The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10
Critics Contend Graduates of
Famous Baltimore Club
Think for Players.
JOHN M'GRAW'S METHODS
insists ON Directing Giants,
hut Shoulders All Blame
for Failures.
BY DANIEL.

managing clubs in the me jor leagues
have won-but few are their world
series triumphs. And thereby hangs
tale which has to do with the con-
trasting methods OF leaders in the Big
Show John j, McGraw OF the Giants.
Wilbert Robinson of the Dodgers, Kid
Gleason OF the White Sox, Hughey
Jennings, former manager OF the
Tigers and now assistant to McGraw
Orioles all-represent the highest
achievements in the combined art and
science of getting results from the
highest type OF professional baseball
player.
In explanation of the comparative
lack of success of the one time Orioles
in world series it has been said that
they do not encourage initiative. They
get their players into the habit of
having the managers doing most of
their thinking for them. They are old
and wise heads. They were smart ball
players in their day and the strategy
OF the famed Orioles still stands out
as a model. 1t is true that in a world
series-a meeting of two clubs COM
paratively unfamiliar with their indi-
vidual styles--initiative counts for
more than is likely to count during a
league race.
However, it Is not true that McGraw's
methods throttle initiative and individ
ual thinking. 1t is true that John Jo-
seph is an absolute monarch. He directs
every pitch. he directs nearly every
move OF his batters. He disposes his
defense, he plans his offense, he takes
all the responsibility If his orders are
followed
But this method does not entirely pre-
clude the development Of ability to think
fast and meet situations not covered
IN the managerial instructions. No set
of mere puppets pulled by string in
tho dugout could score the triumphs
which the Giants achieved in their great
fight for the flag Inst season in their
series with the Yankees and in the cur
rent contest for another pennant
The John McGrsw Method.
II Is interesting to dissect the Nc
C;raw method. He sends out battery
and tells them-"You watch me in tn
dugout. / will tell you what to throw
most OF the time. OF course I win not
signal you for every pitch, but in the
main / will direct your work. ! may
be wrong in my judgment on some OF
the batters. You may have the right
dope of some OF them-dope which will
not jiDe with what i send out to you.
But let me do the thinking. / will take
the responsibility. If / signal FOR fast
ball and you believe you ought 10 throw
slow curve pitch the fast ball. Fol-
low orders
To the ba tsman going out TO the plate
NcGraw saws: GO out 0there and use
YOUR head. but watch me In the drgout.
II you think you know what Is coming
and want to take a swing at the next
one and YOU get the syn to let 1t go by
do not hit at IT, J will take all the re
sponsbllity. Follow orders.
To the men in the field McGraw says
Watch the dugout Watch Hughey
Jennings for a relay of my Instructors
as 10 how you should throw out your
defense for certain batters and in certain
situations. Always without asking any
questions obey orders.
1t will be seen that practically every
move made by the Giants comes In re
Spouse 20 orders. McGraw Is in there
working harder than anybody on the
field. He is in there trying to out
guess the pitchers arrayed against his
club He knows a lot OF baseball and
he thinks his method gives him ball
players with old heads and young arms
and legs. But this method is by no
means infallible. Ii has tremendous adj
vantages and some drawbacks.
One Boss FOR Giants.
Tie greatest advantage OF the Nc
Grsw system lies in the fact taat there
r. only one manager OF the Giants. and
lis name is McGraw. There can be NJ
lodging orders There can be no
cluucs There Is a minimum Of in
subordination, lack of discipline, failure
10 obey rules. McGraw now and then
gets an exception to the rule, some
misbeha wing player who brings him "A
lot OF worry But thesS exceptions
never have their effect on the other
players
If a member OF the Giants Is inclined
10 dodge the training rules bit he
soon finds that he is being watched. His
Eoings and comings are reported. The
players finds that he cannot serve both
baseball and pleasure and usually he de-
cides in favor of baseball.
BE II at home or on the road every
Giant is expected TO be in bed by IL 80
r. NJ. This rule must be adhered to
strictly. If a player wants TO 20 to p
thnater and expects 10 be out beyond the
time limit he must go 20 McGraw for
granted. Sometimes, If the race Is verv
tight. X is refused. II a refusal is
ignored. which is ever so seldom. Me-
Graw knows about it. The player soon
knows about IL too
There liz mistaken notion that Nc
yGraw is vituperative in his dealings
with unruly players-wth men who DO
! mot obey orders or get a sufficient guam
fity OF pepper on the field. Last sea-
son. while the Giants were sinking lower
and lower In playing a lot OF bad ball
because they were not on their toes
McGraw never let out a peep.
Not until the eve OF the famous clean
sweep over the Pirates after n particu-
1arly lackadaisicsi exhibition against
4 the Cardinals did McGraw get going.
Z end then he was comparatively mild.
lie was serious. and the Giants perkod
up the next day.
IT man goes up with the bases full
and strikes out he is greeted with no
comment by McGraw. It's nil In the
game, and he knows that when he was
player he. too. famed with the bascs
loaded
NcCiraw's methods are not exactly
those OF Gleason and Robinson. The
leader of tho White Sox and the rotund
manager OF the Dodgers use methods
fairly similar. They rely a great deal
on their ability 10 sympathize with
player, TO josh him good naturally. TO
Kid him along"