The Washington times., 1929-07-29
AM AIDS
HITTING
MARK
By Bob Thayer

Outfielder Sam West, one
Of baseball's blue ribbon fly
chasers, is out to conquer his
batting weakness against
southpaw pitchers. And, ac-
cording to the Texas Cowboy,
he will turn this trick in short
order
Sans inability to connect with
porfside slants has crippled the
Washington clubs punch consid-
erably this year. Despite this fact
his sensational work afield has
atoned for his lack of wallop and
he has remained active.
watching Vests batting stance
closely. Manager Walter Johnson
recently suggested switch in his
form. Acting on this suggestion
Sam Immediately effected the
change.
As result he now takes much
healthier cut and does not pull
away from the plate against side
winders as was formerly the case,
Rather he plants himself in the
batter's box and not only leans into
the ball but carries more power
behind his sock.
Gratified. by this Improvement.
Manager, johnson has decided to
keep Sam active against fork
handlers hereafter rather than sub
stitute pinch batsman when an
opposing left.hander is sent into
the box.
The speedboy's radical Inn.
prOvement was never more
conspicuous than yesterday.
When MiIburn ShOffner,
rookie sOuthpaw, relieved Wes
FerreII early In the game he
gave the majority Of Griffmen
plenty to worry about. Not 50
with West.
Texas Sam took two batting
turns against the un-orthodox
artist and made good with single
or double, both of them sure things.
And, it might be added, both
safeties were timely, the latter re-
.sulting in run.
Should West succeed in regain
ing his batting eye-yes he has one
his club will be represented by
one of the games outstanding out
fielders.
Cleveland scribes maintain that
the fleet Southern Association pro-
duct is the nearest approach to
iris Speaker In years while others
go so far as the claim that Sam, at
the present time, could out-step the
Gray Eagle at his best.
In any event he has shown enough
to convince Manager Walter john
son that he may make a go OF It
against the left-handers. And forti-
fled with this assurance, Walter is
prepared to give him every chance
to come through.
1--WE got a lot OF confidence in
SAM" he explained after yesterdays $.
game" and / honestly believe that
he's picking ZIP with the bat.
THAT new stance seems to have
helped him a lot and once he starts
hitting consistently therell be few
to equal him. Many a younsster
has benefited by slight change In
his hitting form and there's no rea-
son why West cant follow suit.
''It isn't always the greatest
hitters who can tip off fellow
hatsman when he's i'm a slump"
Walter added. Frequently
guy outside the racket can get
player back in stride when he's
Off-Color with the fail.
"I've noticed certain things about
Sans hitting form and / believe
that his present stance will straight
en- him out. At least I'm willing to
gamble with him In order to find
out"
The cowboy himself is openly
optimistic regarding his ability to
crack the left-handers.
II can hit those bozos," he de-
clared yesterday, "and I'm getting
all set to prove it. Maybe the left
handlers have made me look had
this year hut they're going to have
job on their hands il they expect
to keep 1t up!
II got off stride with the bat
early in the year and I've never
gone good since! But now that
I've got the chance to deliver,
watch me. There's still over two
months to go and | usually finish
/, strong OF the pitching
they send against me.
"It took only six weeks for me to
finish over 800 last season after 7
had started out In slump. And
I'm Just as strong now as was
them"
80 that's the dope on one of the
American Leagues greatest out
ftssders. And in conclusion this
writer would like to add-MORE
POWER TO HIM
AGED TR0ITERS