The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-04-09
BOSS
THING Of PAST
N BIC LEAGUES
bary's Going Seems to Settle
an Old Argument,

Ths playing manager disappeared from
eAo ma tor Leagues when the Boston Red
oox lost Jack Barry TO the United States
1Avy at the expiration OF last season. Al.
tAough the roster OF managers for the
GDminq campaign contains the names OF
oDvofnl former stars OF the diamond,
Utae Of them viii be actively engaged In
- pastime unless the fuInOr that
knsty Mathewhon will try 10 pitch n
Rme or two for the Reds can be bs-
Ths two new faces In the pilot houses
I'D Harrow, who has replaced Barry ht
Boston. and 10 Jack Hendricks, who has
at last been graduated Into the major
yanks 10 fill the vacancy caused by the
3ump OF Miller Higgins 20 the American
!sasus In addition 70 these two. Hugo
flrsl real test. as he did not handle the
Pirates for the entire season last year
|. Other Managers Are Vets.
uuegfns. although tAcxiins new Job
IN New York. 10 veteran at the mnn-
aGsrtal game already. and Mathcwson
- had one fun season and part OF an
O1hog under his belt. The other major
loaGue managers belonged 10 the veter-
e. echool. even Clarence Rowland, COM
~ way of q worlds championship his
thlrd year In fast company
For years ths question has been argued
whethsr the player manager or the bench
manager could get the best results. Tho
answer seems 20 be In favor Of the man
who has no active part In the battles. Il
uSed - be the argument In tho days OF
Chance and Jones as playing managers
that Il was easier 10 lead n bunch OF ath.
lstes than 10 drive them: that II wns sim
pler 10 show them how to do thing than
to try TO tell them how, and consequently
the manager who was In the game himself
was the better leader. That may have
bean true In few isolated cases, hut Tho
instances In which player has not been
effected unfavorably by tho assumption
a managerial duties are scarce.
strategy Keeps Managers Busy.
Ths extent 70 which strategy was de-.
veloped In the modern game up 10 last
year required q lot OF thinking on the
mouager's part. In the minds of some
Of the best critics strategy has been way
ovsrdone IN tecent yharN, hut the fact OF
NJ uss TO such an extent operated against
tho ability OF n player to deal with all the
gams'o intricacies and still keep his mind
. Ne own business OF playing an impor'
NJ man out on the field IN In closer
touch with his players. 10 be sure. but he
he's rood many things 40 think OF In his
en- nphere a. q player. These keep him
fSUm watching the enemy M closely as a
uonfcombatant manager can do. Tho
switching Of pitchers, tho insertion of
po9ch hitters al the proper instant, re;
thought - impossible when n manager has
to b figuring out what he may be called
o. 10 DO next time the ball is hit TO him.
Worvlss Of eoss Never End.
me strain Of a pennant battle Is con.
adorable. but the ball player Ia over his
worries until nsxt day when the game
ends. Not 90 the manager, His work
nsves 10 done, for he must begin plnnnins
of the one he In fighting, His choice oI
yrllef pitchers, for Instance. must he In
flbenced BY, his needs for the following
~, or by the amount OF work previously
4sas BY the Slabmva pot actually In tho
xhsrs !: also the matter Of discipline,
v,1eh ID up 10 the manager. II he is in
tho Dme himself and has bad day. he
cannot with good grace call down. his
a. u he had made none himself,
3 ! Nandlcaps Of Playing Leader.
The average major Lacquer does not
rooognise the difference between mechan.
ical errors and brainstorms or bone plays,
a. they are generally known. The leader
who boots O chance In critical moment
naturally must hesitate before calling
down D pnyer who may have blundered
With his wits In the sann game.
he manager who sits on the bench OF
4 stahds on the side lines can make only
YNentAl errors and these are not grasped
b. the average player Consequently II IL
easter for him to "pan" man for bad
i mistake.
gtlli, the war conditions may compe
the return to player managers for ecop'
orny's sake.
n q q