Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-30
MAJOR PITCHERS
GET HOOK OFTEN
Forty Four Pitchers Used in
Sixteen Big League Games
Played on a Recent Date.
ALEX ALONE STUCK IT OUT

The seasons record of major league
games to date indicates that the big
time pitcher able to go the entire dis
lance is fast becoming rare bird
The daily box scores almost invaria-
bly, show the names of from two to
half dozen Fingers appearing for a
single team in nine-inning contest.
President Ban Johnson of the
American league has voiced a protest
against the continual changing of
pitchers during the game. He ex-
presses the belief that the pitchers
would gain more confidence in their
ability and thereby do better work il
they were permitted to stick on the
slab.
In this particular. however, the big
league pilots are not inclined to agree
with the boss Of the American league.
They declare that the pitching is off
color this year and consider them
selves lucky if they have one finger
in their stable who can twist EN- over
for full game. As evidence of the
wisdom of their system in changing
pitchers so frequently, the managers
call attention to the fact that the
average hits per game is no greater
than in past years, nor has the num-
Der of 800 stickers increased. At the
close of last season II batsmen-elev-
en- in the American and six in the
National league--had marks of 300
or better. At the present time, with
half the season yet to be played, there
are fewer than dozen batsmen in
each league travelling in the select
circle
Slabsters Look Weak
This line of dope seems to make
the managers method of handling
their pitchers look right. 1t also
makes the slabsters look a bit weak.
Nowadays it seems to take a small
squad of pitchers to do what one
HEAVIER formerly accomplished.
No fewer than a. pitchers worked
in the sixteen major league games
played on a recent date. OF this
number Alexander, OF the Phillies,
was the only finger able to 20 over
the entire route Of nine innings. The
Boston Americans, on the day in
question, used Ruth and Foster to de-
feat the Chicago White Sox, for
which team Danforth, Scott, Cicotte,
Russell, Benz and Walsh did The
pitching.
On the same day the Yankees
with Cullop, Caldwell and Russell do
ing slab duty, defeated the Cleveland
Indians, who used Beebe, Coumbe
and Gould in the box. Meyer and
Bush Of the Athletics defeated Ham
ilton, Groom, Weilmann and Parks,
the Browns quartet of beavers, while
the Tigers, with Dauss and Cunning
ham doing the twirling, defeated
Washington, the Senators using
Gallia, Ayres, Dumont and Boehline
in vain attempt to bring home the
bacon.
Alex Held His Own
The National league games of the
same day included a victory for
Pitchers Kantlehner and Jacobs of
the Pirates over Hughes and Barnes
pitching for the Braves. The Brook
lyn Robins, with the help of Pitchers
Smith, Cheney and Pfeffer, took one
from the Cardinals, who used Mead
ows and Doak on the slab. Alexan-
der the Great, alone and single
handed, twirled the Phillies to vic
tory over the Cubs and Messrs. Law
ender and Seaton. Perritt, Schaucr.
Benton and Anderson, of the Giants,
to squeeze out victory
over Knetzer and Mosely OF the Reds,
in ten innings, the only extra inning
game of the day.
This record for one day, which is
a fair sample Of what appears to have
become an established practice this
year, indicates that all the big league
outfits are working along the same
lines in the handling OF their pitch
ing staffs. Put 'em in and take EN-
out" has become the rule. With ali
the clubs it appears to be the same.
A couple OF safe binglcs is the cue
for the HEAVIER to beat It to the shower
and civilian scenery.
Should this system of changing
pitchers during the game continue to
grow as it has thus far this season
It won't be long before two-thirds OF
the roster Of every team will be made
up Of pitchers. One for each inning.