The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-12

Johnny Couch were the only real
Francisco payroll. Between them
the number that the Seals won alt
or the two o'Doul had the better
record. Each turned in twenty-five
victories, but Couch took fifteen
beatings, six more than o'Doul.
The right-hander's earned run aver
age was considerably higher, too,
3.Os per game. Yet he went to the
Cincinnati Reds and enjoyed great
first season.
oDoul in the meantime wore the
seat of his uniform thin sliding up
and down the bench in the Yanks'
dugout. His same does not appear
In the American League pitching
records for 1922-in other words he
did not pitch long enough to be
credited with q single victory or
charged with single. defeat.
Huggins' strange treatment Of
the former Seal is attributed to .
trivial incident that should have
been forgotten overnight. In the
meantime stars like Ruth, Meusel
and Mays were continually break
ing training rules and refusing
to follow Higgins instructions.
They were suspended for q few
days and then restored to good
standing without prejudice.
O'Doul didn't say all this-in fact
he didn't want to say anything
about his relations with Higgins.
He prefers to forget the 1922 season
and call it blank, but he knows
down in his heart that he never
had a chance to show his wares.
I'll certainly be glad to take an
occasional turn in the box said
O'Doul yesterday.
I'm not sure tnat I can win Cor
the Red Sox, but all l ask is an
opportunity to prove to myself that
! am not good enough for the big
show
.sUnder q man like Chance with
Jimmy Archer to coach US / believe
the Red Sox pitchers win have
something on all the others.
II would rather pitch in turn for
a bush league club than warm the
bench for any man, and it goes
without saying that my transfer to
Boston was a most welcome change.
Boston is a good baseball town and |
IL Mr.. Frazee gives Chance full rein |
/ wouldn't be surprised to see the |
Sox in the pennaht chase within a !
year or two. !
Anyway, I know Of one young
fellow who is ready to do his level
best to help put them there.
According to O'DOuI, Babe Ruth
Is quite liable to be as big SEN
satf0n in 1928 Is he was I'm 1921,
- &uam4um1ua@w
rules strictly and cuts out the
Ruth IL capable Of q comeback |
only when te fOrgets his racing |
car, his imaginary wrongs and
concentrates on baseball.
Never since I have known Ruth |
has he taken proper care of him. |
self. It is a well-known fact that |
he eats what he pleases, as much !
as he pleases and keeps irregular
hours.
"I wouldn't call him dissipated
by any means, but il he really
wants to get back on the pinnacle
Of baseball fame there are a lot
Of things that he can do or cease
doing off the field that will help
him" said O'Dou1
There is little question that the
Bam' is the greatest long hitter
that ever lived" he continued.
Maybe that's a little too broad. |
I've never seen the old-timers, but
in modern ball there is ne man to |
my knowledge that gets the power |
into his swing that Ruth does. 1t |
he is serious about cutting out the |
horse-play' he'll give them a merry
run for their money"
O'DOul is strong for Jimmy
O'COnnell and Willie Kamm, but |
he thinks that Jack Bentley e
an Over-rated baIIpIayer. John |
McCraw recently paid Jack Dunn,
Baltimore owner and manager, a |
cool $4,000 for Bentley.
"I worked against Bentley in an
exhibition game last year and we |
hammered him all over the lot"
said O'Doul.
"Of course, he is a good sticker
and ought to be q valuable man as
pinch-hitter, but I'll really be
surprised IL he makes the grade on
the mound.
He played first for the Orioles,
and you know how much chance he
has of taking George Kelly's lob
away from him. The Giants have
plenty of outfield talent, and I
doubt il he will get a chance to
compete with the other fly-chasers.
II looks to me as if McGraw in
tended to use him as a pitcher.
Unless he has a lot more than
ne showed when I saw him he will
90 nothing but pinch.hit for the
champions, once McGraw has had q