The Omaha guide., 1947-12-27

Billy Southworth, one Of the great
est of all managers, has proved this
for years. So has Joe Mccarthy, an
other member Of the all-time greats.
Shotton proved this case beyond all
argument. The crowd comes out to
see a ball game - not to listen to
a dull and dumb debate between
some manager and some umpire.
A fighting manager is all right
but why fight with umpires? This
type of baseball belongs with the
Dodo and the Great AUX. Being a
pretty smart fellow, Durocher has
sensed the big change, l believe.
No one can question the fact that
Durocher isn't smart. He has fire
and color and a scrappy. hustling
ball club. He also has one or two
tough ball clubs to beat. including
the Braves and Cardinals. Also the
Giants, if Mel OFT can get any
pitching. The Giants have every
thing else.
The Cards, who made a brilliant
showing last year by forging into
second place after a dismal start,
again will be a threat. The pitch
ing staff will be the main worry,
coupled with the advanced age of
players.
Only a small improvement on the
part Of Braves and Cardinals can
make a big difference. especially il
the Dodger pitching staff doesn't
move up and locate, in a vague
way, the general direction of the
home plate.
Lack of Control
Along this line. we've just re-
ceived a letter from our all-time
favorite pitcher - Grover Cleve-
land (Old Pete) Alexander, who
isn't far from being the greatest all
around pitcher that ever threw a
ball. And this includes Cy Young,
Walter johnson and Christy Math-
ewson; also Carl Hubbell and Lefty
Grove.
Here is Aexander's letter:
Dear Grant, 1 just finished read
ing your article on what is wrong
with present day pitchers, and
thought l would drop a few lines.
No. l am not looking for anything.
l am just trying to figure why they
never have taken some old-timers
ON during spring training to work
with these young throwers, as you
aptly termed them. They teach hit.
ting and about everything else, but
not pitching.
when l first came to Philly. Pat
Moran was the coach, and about
the first thing he said to me was
this: Kid, you have a good arm,
but a heck Of a lot to learn He took
me in hand and he sure did teach
me. Pat was smart. OF course, Il
took work. Hard work.
Il never have been able to fine
out just what ! did that put me or
basebaI's blacklist. l tried severa,
times to get back, and even wrote
Mr.. Chandler for almost anything
to do. / had a nice letter from him
and then another one saying tina
there was no opening and they die
not expect any. l was just out.
"Pitching means control. BY con
troll 1 don't mean the plate =
mean one or two inches of the plate
A real pitcher ought to be able Il
get the ball one or two inches from
where he wants it = not one Of
two feet. But pitchers need instruc
ton. which few ever get. What goot
Is stuff, the greatest stuff eve
thrown, that can't cross the plate.
This means hard work hard worl
and instruction - learning how
maybe the hard way, which is gen
orally the only way.
G. @. Alexander. Wood River. Ill.
Old Pete says he doesn't need
job-but he could use me. And b,
happened to be so smart a pitcheI
that he made Johnny Evers ant
many others want to throw thei
bats away. "You knew when yol
faced Alex" Greasy Neale told m,
the other day, that you were goini
to get a ball you couldn't hit. H,
pitched 16 shutouts in Philly'i
handbook park in one year."
They won't think it over. Greasy
for two few Of them ever think
about anything. They just throw.
And what do most of the owner