Clipping:Analyzing an increase in offense; pitching delivery
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| Date | Sunday, June 24, 1883 |
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| Text | By a comparison of the scores in the National League championship games played up to and including June 12, 1883 with the scores of games played during the corresponding period of 1882 it is found that a marked increase in total number of runs made has taken place. … The rate in increase is a fraction over 10 per cent, and it is due to a variety of causes. The increased latitude given to the pitcher in the style of delivering the ball has been of no disadvantage whatsoever to batsmen, for the reason that precisely the same latitude as to throwing was exercise last year, though against the rule, so that the change in the rule made no change in the delivery. The but main reason for the increase in run-getting is an increase in batting, and with harder hitting has come a larger proportion of fielding errors, the two causes combining to yield more runs. Just why the pitchers have been hit harder this year than last is difficult to account for, unless it be on the hypothesis that batsmen are as a rule becoming more accustomed to the swift-curve throwing of the pitchers, and are able to hit it more freely than ever before. With the stronger batting has of necessity come more difficult fielding, especially as regards to balls hit to the infield and the result is a smaller percentage of chances accepted than during the past two or three years. The averages as computed up to June 1 of this year showed an almost uniform falling off in infield play; there were not 10 per cent, of the player who had held up their fielding averages of last year. This is not saying that the general standard of fielding skill has been lwoered; the fielding is as good as it ever was, and better, too, but the hitting is harder and the balls for that reason far more difficult to handle without error. … The main cause, after all, is the increase in batting—not necessarily the increase in the proportion of safe hits, but the increase in the proportion of hard hits. This is an improvement in the right direction. The game will stand an increase in run-getting. For the active season of 1882 the average of total runs per game for the National League clubs was 10.79, or two runs less than for the season of 1883 so far as played. Heavy batting, albeit productive of fielding errors, is a prime factor in a good game of ball. The day has passed when people enjoy seventeen-inning games of 1 to 0, and poor batting is now justly regarded as poor ball-playing. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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