The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-26

What Causes Hitting Depression Not The New Basebal
By CLAIRE BURKY NEA Service Sports Writer

Chicago Has the new ma1of league baseball come up to expec-l tations? Are members of the pitch | ing fraternity getting the "breaks" they were promised by advocates of the new sphere?
 These questions draw a variety of answers from baseball players and officials. Some declare that a change has come. Others are equally insistent that conditions re- main as they were during the free swinging era of the last decade. Apparently, 1t is a matter of con- lecture. Even official figure com piled at the close of the two pen- nant races may not settle it de- finitely either way.
 Late releases of major league averages do indicate change, how ever. This change seems to favor the pitcher by a count Of fve to one.
 On the Skids.
 Fifty-five National league players u year ago were maintaining batting averages of 300 or better after three weeks of play. Figures for the corresponding period this sea son show that only about 38 men are duplicating that average. The an- swer is a decrease of approximately 31 per cent in 300 hitters.
 Again, the National league ex- ploded a total of no home runs in the first three weeks of the 1930 campaign. Thus far in the current season there were but "A, shrink age of 29 per cent.
 And third. National league teams scored a total of 8s1 runs in three weeks of play last season. They have made but 654 in the same time this year. Run production has been curtoled about one-fourth.
 Those are findings in the senior circuit where the baseball sub- mitted to changes in stitching and thickness of cover. It is different In the American league. for the cover remains the same though a heavier thread was substituted in the stitch ing, However, both leagues are without the sacrifice fly rule of previous seasons.
 Home Run Drought.
 Going back to 1880 again we find that ITS runs and 77 home runs were made in the first three weeks of the American league sea- son. Included among the 1900 hit ters were 36 players.
 Figures for the same period this year reveal total of TIA runs and 66 rome runs. The difference in runs scored is negligible, but home run production seems to have de- creased about IA per cent since the birth of the new ball.
 The one boomerang to American league pitchers is the increase cf 300 hitters. There are 46 of them this year, an increase of about 2S per cent over a year ago. This may mean that junior league batters are shortening their swings to get singles, rather than digging in for a toehold and swinging for distance.
 The changes mentioned can be blamed on a number of conditions, but first in consideration must be the new ball. The rule abolishing the sacrifice fly enters into 1t. as do the physical conditions of the various players. Even weather con- ditions and league schedules may have affected the change. Star Stickcrs Weak. The individual cases offer room for much speculation. A dozen or more players are far below their usual spring-time batting form. Lefty O'Doups case perhaps Is out standing, but others approach his.
 O'Doul recently was beeched by Uncle Robbie because he couldn't provide even 200 batting average. A year ago he was bowling along at .500 clip.
 Al Lopez and Johnny Frederick. teammates of O'Doul, are barely above the 200 mark. Both had .4oo averages year ago.
 Big Bill Terry, champion of Ma t.onal league swatsmen in 1880, seems to be having his difficulties maintaining a .270 pace at present His average for the corresponding period last year was .4O3.
 Chuck Klein, Hack Wilson and Frank Frisch are encountering ob- stacles on the road to fat aver age, too, although they are nearer 1880 form than O'Doul, Frederick or Terry.
 Some of the boys in the American league have fiopped this year. Jim- my Foxx and Marty McManus have made the most sickening thuds, but they are closely pressed by Bing 1, Miller. Lou Gehrig, Sam Rice, Bill Cissell and Heinie Manush. If Miller and Foxx continue pumping the ball at .167 clip ns at present, the Mackian forces will not have an enjoyable time keep ing at the top of the American league. Foxx hit .375 a year ago and Miller was close to 300. Mc- Manus is approximately 150 points below his 1880 pace, which isn't helping the Tigers any. And Cissell has practically dropped out of sight.