OCR Text |
Show . There have been few great ball) (teams that have lacked hlghclasa men at short and second. Pitching is conceded by most experts ex-perts to be 70 per cent of it team's strength. There is no denying the l great value of pitching Pitching, however, doesn t get very far without 8 good Inner defense, Such a defense Is Impossible without crack men at short und second. The Cubs, in the days of Frank Chance, had Tinker at short and Bvers at second That was some pair around the keystone sack. The Chicago Cubs was one of the greatest teams of all time. Take the Philadelphia Athletics when that team was at Its best. Jack Barry was doing the shortstopplng, Bddie Collins was at second -No tWO players over worked together better than Barry' and Collins. i Without a question shortstop Is tlM most difficult position on the ball field. A guod shortstop must not only have ability but brains as well. There was never a great shortstop who couldn't think. A majority of the plays on the infield in-field have the shortstop figuring In their execution Little things often lose ball games Muny a came Is lost because of the failure to properly execute exe-cute double plays. The double play feature is what makes the positions of shortstop and second base so important. Last summer sum-mer I saw a score of games lost because be-cause of the failure to cpmplete a double play that would have retired the side. All of which leads up to the reason why the Washington club should be u factor in the American league race this season. It is strong at short and second. |