Evening star., 1925-08-16

Often club will develop a stronger
fighting spirit under such conditions
| haven't the record book before me,
but l think 1t will show that at least
half of the pennants were won by
teams that had to wind up with long
road trips. Whether the Giants or
the Pirates win, the schedule should
not be offered as an alibi. Good cham
pionship teams can win anywhere
Now that the Eastern clubs are at
home for a spell the race will settle
down, but in month we will be right
back in the West again. The last trip
was somewhat of a disappointment for
New York, but 1t was not marked with
brilliance on the part of any one club
Pittsburgh protited more by the bad
playing of the Giants and the Robins
rather than by any wonderful showing
on their own part.
They were knocked off at the start
by the supposedly weaker clubs. while
we were later beaten by the Cardinals
and the Reds. None of the leaders
won big majority of its games.
Has Bouquet for Hornsby.
In st. Louis, by the way, / was
struck with the intense interest shown
by Rogers Hornsby and his faith in
the Cardinals. He is leading the club
with good judgment and he also is
D1NhAii6 l4ldl 5uOSIIlGIL Win MS own
money. He started out to buy up
enough stock to become a part owner
and / am told that he now has ac-
Quired all the stock held by Branch
hickey, whom he succeeded. A man
VINO Will go into things with that sort
>of spirit and faith is bound to be a
success in the long run. Hornsby also
is doing some real constructive work
with the Cardinals. The gate receipts
are increasing right along
The Cincinnati club also is building
into strong machine. The work of
the pitching staff has been wonderful. ,
Right now the Reds have about thed
best pitching staff, taken as a whole.
in the country. Luque. Donohue and
RiXey are a great trio and with the
aid of Rube Benton and Jakey MAY
1t makes powerful pitching combina-
ton.
The American race seems to have
settled definitely into a fight between
the Senators and Athletics. It is in
teresting TO see the effect of Wash
ington's steadiness on one side and
the good pitching developed by the
Athletics on the other.
AS to the Pitching Rules.
Frequently of late have been asked
for my views on a change in the pitch
ing rules, the usual question being:
DO you think the rigid rules should
be modified so as TO give the pitchers
a better chance?'
Fans and some base ball people
seem to think that a few concessions
TO the pitchers would stop many of
the home runs.
AS a matter of fact I don't know of
any rules that could improve bad
pitching. The trouble is in the quail
ity Of the pitching more than the iini-
tations on them. The heavy hitting,
in my opinion, is due to bad pitching
and the lively ball.
And speaking of the lively ball, if
any one has any doubts as to its
liveliness. just watch a game some
day when some club draws in the in
field to make play at the plate. Any
thing like sharp hit ball will shoot
through every time. Only in des-
perate cases can a manager take
chances on drawing the infield in.
Using the Sacrifice Play.
l have been asked for my opinion on
the advisability of using the sacrifice
play when there is a runner on sec
ond base and none out. The play is not
used as often as it was formerly, due
largely to the greater chances of get
ting a single
The use of the sacrifice play is en-
tirely dependent upon the stage of the
game. If a club is working behind
good pitching, the play often is ad-
visable. A one-run lead is sufficient
for pitching like that, and in that case
the sacrifice can be used. 1t also de
pends upon whether it is in the first
or latter part of the game.
The manager on the field alone can
determine the proper time to play for
one run.
Copyright. 1925.)