The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-11
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IH1.-The old grind is on again
The things that were funny
IN few weeks ago are serious
now. The strikeouts and the
base hits that the boys were
laughing off down South are
going down into the books.
The pennant race is on.
Most ball players I think are
happy to see the season open. The
training trip is q tiresome affair.
IL know most people don't believe
that. They think we have great
time during those five or six weeks,
IRnd we do have a lot of laughs.
But it's all hard work and most Of
als are glad it's over and through
with.
An actor friend Of mine once wise
kraclIed to the effect that q week
lDe rehearsal was worse than six
Ilnonths of actual shows. That's
true about baseball, too. Fellows
Eget impatient and peevish and sour
before the training trip ends.
They're like fighters who train
down to fighting trim two days be-
liant live with 'em.
But it's all forgotten once the
gong rings. Most experienced vet
leran players look 20 per cent better
latter the season actually strts.
Last year there were almost
. dozen new managers making
their debut. This year there are
only four. Three Of them I'm
the National League and one In
Che American
And Of the four, there are only
Ithree who are really new. Bill Nc
EKechnie, OF the Cardinals, has had
previous experience and his playing
Istyle H. pretty. well known, The
boys who really are new to the
league are Bert Shott0n, the new
manager of the PhiIs; Jack Slattery,
,of the Boston Braves, and Roger
'Peclinpaugh, who viii have charge
of the Cleveland Indians.
Bert Shotton at least win be mn
against 1t. Taking charge of the
Phils and trying to bring them up
in pennant race is a tough job.
HE simply hasn't anything to work
kwith--and II he manages to escape
The cellar he'll be a miracle man.
The fellow I'm most interested in
% old Peck.
I've said q good many times
that Roger PecIkinpaugh was
the best shOrtstOp ever saw.
He's smart, crafty and wise.
He's been around . long time
and he knows big league base.
ball from top to bottom. He
ought TO make q whale Of .
manager, and I'd like to see him
como through big.
I've got . bunch, that, given any
gOrb4 OF q club, he'll do it too.
through on paper 1t doesn't look to
Ime as though Cleveland had any
thing to write home about.
Speaking Of manager, do you no
,4iee how playing managers have
gone out OF style. A few years ago
I'VE had, Collins, Hornsby, Bancroft,
lGfaler.. Harris, Speaker and Cobb
all playing and managing. Today's
there's only one play.nnanager
peft. That's Bucky Harris. All the
Others have gone back to bench
kuaanagers4 It's a good thing. Man.
laying O. bah club is a man-sized
bob. It takes all q fellows energy
There liz any PLAYED manager in the
world who would not be a better
man IL he stopped either one or the
other of the jobs.
Bob .O'Farrell, you remember,
tried fl last year and quit.
A lot OF people figure that man.
hging ball club Is q breeze and
that its q bad club they can't win,
lad II its q good club they'll win
Hkspite q. manager used. to think
Hhat way myself. But it's bunk.
Eellows ike Miller HugginS ana
John McGraws for instance, deserve
Eaalot OF credit OF course, a man.
lager can't go out there and hit and
lHield for his men. But given fellows
who can do that, he can win a lot
OF ball games by his directing.
The poro ball club, perhaps, has
aess need for a manager than the
kotheH. But on a club of real ball
kplayers, the manager means the
difference between 80 games won
and lost during the season.
copyright, 1923, by the Christy
Walsh Syndicate)