Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-10

| Most ball games are decided by
| good pitching. hard hitting or fine
| fielding. yet every now and then some
| little remark spells the difference be-
| tween victory and defeat. Many ball
players are temperamental Many
have their tender spots. Once they
| become known opposing players work
them to the limit. Occasionally some
player is unkind enough TO dig into
the family history, TO unearth some
vocal bomb.
Ball players. as a rule. regard it as
more or less of a disgrace 10 have
| waivers asked on them. Perhaps such
feeling should not exist, since clubs
every now and then put out feelers
to get an expression from other clubs
as to their opinion of the player in
question. AS l understand it, when
waivers are asked on a player the
fact is supposed to remain secret eN-
cept for owners and managers. | be-
lieve that the asking of waivers is
kept a deep. dark secret, but on this
occasion | know it was not.
Two American League clubs were
having a nip-and-tuck battle, one a
second division club. the other a team
up in the race, and battling for the
pennant. At the close of the seventh
inning the second division club en-
ioyed two-rUn lead. The pitcher
working for the second division team
was getting his second chance as
big Lacquer. lie had been in the
majors several years, dropped back
to the minors. and then because OF
his good work. had won another
chance in the big show. on his sec
ond trial he had been going along
ia
would come through with one good
game, and the next time out would
prove easy picking. His work had
been fine in spots, but hardly con-
sistent enough to warrant his re-
tention.
At the opening Of the eighth in
ming the pitcher objected to rslinE
of the umpire. With three and two on
the batter, the umpire ruled the de
livery a ball. walking the batsman.
while the pitcher was sure the batter
should have been called out on strikes.
II was apparent from his actions that
the pitcher was disguSted with the
ruling, and possibly "A bit up In the
air" At this moment the manager
Of the team a. bat Hho was coach
ing at third base. cut loose with a
few remarks,
Get in there and pitch. It will
keep you busy without trying TO um-
pire. You're lucky 10 be in the
league"
las q pitcher I am in about the
same class as YOU are a manager"
possibly" replied the manager. but
I am keeping you in the league.
Guess you didn't know that they have
asked waivers on you, and | am the
only club that refuses to waive. Since
you have such a good opinion of me,
suppose l ought to waive also. Guess
will, then it will be goodbye for
you"
The moment the coacher mentioned
the possibility of being again waived
out of the league, the pitcher thought
about other things aside from holding
that one-run lead. Naturally, 1t wor
ried him, because he knew his work
had not justified retention. 1t soon
showed itself in his pitching. He lost
control, and when he did get a ball
over some one hit it on the nose.
Before the inning was over the team
at bat had made four runs and
cinched the game. That one remark
about waivers had proved the turning
point in the contest. II probably
wouldn't have been SO bad If the
manager had been camoufiaging and
had put one over, hut it was the
truth. About a week later the pitcher
in question was back in the bushes.
Several years ago a pitcheE got
into financial difficulties. His troubles
were known among the players. AT
a critical spot in a game, where a
base hit about meant the contest, the
pitcher took exception to the way
the batter was hugging the plate. in
sisting he was out of the lines of his
position.