The Washington times., 1937-03-15

Would Follow
Ty Cobb
Style
By FRANK BUCK" ONEML


Joe Kuhel stepped back in the
batters' box and slapped ball be-
tween third base and short stop
for clean base hit.
It was one of those hoppers that
defied the reach of the third base
man: Slithered away from the
shortstop, and rolled so lazily that
the left fielder had to burn the
grass to reach it.
Fast, venturesome running by
Kuhel, had circumstances de-
manded, might easily have made
the blow good for two-bagger.
I'D like to get about 20 Of
them during the season." said
Kuhel.
"Why don't you try for them?"
came the question from a couple
of regulars who grouped behind
the batting cage, Drawing the
hazards Of foul tips and wild
pitches.
81 don't seem to be able to
place the ball there" was the
frank response of Kuhel, who
this year will hit third, as in
previous years. "SOme times
against some kinds Of pitching I
get the ball into left filed. But
I'm not regular enough to jus
tify trying for those hits"
1t was suggested to Kuhel that
he might, by patient practice, per-
feet the art of hitting through the
left side of infields after the man.
ner Of TyruS Raymond Cobb, the
old Georgia Peach.
Fixed Hitting Habits
Such development, of course,
would call for change in batting
style, and Kuhel has been in the
big league long enough to set him
self firmly and fix his hitting
habits.
Kuhel came in the majors in
the current era of "cow tail'' hits,
ters, the boys who take the bat
down at the handle and swing
for the fences. He is a long hit
ter, and a dangerous hitter.
What effect a change in style.
and a search for a greater bat
OkA16 utC4 okC "NuA0 4AoNO ARS4S
him, can only be conjectured.
Cobb was like only unto him.
self-sui generis they call 1t in
the upper reaches Of literature.
He stood at the plate with his
left hand up from the handle
and his right hand near the bat.
If he wanted to pull the ball he
dropped his left hand and cut
into the plate. If he wanted to
hit to left, he slid his right hand
up to meet the left and punched
the ball through the infield.
Watched Cobb Often
You can see how this works out
by just taking broom handle
and trying it. There is no guess
work about it, for, man and boy,
your correspondent has watched
Cobb slap hits into left field full
many a time.
These facts were presented to
Kuhel, who listened attentively,
and upon a subsequent turn at
bat, he Socked a line drive into
left field with far greater power
than his first effort had carried
'I'm not so sure that could
master that knack," Kuhel said
after he came back to join the
group Of boys who were await
ing their turn. ''It would call for
q complete change in timing,
grip and perhaps stance. But
there certainly can be no argu-
r%AAvNk n~nsONCk $hA foot that If
gets you base hits.
II made certain changes in
my stance anC style of swing
last year and brought myself
back into the 300 hitterS. 1t is
entirely possible that just = lit
tie more change and I'd get a
little higher. Well let well
enough alone for the time be-
ing"
There are a lot Of disappointed
minor league managers around
town these days. Well, two Of
them, anyhow, Jack Ogden, Of the
Baltimore Orioles, wants to take
Jimmy WaSdell on option. So does
Rabbit Maranville, but Clark Grif-
fifth is fixed in his determination
to send the young pepper pot to
Chattanooga for a year Of season
ing. WaSdell is only 20 years Of
age.
Lanahan Flashes
The first six innings Skirmish
of the season confirms, in part,
the judgments passed upon Dick
Lanahan, the local kid who is on
his way in the big league. Dick
pitched splendid ball against a
team captained by Shanty Hogan.
He had a lot Of zip on the ball,
and was always ready and able to
blast the ball through where in
other years he has not been able
to get the leather over the plate.
Lack of control rather than lack
of stuff hampered Lanahan in
previous years.
It might be well to reserve
Judgment on Johnny Salveson,
the big right handler who failed to
show very much in his first trial.
Salveson got the ball over the
plate, and the Hogans hit it with
enthusiasm, for distance and for
runs. Just the same. Salveson
moved like a pitcher, and he VIII
be moving more like pitcher IN
subsequent trials. just bear with
| him q fau mora WnHkS =.