The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-09

Will Bob Shawkey be able to
deliver next year? Certainly Bob
didn't look at all impressive in the
world series. In a measure the
chances of the Yankees to repeat
depended on Shawkey's showing.
1t is hard to believe that Shawkey
is through. He is still a very young
man. In the spring of 1921 he
looked very ordinary. In mid-sea-
son he was great In the fall he
slumped into early spring form
1 am inclined think Shawkey's
| failure to show last year was due
ability. Things broke badly for
him. The harder he tried. the
tougher the breaks. He lost conf
dence in himself. 1 feel that he
will regain the "old con-fee-dence"
as Hughey Jennings would say. an
win many a game for New York in
1922.
The case of Jim Bagby of Cleve-
land was very much similar to that
of Shawkey. With his usual
amount of stuff, plus his good judg-
ment, Jim wasn't able to win. In
1890 no matter how badly he pitch
ed, he generally emerged the vic
tor. In 1921 no matter how good or
bad he worked, it was always the
same, a trimming. 1t was lack of
confidence with Bagby No pitcher
can get very far without it.
Unless Cleveland and New York
are able to secure a dependable
left-hander before the opening bf
the season, the two leaders in 1921
will again be minus a very great
asset Both teams showed the way
without a southpaw in 1921, but
their road to the top would have
been much easier to travel had they
been so blessed.
1t was rather strange to pick up
the box scores last summer and see
where Grover Alexander was
knocked out the box one day and
a few days later Walter Johnson
was treated to a similar dose. Five
or six years ago it was a calamity
for such a thing to happen to either
of the two great stars. II merely
proves, however, that no matter
how good you are in any business.
there comes a time in your career
when you start going the other
way. However, Johnson and Alex
ander are still great pitchers, who
are far from through.
1t is surprising the hold that golf
has on most ball players. In fact.
some managers are not very strong
for the morning 8 or Is holes, which
a lot of their players indulge in.
They insist it takes some of the
snap out of their afternoon work
on the ball field As in baseball
most of the players get the real en-
joyment in driving. Babe Ruth
says a driver is the only style club
he carries in his bag. The short
game hasn't much Of an appeal to.
the ball players.
The other day some one asked
me what / thought of frankie
FTisch of the New York Giants.
Most any one would be perfectly
safe in answering that Frisch was
a wonderful player. l am going TO
say that much about him, and then
a little more.
Frisch is one of the fastest men
in the game. He has a wonderful
throwing arm. However, he is far
from a finished fielder. He seldom
a ground ball cleanly. He!
knocks them down, sometimes kicks
them around. but his great speed !
and wonderful arm always save
him.
Frisch does practically all his
sliding head first. He is one OF fine |
rev great base runners still usinr |
that style l believe he viii he |
more valuable II he adopts the feet |
first system, as there is much less
chance for injury. Hal Chase was
a great ball player who simply
could not learn to slide feet first
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