The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-07
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R%oscl;1lI this year has reverted 10
the SYSTEM Of play Of twcniy-!.Ec ''.,S
ago. The careful style OF Atl"SN' nnr
skillfully planned systems "l SCORING
THns me one run at Il umc" plan used
nv The Boston club Of Long lo%e.
Tccunry and company: by Chance ana ms
famous Cubs; by Fred 'laTKrS p'HI
icnn,s a system which had come W
nant winning teams. practi'aiiy ma
neon discarded. Tho teams hnEo re
Hcrtcd to the old slam bang. hit or
out" styla
II any reason is needed to explain
the tremendous increase or lhtcresl ~
the gamc in tho maJori,y vi f FipJ IN
the major eaEueS. II ~ TO be lounu III
This. We hive preached ana arKucd
for a score Of years that what hascohlI
needed TO gain in interest "AS l"oitf
hitting, a frcrr. more open S'Si' ~
NAV, and some limit on the custom or
n,anopcrs issuing orders from the
bench directing every move or the Da'-
ters and runners.
The managers still are' trying 70 hold
their grip on the gam" ana us Eenrralr
ship. but something IS taking u OUT OF
their power. The fact that the most
dangerous teams have abandoned IN"
old style and arc slAshlug away i"T
homo runs and triples mas ~colnpeIIco
several managers wh" prefer tht care
ful, dcwcnsIye style Of play. 10 change
tactics. Practically every team III tho
ma Tor lcagues ana most Of those III
tho minors arc playing for n hitting
rally. and for q bunch OF runs III one
inning, instead Of striving to make sure
of one run. and hon trying To add 10
il by the SAT" and sane methods.
The fact tina n team is SlammtnE
AWAY all tn. tim" and liable In any i'll
ming TO get a bunch 81 runs forces
their ]opponrnt to try tho SRmc plan.
Many Reasons Suggested.
No ono with whom | have talked an
rcars to know the secret Of tins sudden
change Of systems. some "t IN" rta-
sons advanced nre weaker pitching. the
fact that the pitchers ar" h~andiCapped
nv the now rules. a l~iyelicr ball and
Babe Ruth's success.
A large number Of managers n
scouts seem 70 think that the greatest
cause of the change in style or play
is TIA" fact that Ruth. b"caus" 81 ms
terrific hitting and the great amount
Of press agenting he has received. has
proved to owners and managers what
the public likes to sec. and they are
striving to develop another homo run
hitter who will rival the Yankee. Others
claim that the good hitting Mayors are
Jared by the publicity Ruth has re-
ceivcd and ar" after some Of the pub
LEFTY themselves.
POSSIBLY there is something in each
of tho theories advanced. and ! am IN
clincd to hCli"vn that tho psychological
effect OF Ruth's wonderful success has
had moro To- do with the chang" in tho
rnmC. and with tho long driving thAt
is upsctting both leagues. than anything
else. Tho fact that so many battcrs
arc akinE their long wallnpS and ar"
liable 10 hit any ball pitched is upset
ting the pitchers Many OF them DO
not know how to guess battcrS who
after years Of taking one or two strikes
waiting out pitchers 10 I'M" limit. are
rying now 10 hit tn" first hAll. to hit
with two balls and no strikes. or even
three and one.
The pitching undoubtedly is moro
sputty thar It has been in years. Pitch
crs tell me that in ono game they arc
hit hard when they seem TO. have all
sorts Of speed and shoots. and IN the
next they sail through unt"urh"d when
they arc pitching tho same way.
As to tho lively hall. practically every
rlavcr md especially cvcry nitChcr. dc
Clares that tho ball is ~iIN"licr thRm in
years. Tho manufacturers sny ~ ia
idcnticaIly the same MS it has been ever
duccd during The worlds series between
the Athletics and cubs.
President Johnson is quoted as ad-
vancinE n theory that the materials
used arc better than those ~pr0curRhio
during tho war. Possibly this explains
The fact that the ball has more life and
drives farther than II has done re-
Gently.
But regardless Of the reasons. tho
question arises whether such d system
as Is prevalent Is n winning ono. ON"
OF the most famous managers in tho
country remarked to mo tho other owe
ming:
Give me two pitchers who can hold
opposing teams TO an average Of thre"
runs a game or a little over. and two
SsAs.s that San SGld them 10 an average