Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-06

managers to come through with a base
hit. when said base hit was a much
needed wallop, l CLEANED the following
interesting facts: One man hit a single,
two men hit fly balls to the outffeld Ton
one of them runner scored from third.
on the other fly the runner from third
was retired at the plate). six men struck
out two men received bases balls.
the others went out on easy grounders
or pop flies to the fnfle1d Thus. of the
twenty men called upon. two came
through with hits. while another de-
livered a sacrifice fly to the outfeld
enabling runner to score from third.
II one eliminates the two men who
walked and the one batsman who drove
out a fly that enabled a runner to score
from third, he would discover that two
hits in seventeen times at bat is far
from being an average that the ordi-
nary player would be proud of. 1t GER
tainly wouldn't figure out an average
worth boasting about. In practically
every case the player removed from the
than that attained by the combination
of many pinch hitters. In three or four
cases crack pitcher was taken out of
close game to permit a pinch hitter to
bat. After the pinch hitter failed to
pinch. the pinch pitcher also proceeded
to blow the game.
The failure Of pinch hitter to de-
liver for a pitcher who had been doing
fine work, and then the inability of
the substituted pitcher to take up the
twirling burden. always makes a most
embarrassing situation for the man.
ager. 1t Is a truth in base ball that
the manager is not judged on the actual
logic that is behind his strategy, but
rather by the success failure of
what he attempts. II the substitute
proves worth while the manager is
lauded for the shift: IL the substitute
strikes out: then the opinion is freely
expressed that the regular player could
have done no worse. When he makes
change he CANDLES with. fate: If he
wins he Is a wise man, If he loses the
knockers dig up the hammers and get
busy.
Case of Manager Rowland.
In the first game of the 1917 series
between Chicago and New York Out
fielder John Collins Of the White Sox
was the batting hero. His three clean
wallops made him a most taIked-about
young man in connection with the
opening game. Throughout the season
Manager Rowland used Collins. a right
handed batsman. when a southpaw OPP
posed the Sox. and played Lebold when
a right-handed pitcher was the selec-
ton of the opposition. In the first
game Southpaw Sallee did the pitch
cided to use Schupp. another south
paw. OF course that again meant the
selection Of Collins to play right field.
In the second inning, after the bases
had been filled. Manager McGraw sent
in Anderson. a right-hander. to relieve
Schupp. 1t was John Collins turn at
bat. His hitting had been so good
that no one figured Rowland would
remove him from the game, even
though right-hander-wa was Bent in.
He sent In Lieboid, and Lieboid failed
to deliver. That set many a tongue to
waeging. Most of the wise Ones de-
cided Rowland had erred. Later in the
game. when Liebold did come through
with a base hit at a most opportune
moment the fans who had been knock
ing pat on the soft pedal and began
saying lot Of nice things about the
Chicago manager.
The merit Of the pinch hitter is
matter Of much doubt. Figuring mere
IL from the percentage standpoint, he
is a rank failure. but that does not
satisfa ctorily settle the question. There
is much that can be said for and
against the pinch hitter. do not in
tend to reach a decision. but I do want
tie go on record as believing that the
pinch hitting practice is being greatly
overplayed. often to the great disad-
vantage Of the club making the shift,
in some other department of play. After
ALL I guess. II is merely a matter of
personal opinion.
Copyright. 1918. by ". G. Evans)