The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-09-12

whether they are Rhodes
scholars or products of the slums
they know instinctively what to do
in any situation. And like the rest
OF them, Cronin gives all credit for
his success In plotting the Wash
ington Senators toward the Amer
lean league pennant to the homely
doctrine OF common sen
He never has read n book OF
psychology but his theories work.
He doesn't know why and doesn't
care, His lob was to take bunch
of ball players, most of them more
temperamental than prima donnas,
and mold them into q winning team
lie has done just that.
They Play With Joe.
The Nationals, one and all, think
he's swell. They actually have
tossed their individual ambitions
into the background and think OF
nothing but the team. That sounds
like hooey, but It's true.
Early In the season much was
said and written about internal
wrangllngs In the ranks of the
Mats. There was talk that the older
players wouldn't knuck!e down un-
der the kid manager. There actual
ly was some satisfaction.
And In his own way, Cronin
smoothed II out. He showed the
men that he didn't care n tinker's
dam what they thought of him or
his Job. All he asked was that
they do their shares.
Keeps the Common Touch.
He dispelled early In the season
the ill-gotten notion that he had
gone high hat over his new honors,
He used the same berth on Pull
mans that he did last year. No
drawing rooms for him. nor special
taxis from the station to tho hotel.
And finally the athletes came to
respect him and to work for him.
They became infeeted--and who
could help it?--by his amateur
spirit. They started giving every
boil the old college try. They be-
came q winning club.
Joe himself puts everything he
has into every game. He can't help
II. He's that sort. Baseball Is
moro than his profession. It's his
life. He talks nothing else and Is
Interested In nothing else.
Knows Whnt to DO.
RE has baseball brains. He
doesn't have 10 sit down and think
what TO do. He just does it-and
It's usually right.
Many veterans baseball observers
have found fault with Cronln's
habit of yanklng pitchers for al
most no apparent reason after they
have hurled perfect ball for SIX
or seven innings. lie has heard
mary n boo from the fans for It.
Why docs he do It? Well, Joe
says he just feels that tho man In
tho box Is weakening. He has stud
led him all through the game. He
has studied the kind of hits the
opposition has been getting. He
well ho just knows.
Bat most OF the credit for the
success of his lunches, Cronin gives
TO Jack Russell who has taken
Fred Marberry's place as the Mats
acN relief pitcher. Without players,
joe freely admits, oil the leader
ship, inspiration and baseball
brains In the world won't make O
winning team.
The players, veterans and rockies
are fighting for the pennant. Tho
old ones. the ones whom you'd
expect to BIO cynical about the
whole business, act like college
soIhomores.
tG Veterans Volunteers.
General Al Crowder, who Is on
his way TO winning % or more
gur,es this year, has several times
volunteered TO work when 1t WASH
his turn.
Regulars such as Schultz. Goslin
and Manush, outstanding sluggers,
haven't batted on cyelash when,
upon occasion, they have been re-
moved for n rookie pinch hitter on
one OF Cronln's lunches.
II ever there were II IDLE for
dear old Rutgers" spirit In pros
fesslonal baseball Cronin has 1t
on the Washington club
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