Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-14
'TY COBB HAD RATHER
BAT SPEEDY PITCHING
Hard to Hit. and Can Knock
Them Much Further.
PREFERS VETERAN TO RECRUIT
Wildncss OF Young Hurlers Is Dan
gcrous and Sluggcrs Arc Wary OF
Crowding Plate and Running
Risk of Being Struck.
by JAMES j. CoRBETT.

Big league batsmen who take pride
in assembling a great swatting record,
would much rather hi, against pitch
crs such as Walter Johnson and Grover
Alexander than ;hc offerings Of bush
league rockies. All of which may
seem queer 10 some persons.
But here is the explanation Of Ty
Cobb:
"A batter is much safer in going
up against a seasoned pitcher than
when confronted by the rather cratic
pitching of youngster. Experienced
pitchers have control. Batters know
they are in but little danger of "A wild
pitch. And so they aren't menaced
by the possibility OF injury when fac
ing a star twirler.
But il Is different with young
pitchers. They are inclined 10 wild
ness ness and there is no telling where
Tbatters don't crowd the plate with
kid pitching. And the fact that they
don't is something OF an advantage
Tor the pitcher.
Bntsman Needs Good Eye.
II wouli rather hat against speed
ba,s:nan." added Cobb The natural
assumption is that the swifter the
pitching the more difficult IL is 'I,
! haven't found 1t SO. If a batSmal
has a good eye and can time the de-
livery OF the pitcher, he finds but little
when he does meet il he is absolutely
sure that it's going to sail for some
cons ldcrable distance.
If any one will take the trouble to
look through the records he will find
that mos, OF the hits made off speedy
pitchers have been long ones. That is
even II it hit stationary bat it would
probably rebound beyond the infield.
And when that bat is swung by n pair
of powerful shoulders and meets the
incoming ball the result usually is a
long distance drive 10 the far corners
of the balltield."
Irwin Explained Situation.
Arthur Irwin. who began his base
ball career something like forty years
ago; and who is one of the closest
students OF baseball, asked this ques-
ton at recent flaming bee:
Why does left;handed batsman
fastest runner on the team?"
y chorus Of voices Immediately re-
piled:
batter is distinct advantage to the
base runner because when he hits IL
is usually between first and second
and second hasemen to play for the
ball rather than for the runner and
thereby. helping the runner to steal
second"
Irwin. Il put that same question TO
about loo OF the so-called baseball eX-
Perts and every one has answered just
about like YOU fellows.
Batter Will block Catcher.
With left-handcd patsman at the
plate and runner on first what hap
pens? The pitch is made and the run
ner starts for second. The catcher
from The exact point where he has
received the ball in case there is a
left. handler at bat?
No. OF course he can't. because the
line with the swing Of his arm and
second base. therefore, with a left
handed batter up Il Is always necess-
OF the other SO as TO get clear throw
10 second
And II that batsman is at all tricky,
shifting around and block quick
blocking and this shifting is only a
matter Of a second or so. but in base
stealing one-tenth of a second fire.
quently means the difference between
put oui aQh a steal"
Ruth Dac.nt Like Tarznn.
During training camp days Joe Bush.
2 on OF he Red d. S"< pi,ehcrs ncknamed
handler took il IS s5rt OF compli-
ment because Bush had told him that
Farzan had been a man OF tremendous
superb human.
The teammates OF Ruth quickly
adopted the nickname. and around the
camp tuih bees me generally known
as ''Tarzan." lie minded i: not at
ali uEtil one night he went TO a NOV
ing picture show. There he saw n
screen play. "Tarzan OF the Apes" 1t
was the story of a younC.ster who had
lived IN tho wilds Of tho tropics with
only monkeys as his companions.
The next day Ruth was one Of the
earliest arrivala at the ball park
Finally Joe Bush came along and
walled over toward where Ruth was
standing.
Copyright. 1919. BY King Features
Syndicate. Inc)