The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-10

vi tne strength OF our showing the
outcome Of the 1921 pennant race
should be decided by that time.
The championship lies between
New York and Cleveland. Boston
and Washington are serious oh
stacles, but hardly eOntenders.
believe that II Cleveland repeats
this year, il will be by reason Of
the Yankees losing rather than
the Indians winning"
l would like to say word or two
TO the grandstand managers. IL is
not meant as criticism or resentment.
The redhot campaign now going on
for pennant honors in both leagues
has the fans on edge, and automatic
ally booms the number OF patrons who
are sometimes called "grandstand
manager"
The "grandstand manager" IL the
fellow who, often with the best of In
tentions. severely criticises the mis-
takes. frequently unavoidable, made
by ball club. As rule it's the home
team that is the target for his heated
words. rt
without these excitable enthusiasts
who inhabit both grandstand and
bleschers, baseball games would be
tame. They would grow monotonous
to the crowds as well as the players.
the "xrandstand manager" Is that he
fails to take into consideration the
fact that the manager or player him
self has very likely done his utmost to
avoid the very error that has been
committed.
II committee of fans could sit on
the players bench some day during
a tight game they would appreciate
the strain under which a ball club
operates. Every manager makes mis-
takes and so does every ball player.
In some cases the error is permitted
to go unnoticed while In others,
the immediate scalp of the offending
player. 1t depends upon the popu-
larity and reputation of the player
and that is where injustice can be
done.
So-called "boners" are usually pull
ed when a team In In the field. Elk
cept in climax, the player batting
is only expected to do one of two
things, hit II or miss it. In the field
he has the alternative of going after
the easy ones and passing up the
hard ones.
Twice In the last week i have
fallen down in the field. In both
cases, am sorry to say, the
GTEVt was - bSTbOOS t8CtOT OuE
losing the games. IL would have
been possible and far easier to
let those balls 20 and protect my
own personal fielding average.
But In both instances n run was
Mt stake, and 1 would sooner make
the extra effort than do II tho
easier way.
Best Player Takes Most Chances.
Az the average ball player feels
exactly the same way, the result Is
that generally the hardest playing
man on the team takes the most
desperate chances and lets himself
open to the most criticism. II he is
a great batter or personally popular
he is generally excused: that Is es
long as he continues to be great. But
IL he Is fighting with every ounce q
energy and sincerity. and happens TO
be just an ordinary player. his mis-
plays are greeted with a reception
that would break your heart. And
many a phenomenal younsster has
been broken and turned back just
that way.
When the team as a whole goes
bad the manager himself generallv
Is loaded with the collective blame
But the same situation exists here
and the manager with a popular fol-
io"ink DITCH escapes crltcism where
the less fortunate fellow Is accused
of everything.
Take Cleveland ~ an example.
Last week they lost five games
in q row, but no one heard rumors
Of iris Speaker being Tired. On
the other hand, the Indians pulled
themselves together, and with
Speakers guidance and his iudi-
vidud playing "csme hack" and
squeezed us out 81 first place for
the third time this year.
tCepyrisht 1891, by the Christy walsh
syndiests)