Evening star., 1921-05-22
HURL|NG
IS KEY TO SUCCESS
Griff and Mcbride Come to
This Conclusion and
Seek SouthpaWs.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.


ST. LOUIS, May 2l.-Lefthanded
pitchers constitute the open sesame
to success for the present-day ball
club. This is the view held by
Clark Griffith. 1t is concurred in by
George Mcbride, and, accordingly
the efforts of the president and
manager of the Nationals. hence
forth will be devoted to building up
hurting staff composed, for the
most part, of southpaws.
In Griff's opinion the gradual
ascendency of batsmen who WELD
their fails in a portsided manner is
the one most notable development
OF base ball in recent years. outrank-
ing in Importance the steadily grow
ing superiority of hitters over
pitchers. as is evidenced by mounting
team averages and shattered records
for extra base clouts. He SCOTS at
the theory that the increased
efficiency of the batters is at
trlbutable to livelier ball. The re-
mas been no change in the spheres.
he says.
Conditions Are Reversed.
Since base ball first became estab-
ilshed as the national pastime the
ideal pitching staff has been regarded
as that made up of three righthanders
and one SouthpaW. Now, according
to Griff, the proportion should be ex-
actly reversed. He maintains that the
overwhelming preponderance of left
handlers among the really formidable
hitters of today calls for mound
corps composed of three forkhanders
and one of the orthodox persuasion.
Just take look at the fellows
who are doing most of the damage
with their bats" said Griff. Not
years back it has been chaps like
Cobb, Jackson. Sisler. Collins. Speak
er and Ruth who have been deliv-
ering the telling wallops. Take our
own club for example. The three
best batsmen we have-Rice. Judge
and Milan-all are left-hand hitters:
OF the thirteen players in base ball
up to last season who compiled aver
ages of 800 or better for their life
time careers, only four were right
handlers, and two of them are one
year men-Harris and Meusel. Only
Jacobson and McInnis of the right
handlers, who have been in the game
for three or more full seasons. have
been able to stay in the charmed
circle
You will hear that the really good
hitters are not bothered by different
types of pitching, that the stars who
bat left-handed attain as much sue
right-handed f1inging brethern. But
this is not true. Their efficiency is
decreased, and the records will bear
me out. Furthermore, you VIII be
told that some of the teams are SO
well fortified with extra players who
ber of the pitcher opposing them
that any advantage sought is onset.
This argument also fails when SUB
jected to keen scrutiny.
Few Good Right Handers.
There are only four or Ave effec-
tive right -hand pitchers in the league.
Three of them-Shocker. Faber and
coveleskie-are spitball pitchers. Mays
is a freak, the only member of his
species now in base ball. Sam Jones.
alone of the right-handers, wins with
a legitimate repertoire and is entitled
to the highest credit for his success
based solely on change Of pace. con-
troll and knowledge of the batsmen
This is the era Of the southpaws
In pursuance of this policy it is
probable Harry Courtney will be pit
ted against the White Sox tomorrow in
the opening battle of the set of -four
to be played in Chicago. with Zachary
appearing Monday. probably Johnson
as the best of the right handlers or
| tne " dSHlHS ION IoSteI. dHO
Mogridge finishing up in the final con-
test on western soil.
Although it has not been officially
stated. the assertion that Acosta.
Schacht. Shaw and Erickson are re-
garded by those directing the destinies
OF the Nationals as fitted for little
more than finishing games would not
be very far wide from the mark.
Has Faith In Courtney.
Despite the disappointing form
shown to- date this season by Court
ney. President Griffith has not lost
faith in him. He asserts that the an
gular southpaw. who has been even
slower than usual in rounding into
form this spring. due to an injury at
the opening Of the training season,
has the stuff to prove a winner.
Courtney will draw tough assign
ment if he is nominated for duty in
Chicago tomorrow. for Urban Faber
is due to work for the Sox and he has
been fiinging this year as never be-
fore.