The Washington times., 1936-07-27
BUCKY HARRIS DRILLS LEWIS ON BEST HITTING STYLE
kAdept
Pupil
By FRANK BUCK" O,NEML

ny MANN DUN " GNGAAA
CLEVELAND, July 27.-Buddy
Lewis is working with might and
main these days converting what
might be handicap into an aid
to compiling a lusty batting aver
age. Bucky Harris is giving the
Gastonia kid all the help his 20
years Of baseball experience makes
available, and the combination is
bearing fruit.
Now, let's get this straight right
away. Maybe Lewis won't make
that $50 notch. Maybe he will
have all he can do to get into the
800 class, but it is an everlasting
cinch that he is going to improve.
Lewis is known as pull hitter.
Batting left handed, he sends
most Of his hits into right field.
He did it the first time around"
and with the vital second trip
through the circuit accomplished,
the kid is still spraying the star
board patrols with his blows.
Naturally, the defensive shifts
when Lewis steps to the plate. The
right fielder crowds the foul line,
the center fielder moves over a
good 20 yards and the left fielder
steps into left-center field. A cor
responding move is made in the in
field. The second baseman plays
far to his own left, the shortStop
crowds second base.
oh r
is a slick bunter. The third base
man must remain close to third
and play in spot where he can
charge in to handle bunts. If the
third baSeman is tricked into
joining the drift to the right, he
is simply spotting Lewis hit, for
the kid can drop his shots on a
dime and give you 80 cents change.
Were Lewis to carry on in his
natural hitting style, he would be
batting uphill, because of the &C.
fenSive waneuvers against him.
However, versatility is one of his
greatest assets, and the youngster
is meeting the enemy tactics with
counter attack calculated to
null1ty their defense.
By shifting his feet after the
ball is pitched and retarding his
swing, Lewis is hitting to felt field,
and is getting remarkable power
in his blows. He cracked double
in Saturdays game, which went to
/ the fence. It is true that the wind
helped it a bit, but it is also true
that the ball was well plastered.
Lewis is adding another phase
Of hitting technique to his we'll
rounded repertoire. With the
shortstop pulled over close to
second base, Buddy is slapping
the ball into the dirt, shooting
it to the shortstop's right. BY
hitting the ball hard, it goes past
the pitcher and beyond the third
baseman's range. The shortstop
to field the ball must break to-
ward third base. Even if he stops
the ball, his momentum will add
a full step to the advantages of
the batSman.
Such a ball is certain base
hit. It was this style Of hitting
that made Cobb so feared dur
ing the Peach's halcyon days.
George Sisler, a natural pull hit
ter in his straight-away style, de-
veloped the art of slapping q ball
to the ShortStop's right. The
speed of these stars of yeSteryear
made these grounderS certain
base hits. Both SiSler and Cobb
were great hunters, which gave
them additional advantages.
Threat Develops
Because Of Lewis change in
hitting style, and his ability to
bunt, potent threat has devel-
oped in the Griff's batting order
that was utterly lacking during
the early weeks Of the season.
Ben Chapman and Lewis will be-
come known as this season devel.
ops and other years follow, as
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