New Britain herald., 1928-01-21
tBY BILLY EVANS,


 Does that nag like muddy track? That expression is often heard just before a running race. when a heavy rain storm coming out of a clear sky has rendered fast track very slow.
 Does the rain affect his control?
 One hears that remark time and again during the summer, when a light rain often sets in late in the game, but in the opinion of the umpire play is still possible.
 That wind plays havoc with tee shots is common talk in golf circles prior to a big match, when the ex- perts realize they must tee of against a heavy wind that often has a disastrou6 effect on the style of play of many Of the stars.
 Weather conditions often play . prominent part in the results of many of our leading sports events.
 No system that figures to pick the winners fails to take into considera- ton the possible effect Of the weather on the various contenders.
 A great many horses simply can- not do their best on slow track, while others revel in the heavy going Rain and wind conditions often play havoc with the control of big league pitcher. A majority of golfers prefer to have the wind at their backs rather than blowing directly into their faces.
 In the days when A great many major league pitchers featured the spitball. no wise manager ever started such pitcher in q game with . slight rain falling, while others often refused to call on g. spitball pitcher if rain even threat ened.
 It is obvious that a pitcher who depended on the moietening of a slight spot on the ball to produce a deceptive break. would be seriously handicapped in trying to pitch . ball soggy with rain It is a known fact, that 99 out of every HOO spit ball pitchers have been effective in rain. Since there are only a few moist ball pitchers still in the ma- jors, managers are no longer worrying much on that angle of strategy
 However. there are still many star pitchers in the majors who work their best under favorable con- ditions. That is true of most twirl- CTS who boast good change of pace. very necessary asset to modern hurlers.
 Tn this respect. I have in mind two mighty clever American league stars Ted Lyons and Ed Eommel Lyons. one of the smartest pitchers ! I have ever worked behind. car make the ball perform almost as ht ] wishes. He has two distinct style. of curve bali pitching. a change ol pace that offers much mystery and a good fast ball. when he wants tt mako use of 1t. Yet pitchers lik. Lyons and Rommel suffer consider ably from air resistance, Tn othe, words. pitching directly into stiff | wind takes something off their ball Very often with the wind at thei back the bali dips all the nor ! crazily.
 T don't believe ever saw pitcler more handicapped by ad verse weather conditions than E. l Rommel His best fooler is knTckle ball. or perhaps to be nor correct a finger nail ball. hay seen Romm 'strick delivery breal so sharply that his catcher wouldn' even get the ball into his glove. H would stop 1t with some part of hi body. bounce it off his chest pro tector.
 Let Rommel pitch d game wit inc wind at his back and he is prac tically unbeatable but if the wind blowing directly at him. the air re sistance removes much of the way and dip from his ball and he is no nea rIy so effective.
 Ground and weather condition play as important part in golf a in baseball. X crack golfer wh, hits long ball, but is inclined {, be cratic. is always handicapped h. narrow fairways.
 Some golfers In getting distance 1 hit a rather low ball and rely on th' roll If the turf is fast. all is well { Playing on a sandy rourse. vhicl i is usnallv slow. or a course soaked { by rain. such a player is at de cided disadvantage.