The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-08
STYLES OF ATTACK OF MAJOR LEAGUE PILOTS ARE VARIED
First Three Weeks of Season Are Only Tryouts for
 Big LeaguerS
By GEORGE CHADWICK Special Correspondent ot Lhe Age Herald (Iopyright, 1D2l, by The Age-HerRld)

(Vopyright, IDsi, by The Age-herald)
 New York, May Special Not less than three weeks are necessary to get a real line on the tactics of the big league managers. A first series in baseball usually tells less than any series of the year. 1t finds the players just back from spring training camps, nervous and mellow. Even the old timers are fdgety. Most important of ficiently conversant with signs and plays to go at the game right.
 A veteran, who has been with team two or three years ise likely to make some amateurish play in tre first SC ries simply because he is over anxious for that teams success
 Once in first series, Chief Meyers threw to second base to catch a run ner mapping when there was not any runner there. One was on third, how ever, and because the second baseman was alert and on the job, the runner on third was chased back when he tried to score. Years after the chief had good laugh about the play. T meant to throw to third" he said, but it was just like putting the cart before the horse. I had the play in mind, but was so accustomed to throw ing to second that, of course, I had to let the ball fly there practically un- consciously so far as I was concerned
 SPEAKERS STYLE
 But as have said, after the first two or three series, it is possible to gather information about the shifts and plays of the managers. Take Cleve- land, for instance. From looking over the scores and reading accounts of the games, 1t Is apparent that Speaker isn't varying his style of attack much from that of last year. He never was strong for base stealing in 1920 despite the fact he had some speed on his team. and he doesn't seem to be urging his players to take any unnecessary risks on the bases this year. He is playing an occasional hit and run. but more often goes after the run with sacrifice plays when it looks as if a score is coming.
 COBB DEPENDS ON SPEED Cobb tries the hit and run quite lot. He is always likely to try it when he is on the bases himself, because he has confidence in his own ability as the lead man in play of the sort He seems now to be giving a signal to some of his other players to try it.
 Lee Fohl, with St. Louis, Is playing very conservative game and not get ting much result. due somewhat to the
 
 gether If he could get the top of his batting order on the bases he has a good clean-up man to help them. It's hard to tell what Huggins IS trying One thinks he might use the sacrifice, he goes after runs like Me Graw-a grand slam or nothing That good when the team has the pitchers to keep the others down, but if you can't get good pitching it IS dangerous
 HAVEN'T VARIED ATTACK
 Connie Mack and Wilbert Robinson haven't varied their tactics shadow Both of them try for the run in sight with sacrifices if the first batter gets on first base.
 Mitchell has been letting his batters hit it out in Boston, and it has got him r pothing, because he can't make enough runs to keep up with the raid, which IS made constantly on his weak pitching staff
 Bill Donovan, with the Phillies, has been mixing. He uses sacrifices anu he uses straight hitting as the situa : tion seems to warrant. and 1T Bill had three or four better players in certain nositions he would have all clubs worried because he has kept a weak team in fighting mood ever since the season began.
 Pat Moran plays as he always mas. The sacrifice Is good enough tor hinl' He won a championship playing the one-run game and trusting to luck to make more than one run if he got two men on the bases. He never has varied his style.
 PIRATES VERSATILE
 George Gibson in Pittsburg With a team that has played faster ball than any of the big league teams today. mas not sighted the sacrifice, nor has ne overlooked the hit and run. and With the speed which he possesses on the part of five of his players he can use both methods to good advantage mat he is not afraid to go after runs with rush when the opportunity opens IS indicated by the fact that his team has shown inclination to score blocks or runs ever since the season began.
 Rickey of the Cards. Hugh Duny or the Red Sox and Gleason of the Wnite sox play the sacrifice heavily so does Mcbride of Washington, but Mcbride has two or three hard clouters wno n