Clipping:Scientific batting 3
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| Date | Saturday, August 28, 1880 |
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| Text | [Rochester vs. National 8/21/1880] ...out of the sixty-two times the two nines went to the bat they were put out twenty-six times by catches, and but four ground-hits were made in the entire game. Mr. Derby charged the weak batting to the dead Ross ball they played with. But this was no excuse whatever. A dead ball is the very ball to test a batsman's skill in the two great essentials of skillful batting, and these are, first, in being able to “face for the hit” properly, and, secondly, to “place” the ball well, after properly waiting for a fair ball, and being ready to hit it when it comes in. … Nearly all of the two nines on Saturday went in for heavy batting. Their sole ambition appeared to be to hit the ball as far out of reach as possible in their efforts to accomplish they they were, time and again, caught unprepared for good balls when they came in, or when they did hit the ball they either sent it in the air, giving chances for catches, or, failing to “face for the hit” properly, they hit the ball direct to some fielder's hands. To “place” for a right or centre field hit when an open space is left in the field for the purpose is something apparently unknown to the majority of batsmen. As fielders, they know where to go and what to do to field the ball, and they field up to a high mark in every position; but as batsmen they are as ignorant of the rules of as the veriest amateur. It is, of course, a difficult thing to do to “place” a ball sent in by a swift curve-pitcher; but it can be done, and high-salaried professionals out to be trained to do it, just as they trained to field skillfully. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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