Evening star., 1921-10-02

IN HE standard of base ball u,
both major leagues has bees-
sadly off form this year. Tie
has suffered at least 25 pef
cent. A 1915 per cent decrease wouhi
probably come closer to hitting the
mark. -
have seen more poor base ball an
spots this year than in any one of the.
previous sixteen campaigns i haler
served in the American League. In
the spring the pitching, as whole.
was atrocious. With the arrival df
the warm weather this condition be-
gan to readjust itself, and of late TIL
piteners nave been holding up theif,
END IN much better style. 10
National League managers and uisS-
pres with whom l have talked tell
me that similar condition exists N
tneir league. l feel that both ma iofy
leagues have suffered alike in this re-
spect. The season Of 1921 was made
TO order for any ordinary club capa-
9 gle OF playing consistent base batis
mat IN a measure, is one reasusl
why the Pittsburgh club was a costi
tender from the start .-
Not Among Greats. =
Scan the lineup of the Pirats.s
closely. and it doesn't rank with forG
mer great clubs in the Natiouzs
League. In the inf1eld are thrse
youngsters. One would scarcely eo,
pect team with an infield made tfy
OF three inexperienced men to be. 3
penhant contender. The fine catciiE
ence OF Maranville and Carey and ,hfs
excellent work of the pitching s,Sfs
MADE the Pirates. rated as an ordf
! team. a constant pennant coS-S
tender. The only one furry FROM.
consistent playing on the part of tho
..H ates was the f1ve straight defeate
sunered by Pittsburgh at New York;
low standard of recruits for thf,
last four or five years is largely re-
sponsibie for the falling of in classs
mat has made itself apparent this
year. Until the opening of the 1921 ,
up from the minors has been faf
below the standard of previous yeafs~
Ihe failure to land capable recruits
coupled with the slowness that each
year added to the veteran stars. has
hao IT'S effect. The present season
youngsters in each league In 1927;
more recruits have come to the from
than in the last three or four yearF
| put together. This augurs well for
! return TO the oid-time standard.
Pitching Atrocious. IS
IN the spring the pitching wsri
atrocious. A number of reason.
could be advanced for the failure b
the pitchers. Perhaps. the most ir.s
portant among them would be ;fs
| introduction of the lively ball. Ty;
advent of the lively ball made mo- =
or the players insist on taking =
healthy swing. The love of the ba.i
hit and the desire to emulate tss:
| example of Babe" Ruth killed ar.
much Of the strategy that did exist
Playing for q run is almost a fof.,,
! gotten art. The steal Of second har'
| become a rarity, and that of thisS
| almost extinct. One afternoon rsr.
Gently, after Catcher Perkins 4l
Philadelphia had thrown out a max
J at second. he turned around ana
! remarked to me: =
/ That is the first fellow who has
tried to steal second against our
+; club in over two weeks
F; The clubs are constantly playing
+, for cluster of runs. Base bs4
| during 1921 has largely been a suasl
cession of the fit-and-run play To
me that style has become ratheri
tiresome. / yearn for the steal, TEE
bunt, the sacrifice, the squeeze. III
| is variety. that adds spice to the.
game and this has suffered becauss.
OF the 1921 slogan Of slug the ballu
Copyright 1927 -