The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-28

ten leaders. The latest averages show
me ahead of such stars as Sisler and
Speaker and only Cobb and lehman
in front OF me. think Cobt Is the
man to beat. Cobb's average has
been going up consistently. while
Heilman's has been wavering in the
past few weeks. Cobb is used TO the
terrific mental strain of whirlwind
finish, whereas feel Heilman may go
TO pieces If he tastes slight slump
at this stage of the batting race.
As for my home runs, l see where
certain. New York sporting writer
quotes one to three as now being fair
sporting odds that l will break last
years home run record. think they
were fair sporting odds month ago.
put $4,000 on IL myself on the
Fourth of July.
The batting average Is my big job
for the remaining four weeks of the
season. The home runs are taking
care of themselves.
What Babe Ruth Faces.
I've got to do two things-outbat
rival hitters and outguess opposing
fielders. That's where bunting
comes in.
The physical ability to slam the ball
is of little value II the opposing field.
ers know pretty well how and where
intend hitting IT.
I tried my first bunting strategy
on our last western trip. IL worked
as expected. The rival third baseman
comes stumbling in to get the slow
roller. the shortstop gets tangled in
his own way, and the pitcher doesn't
know whether he has made a wild
pitch or I have made a home run.
Recently at the Polo Grounds ! got
away with bunts while The fieldel's
were backed against the score board.
At Philadelphia and Chicago st crossed
the opposition and made the third
basemen look like they were in the
right league but the wrong contest.
And finally this week at Cleveland.
after knocking home runs in the first
and third innings OF the same game
l threw the Indians into confusion
by bunting the next time at bat. In
the last case I was thrown out, but
that's not the point because l am not
considered good bunter.
He Crosses Them.
The only value in my bunting is 10
do so when the rival fielders are play
ing for a deep drive. It's all question
of outguessing them. Gradually they
will begin to suspect easy taps and
then, of course, hope to turn around
and slug the ball.
Some of the American League clubs
have worked out defense formations
against me that makes their infields
scatter out like a football team On =
trick play. The third baseman plays
medium leftfield, the shortstop moves
clear to the right OF the keystone
sack, and the second baseman sort OF
becomes assistant first baseman.
Imagine a hunt trickling down the
third base foul line with a team in
that formation.
No home-run specialist ever led a
major league in batting. Just be-
cause he is a specialist" he is a
marked" player, and as in football
the opposing team is out to get him.
can't get home run every time !
bat, but IL I try for one each time,
without variation, the opposing field
ers will "get" me, and lots of my
drives that ought TO go for hits.
So much for an occasional bunt in
our coming games. But for the bene-
fit of the home.run bugs, let me say
that I will never permit bunting, ar.
tistic and effective as it may be, to
interfere with the good old drives over
the fence.
Copyright, 1891, by The Christy walsh
syndicate