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Show BECOMES STAR BY CHANGING STYLE Chlcugo, Aug 23. Changing hia system of pitching has suddenly made Jimmy Lavendor of the Chicago Cub baseball teab a wonderful twirler. It hnppened so abruptly that the follow-era follow-era of tho Wost Side club wore taken by surprise. Up to tho time Lavender Laven-der made the switch in his style of flinging fans did not think Manager Chance had picked up a find in him But they do now, and becauso of the work of the sturdy twirler in his last few games they contend ho 1b the best on tho Cub sta.ff Lavender has not adopted a new curve nor a new delivery but he has decided that control is the secret of a twirler's success. Heretofore wlld-ncctJ wlld-ncctJ was his defect, and on all the occasions he was taken out of the box or hammered for run3 It was due to a streak of erratic pitching. It was not becauso he was naturally wild, but owing to his Idea that It was good policy to keep the first two balls away from the plate. Herein was bis mistake, and It was a great ono, as ho always had himself him-self In the hole Instead of the batter, bat-ter, and consequently when he did get the ball over the batsmen pounded pound-ed the sphere to their hearts' delight. de-light. Cub players continued to adviso Lavender that he waB making a bla; mistake In koeping tho flr3t two balls wide of tho plate. Ho had done It In tho International league with success and therefore entertained the Idea he would meet with the samo luck In major league company. lie continued to twirl the samo way when ho was sent to tho hill by Chance, and ho encountered much difficulty In getting get-ting started. He finally came to realize re-alize that a switch in his Bystom might have some beneficial effect. Ho tried It and It made him one of tho leading twlrlers In the leaguo. Lavender first tried his change against tho Pittsburg team, and held Fred Clarke'B crew lo a single hit. This decisive victory filled him with confidence aud he came right back three days later and shut out tho Pirates Pi-rates In a twelve-inning contest. He declares now that It is without a doubt the best Bystom, as it does not require pitching as man yballs. Hia plan now is to get the ball over tho plate and force tho hatter to hit or have a strike called on him. Lavender Laven-der has sufficient speed and break to his spltball to prevent the batters from switching on him and land the first ball for a safe hit. |