The Washington times., 1922-05-14
FEW YEARLING
PITCHERS 4AVE
MADE MAJORS
Ruth Recalls Only Phillips and
Robertson as Having "Ar-
rived" This Season.
By BABE RUTH,

~ DHDC HNCl"t
King OF Home Run Hitters.
~ GOD young pitchers, by which
r which / mean juvenile hurl-
~ ers who are good enough to
step right out and Win regular
places for themselves on major
league clubs, are even scarcer
than usual this season. AS a
matter of fact / have seen only
two this spring, one being Tom
Phillips, of the Washington Sem
ators, and the other, "No-Hit
Charley" Robertson, Of the Chi
cago White Sox, and those I have
heard Of but haven't seen could
be counted on the fingers Of any
normal hand.
Manager Miller Huggins, OF the
Yankees, always has maintained that
1t is almost impossible for re-
cruit pitcher to make good his first
year out Of the minors. and I am
inclined to believe that he Is pretty
nearly right. They may look good
in the training camp, but when they
get into championship competition
their lack Of experience and their
consequent lack Of poise constitute
handicap which seldom Is over
come.
In this connection. consider the
case of young Robertson. Tech
nically speaking, he Is not a first
year man. This is his first year
with the Sox as a regular, but he
had at least one unsuccessful try
out with the Chicago club before
he caught on.
The first time he emerged from
the sticks he was too green to be
of any real service with the Sox.
and despite the fact that he showed
| lot OF natural talent was returned
to the bushes for further seasoning.
The experience he gained In the
American Association last season
was Just what he needed to give him
poise and presence on the hill.
When he came back this spring he
was ripe and ready for plucking
and in practically all of his games
to date has looked Like high-yrade
pitcher.
When his no-hit no-man-reached-
first game against the Tigers was
reported, was inclined to regard
it as one OF those things for which
luck and skill ana agility OF his
supporting cast were largely IL not
entirely responsible, Ut now that 1
have seen him work I've changed
my mind about that.
Pitching against the Yankees In
as tough a game as ever was wish
ed upon a youngster. Robertson not
only showed a lot of good stuff,
but a world of courage and a cool.
clear head. He was at his best
when danger threatened and pulled
- Iaa
diCament with all the easy assur-
ance of a seasoned veteran.
He uncorked puzZling curve
but his best ball seemed TO be a
fast one with a real hop on 1t,
which had the Yankees, who
usually murder speed. hitting under
the pellet all afternoon and raising
easy flies to the Sox infielders.
Phillips hasn't been as sensa-
tional a performer as Robertson.
but this may be because Of inferior
support His club, the Washing
| ton Senators, got away to bad
start and seems to have developed
the losing habits to a marked de-
gree. They recently suffered seven
consecutive defeats, and II looks as
though their failure to get under
way had impaired their morals to
no inconsiderable degree. Outside
of their pitching staff the Senator's
figure to be a good ball club, yet
they haven't been playing good ball
and show. no signs OF improving.
There may be other good young
| pitchers in addition to Robertson and
Phillips lying around but thus far
they either haven't come under my
observation or their chances to do
| . .At nf, INf1fl n
that II has been impossible to get
definite line on them. In tho lat
ter category belong Lefty O'Doul
and George Murray, Of the Yanks.
O'Doul and Murray are regarded
as two Of the very brightest pros
poets OF the season but with Hug
gins Five Star pitching staff work.
ing In regular order they are spend
ing all their time on the bench or
in the bull-pen awaiting the can
which has sounded only once thus
far this season.
Mays, Shawkey, Jones, Hoyt, and
Bush have been so effective, in the
main. that Huggins was forced to
change pitchers only three times In
the first twenty-five games, re-
markable record Of spring-tine pitch
ing efficiency but rather tough on
two such ambitious lads as Murray
and ODoul.
have been out Of the hospital for
several days, now, but have been
too, weak to do much work. Went
TO the track my first day out and
convinced myself that while II Is
possible to beat a race Il is ip,pos.
sible to beat the races. Now I am
ready to begin training again and
should be in pretty fair condition
to go after Ken Williams next Sat.
urday.
ICopyriEht 1922. by ChrIsty Walsh