The Washington times., 1936-03-09

COumduu VI LILO 1uIcuSAN0 VI IL
These strategy drills bear the
same relation to actual play that
shadow boxing does to a fight.
You can't get many folks to stand
around and watch, but they carry
values. The outfielders will be
called upon to charge ground balls
and throw to a mark. The In
fielders will take their emergency
stations, letting throws go through
to the plate, or cutting them OIL
on order.
Cecil Travis will act as key man
in the Washington defensive.
When balls are hit to left field,
left center, center or right center
Travis will rush to a designated
sector in the outfield to take the
returns Of Jess Hill, Jake Powell
and Carl Reynolds or Dee Miles.
On balls hit to dead right, Myer
will range into the grass and take
the throw and make the relays.
Throws Must Check Runners
Travis and Myer, upon taking
the throws will whirl and throw
to the bases, appraising the Situa-
ton with all possible speed and
making the strategic play. The
fundamental involved Is to pre-
vent all possible advances. II a
play is possible at third, the ball
will be thrown to Lewis. II a run
ner canot be checked there, the
throw will be to second base, with
constant vigil kept on the plate.
Bolton, Starr and Holbrook
will work and call for the ball
on certain plays, or shout orders
as necessary.
When runners cannot be
stopped at the plate, the catcher
will direct the ball to be thrown
to Kuhel at first base to trap
runners whose enthusiasm Is
greater than their discretion.
Time will be given to breaking
up double steals. In this some
what involved man maneuver
that calls for nice timing, the
ball may be thrown to pitcher or
third baseman after feint at
throwing to second base.
Fast Throwing Beat Yanks
If the ball is thrown to the
pitcher and the man on third
holds his bag, the pitcher will
whirl quickly and throw to sec
ond. II this man on third can
be trapped, he will be run down
if possible. On certain varieties
of the play, the catcher will
throw direct to the bag, but
either Myer or Travis will rush
into the infield. cut off the play
and return it to the plate. The
Athletics Of the days of Baker,
Barry, McInnis and Collins used
this method with great success.
The Giants virtually beat the
Yankees in 1922 with a cutoff
system that had the ball returned
to Dave Bancroft who stood on
the infield grass at shortStop, took
the ball and threw back to Kelly.
In one game the Giants cut down
Wallie Schang, Wallie Pipp, Aaron
Ward and one or two others. This
play broke up Yankee rallies at
vital times.
In the days when the Chicago
White Sox were really playing the
game, with Joe Jackson and
Happy FelSch in left and center re-
spectively, they were the dread OF
all rival clubs. weaver or RiS-
berg, two great throwers took the
outfield returns and made the re-
lays,
Time q Vital Factor
Harris is starting his school OF
tactics early in order to set his de-
fenSe early. With Travis at a new
station and Buddy Lewis q prom
ising, but untried player at third,
time is a vital factor with Harris.
After a rest Of q day. Henry
Coppola reports that his right
arm has responded to the mira
red lamp treatment administered
by Mike Martin. Coppola will at
tempt to throw q few fast balls at
this mornings practice. Martin
has outlined a warming up pro-
gram that calls for some running
to loosen up all Of Coppola's mus
cles, then a long period Of light
throwing, winding up with some
hard, fast ball pitching. After the
test Coppola will go back to the
mira red lamp and q massage.