING'' BOYS ALL THE TIME
IS SYSTEM OF BUCK" HERZOG
Cincinnati Base Ball Boss Believes You Must
''Climb on the Backs of Players
and Drive Them.

those who have to get along with a
curtailed menu"
Herzog squared himself around IN
that they eat W hat I tell them to
eat or something drops with a smash.
'On the field tho attention to detail
IL more necessary than at any other
time. May venture to say that in
consider 500 circumstances and guide
the play accordingly. In one play
there may be ten different phases to
consider. For instance:
on second and Groh at bat. How should
it be played? Shall let Groh sacri-
fee Leach to third and figure on Wade
Killifer bringing him over with a
sacrifice fly or a hit OF shall I let
Groh hit? Is the hit and run q good
play to work at this time? Before
coming to a conclusion I must con-
slider the following:
win one run do Us any sood7 Is
and ditto Killifer? Are Grot's singles
Invariably long enough to score q. run
ner from second. and ditto Killifer?
Is Groh due for a hit, and ditto KILL
to score from second easily on sin
gle, thus making the risk Of the hit
and run unnecessary? Who follows
Killifer at bat and what Is the answer
to the above questions If applied to
him? How is the other team playing
but what's the use: can't tell you all
of it. Sufficient to say, I have Just
mentioned a few queries which must
be answered and answered quick.
rectly to get the odd percentage.
But while all these things must be
considered as they arise, it does not
prevent a manager from planning q
game before his team leaves for the
grounds. I always do. particularly in
regard to the pitcher am using
IF have pitcher going good. one
who has been holding down opposing
teams to two or three runs a game, I
go out there and aim to make three or
such times, Of course. sacrifice style
of play is proper. for every run looks
like a million dollars. On the other
hand, if 1 have a pitcher working in
there who is not going good and must
have half a dozen runs to win, 1 let
Usually divide tho game into halves
and play each half differently, II possi-
BILE. Remember. say II possible. for it
isn't always the right thing to do. But
a tendency to put tho other fellows up
in the air and may start q rally that
busts up tho old ball same then and
there.
so much for the actual playing Of the
game. The handling Of men Is another
rider. and I guess am. John McGraw
rode me good. and played pretty fair
ball for him, didn't IT look at It this
way: The club pays out money for q
suits. II don't get results I'm fail
ure and hear from them. Well, pay
the players big money and expect
them to give me big base ball. If they
don't they hear from mo.
He Does His ''Riding" on tho Bench.
Il don't aim to be venomous in the
calls gfve my men do ie for the
good of the whole: there u NO personal
feeling in it at all. There are two rules
which I follow out to the letter. If
have to ride a man I do 1t on the
bench. whore no one can see and hear
but the other players. and 1t does
them as much good as 1t does tho cul-
prit On the contrary. II q man pulls an
exceptionally. good play, and pwant to
pat him on the back, I do 1S' out there
where every ono can see
although ride the meDsmyDsl1 let
them understand that I sm ready to
stand by them at all times. Tho other
day at Cincinnati an outhelder pulled
bone by throwing to the wrong base
after a single. The crowd got after him
as he walked in from the field. but I
met the offender at hrst base and
said as loud as could: Nice work:
don't worry, boy, you played Il like
told you and that let's you out? That
fellow went to the bench With wonder
in his eye and q little later he saids
Say. Buck. don't remember you tell
ing me to play 1t that way
ct didn't, you big stiff, but thought
those guys out there bothered you and
don't mind what they say to me q lit
tie bit. am the dub anyhow for hav-
ing you on a regular ball team
that was coming to him, but at the
same time let him understand that
he was responsible to me. and, further
more. that / Waa ready to 0tapdehahind