The Washington herald., 1917-08-17
star HURLERS use
HEAD and Speed
johnson and Alexander Do Not De-
pend Entirely On Buzz Ball.

That pitchers with terrific speed and
a fast-breaklng curve ball do not need
to know how to pitch seems to be the
prevailing impression among the fans
who are not students of baseball. They
believe all that men like Grover Alex
ander, Of the Phillies, and Walter
johnson, of the Washington club. have
to do is to stand on the rubber and
buzz the ball up to the plate with
out making any effort to deceive or
pitch to the batter's. weakness.
This is an erroneous impression.
Alexander and Johnson find it ncces-
saTy to possess a knowledge of the
art of twirling the same as the
fifiinger with only a fair amount of
speed and a slow curve. The days
when speed and curves were sufficient
are past. The fastest pitcher in base
ball must know how to twirl and
what the weaknesses Of the different
hitters in the league are.
johnson and Alexander do not
have to worry about fooling a batter.
do they?" asked a fan recently.
This follower OF the national pas
time probably gained that idea be-
cause he had watched each man burn
the ball toward the plate with his
greatest power but did not notice with
what cleverneSs he twirled and how
he placed the ball low. high. outside
and inside on different players. All
he saw was the terrific velocity with
which the ball Travelled to the catcher.
But Alexander and johnson know
how to use their wonderful speed and
curves. They do not stand on the rub
Der and attempt to throw the ball
past the man at the plate They
realized a long time ago that 1t would
be folly for them to attempt to do
that. They operate with as much
shrewdness as Dick Dudolph. of the
Braves, or with the same smartness
that Christy Mathewson used to pitch.
They have to do so to win so con-
sistently as they have for so many
years.
Even playe in the National League
used to labor under the impression
that Alexander was not a smart pitch
er. They were so bcwildered with
his speed, the qulckneSs with which
he worked and his fast-breakinG
curves that they never took the time
to study him and observe that he kept
the ball low, high. out or inside on
battcrs as the occasion required.
Alexander is a smart hurler. He
may not have to worry through a
game as much as some players do,
but he is thinking all the time he
Is on the slab, and pitches accordingly.
He works on every man at the plate,
and there is not player in the league
he does not understand. He does not
depend on the remarkable speed and
shaTp-breaking curves to win his
game. He uses his knowledge and
resorts to a change Of pace almost as
much as he does his fast ball.
Jimmy Lavender, when he was with
the Cubs, always thought that Alex.
ander needed only to zip the ball to.
ward the plate in order to win. He
never gave the star of the Philies
any credit for having. baseball intelli,
gence. Johnny Evers felt the same
but both. former Cubs have learned
differently Since they Joined the Phil.
/ lies and have had the oDporturity
/ TO t"lk to Alexander and watch him
/. operate in many games. They have
altered their opinion and declare that
he is as smart a pitcher as there /:
in baseball today.
Alexander is a smart pitcher" said
Lavender. L never thought so. but
know 1t now. He works fast and one
| gets the impression that he is not do.
ing things with the ball, but he thinks
as quickly as he pitches. He has
more stuff than any man l have ever
seen, and he will be pitching for g
/ lcng tine because he does not throw
i many balls and docs not work as hare
as 1t appears. HIS change of pace i:
excellent. and that is why he is 81
I hard to beat when he mixes that with
| his speed and curves"