Clipping:The strategy of change pitchers
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| Date | Saturday, January 4, 1873 |
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| Text | Of this “change pitcher” business we have a few words to say in reference to the mistaken idea of it entertained by some club managers and captains of nines:--In the first place a “change” pitcher should be one as different in his style of delivery to the regular pitcher as circumstances will admit of. Having two swift pitchers of similar style of delivery and of tactics in a nine weakens the effect aimed at. A “change” pitcher is requisite not merely to supply the place of the regular pitcher in case of the latter's inability to play from sickness or injury, but the second player is needed to be sent in to pitch either when the “regular” man is being easily “punished” or has been what the cricketers call “collared,” in his delivery; or when it is known that the nine opponents in the match of the day know how to hit the regular pitcher easily and with effect. Then, too, the change pitcher should be made more frequently available than he is. For instance, it does not follow that the regular man should not be changed until he is badly “punished,' for by that time the opposing nine have gained a confidence in batting which is an element of success in itself and one that even a change of pitchers will not always remove. The time ot change is when the opposing nine are beginning to be familiar with the regular pitcher's tactics; then it is that the change pitcher should be brought in if only for an innings or two. The “point” to be gained in this matter of changing, or in changing your style of delivery from swift to slow, etc., is to destroy that confidence in their ability to punish the pitching with ease which the opposing nines are beginning to obtain. This very confidence is half the battle in batting. Let a man go up to the bat to face the pitcher with the idea that he is too difficult a pitcher to punish, and the very lack of confidence in his own power will make him an easy victim. This is the weakness of batsmen which made Creighton the master of so many batting opponents and which has led to Martin's great success in half the matches he has played in. Let, however, the batsman face the pitching confidence that he can, by his quick sight, command of the bat, and ability to prevent the fielder from outwitting him, make good hits, and as sure as the ball comes within his legitimate reach he will hit it safely five times out of six. To retain this confidence, therefore, is the essential point in batting; to destroy it, the great point in pitching, and especially in bringing a change in the style of the pitcher's delivery to bear upon the batting forces of the enemy. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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