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Show 4 1 SPRING TRAINING GOSSIP 1 BY 1UM.Y EVANS The recruit pitchers are now getting get-ting the once over In the major league camp3. Since pitching is conceded to be the best asset of a winning ball club, twirling recruits are greatly in the majority. Tho pitching staffs of the major league teams now working out In tho south vary from 12 to 20 men. Since a major league staff Is composed com-posed of four or five pitchers known as regulars or first string men nnd about the same number of second stringers, a lot of athletes are going tu be disappointed. m A majority of tho pitching recruits are six-footers Some arc taller by several Inches, while others fall Just shy of the six-foot mark. The undersized pitcher Is very much in the minority among the recruits. All of which mslkes it seem that most major league leaders h&vu a decided preference for the big fellows when It comes to pitching. Conditions as they exist In the pitching pitch-ing line brings up the question whether wheth-er or not the big husky fellow Isn't ,a better proposition as a major league 'heaver than tho little fellow. It la a rarity to see a youngster on the lines of Dick Kerr of the Chicago i White Sox among the spring recruits ; Which also reminds us that Dick had la tough time getting a chance to show his real ability. Ho had to threaten to cjult tho game unless sold to a major league club before getting a trial. ' It has always seemed to me that the Ideal type of pitcher was one who 1 measured anywhere from five feet nine Inches tu six feet. Such pitchers pitch-ers usually have a physique that can i stand t he wear and tear, yet aro not so nngalnlv that their fielding suffers. When a fellow measures six feet ( six inches, or better. It Is some dls-I dls-I for him td xtnop over and handle la bunt. If major league clubs know a pitcher is weak on bunts he gets his fill of 'em. 9mm j The fielding end of the game Is where the very tall twlrlers usually' , suffer. However, managers are pe-1 jouliar on this feature. 1 know ono I leader who six years ajo wouldn't have a pitcher who measured oer six feet. Now most of his pitchers ar that mark or better. |