The Washington times., 1937-11-05
Catcher-COdch Would Aid
Rookie HurLerS of Griffs
Chase Need
Handling
FAULTS PLENTY
BY FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL

ny HNkAGNA DOOAA " @NAAAA
One of the needs of the Wash
ington Baseball Club for the sea-
son of 1888 is the wisdom of age
to guide the arms Of youth. The
Griff rockies Jared well last year,
as shown by the statistical charts
Of the Americaa League. They
wuE IL games and lost 5, and
that is pennantwlnning ball. But
few will contend that the young.
Sters as they are could bring a
pennant to this city.
Somewhere among the for
gotten men of baseball Is an old
catcher, a major Lacquer, who can
work with Joe KrakauskaS, Ken
Chase, Joe Kohlman and the
other Washington recruits. cor
recting their faults, adding polish
to their styles. Style is important
in baseball. Go right down the
line with the winning pitchers
and you'll find that the real great
ones were artists in deception and
delivery.
NO NEED, is ARGUMENT
Rebuttal may spring to every lip
that the Griffs do not require such
a man. There is Clark Griffith,
one of the ranking pitchers of
baseball, as owner Of the club.
There is Nick Altrock, a fine
pitcher in his own right before he
turned funny man.
President Griffith, however, can
not be expected to devote his time
to coaching young pitchers. He
gives counsel to the youths each
spring in training camp, but his
time is pretty well filled with his
duties as executive. Nor can
Nick Altrock, whose duties are
many, be expected to give con-
slant attention to the young chaps.
But an old catcher, a man
Of the Muddy Ruel type, a chap
like John Schultz Of the Yankees,
could do a lot with boys like
Krakauskas and Chase. It stands
to reason that neither Of these
rockies is at his peak. Both are
just out Of the minor leagues,
KrakauSkaS having graduated
from Trenton.
Krakauskas is in dire need of
proper handling by a catcher. He
pitches with an elbow snap, and
the amazing thing is that his
fast ball is "alive." If he can be
taught to pivot and pitch out
of his hip pocket" he will in
crease his effectiveness by so per
cent. Also, he will add years to
his major league career.
Chase has more style than Kra-
kauSkas, but he is just beginning
acquire some Of the true arts Of
major league hurting.
It would be rigid economy for
the Washington club to assign
first class catcher to the job
Of developing these youngsters. It
would be economy to send the
young squad to Orlando three
weeks in advance Of the regulars,
not with the idea Of getting the
kids into condition, but with an
idea Of really teaching them how
to pitch.
Let the catchers stop the young
pitchers every time they make a
false move. Emphasize style and
ease Of delivery with every pitch.
That may call for certain ex-
penditureS, but they will pay rich
dividends.
MORAN BIG AID
Pat Moran, an old catcher made
that Cub pitching staff in the days
Of Evers and Tinker and Chance.
He would sit in the bull pen watch |
ing the pitchers. F2 could detect |
signs of weakening in the staff |
men even before Johnny King
could. Moran went to Philadel- |
phia as manager Of the National |
League club and won the pennant |
there. He repeated ct Cincinnati. |
Wilbert Robinson won the PEN
narts for Brooklyn by developing |
young pitchers. He won for the |
Giants when serving as John ].
McGraw's lieutenant.
There's talent in those Wash |
ington youngsters, but the only |
way it will be developed is by using |
an experienced catcher whose skill |
and judgment can be turned to |
account.