Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-09

Batters Fear a Pitcher.
Certain batters get the impression
they cannot hit this or that pitcher
and in n short time they become
negative quantities when facing that
pitcher. There are pitchers who fear
certain batsmen. There are batsmen
who always expect to increase their
batting average when certain pitch
er works. 1t is really remarkable
the part mental attitude plays in de-
termining many ball games.
Last year near the close of the sea
son. when Cleveland and Boston were
fighting it out for the right to rep
resent the American League in the
big series. I was assigned to Boston
10 work twelve games in which the
New York, Cleveland and Chicago
clubs were to oppose the Red Sox.
For years New York has been a
stumbling block in the pathway of
the Boston Americans. Despite the
fact that the players on both teams
keep constantly changing. the i'm
preston always remains that the New
York club is jinx to the Red Sox.
On the other hand, New York teams
are always confident of trimming
Boston.
New York was first to invade Bos-
ton. The Sox Were out in front with
about game to spare Four games
were scheduled in three days. New
York had just finished a bad road
trip. having won something like two
or three games out of sixteen In the
west. The team was out OF the race:
There was nothing to fight for, and
the pitching staff was not at its best.
a doubIe-header was scheduled to
open the series. 1t seemed that the
fighting Red Sox had nothing TO fear
from club that had been easy pick
ing for every club in the west.
Sitting on the Boston bench prior
to the game. the part psychology
plays In base ball was proved to me.
I The Red Sox were on their toes. De
termined to do their best. Yet half
dozen times / heard some Boston
player express the wish that the New
York series was over. The players
, admitted neither Cleveland nor Chi
eago gave them any particular con-
Germ. but they were dubious about
their chances against the Yankees,
who as one Boston player put il. al
ways performed like world champions
against the Sox.
Yanks Defeated in West.
The work of the two clubs in that
<ouble-header was a repetition OF
what has happened in many impor-
t3Bt series IN Wh1ch they nave en-
gagged New York, which had been
doormat for the western clubs. per-
formed like world beaters, and Bos-
ton took a trouncing in each game.
Frank Baker, who hadn't done much
hitting through the west. was at his
. best, while George Mogridge. Slim
! Love and Caldwell did some fine
! pitching. Boston was lucky to get one
game in four. The ease with which
the Yankees disposed of the Sox was
recalled recently. when the two teams
made a big trade, and some writer
remarked that il looked as IL Boston
: was trying to break the New York
5inx by getting most of the Yankees.
The moment New York left town
Boston started to regain its poise.
When Cleveland next came to Bos-
1 ton to open a series that practically
i meant the elimination of one or the
!. other from the penuant race 1t was a
different Red Sox team that faced
/ the Indians. That feeling of uneer-
! tainty was gone. There was no doubt
| in the minds of Boston players that
they would be able to take care of
/ Cleveland. There was no sign of
worry over the fact that the setback