“I’ll have to teach him to work the batter with his looks,” said Frank. “There is something in it. A pitcher who looks intensely savage sometimes impresses the batter as dangerous. The pitcher who wears a cool, disdainful smile is liable to provoke the batter so that he cannot locate the ball. There are all sorts of tricks in this business.”
Then Frank began coaching Jack about his striking, causing him to stand up and step straight out toward the pitcher with one foot when he swung at the ball, instead of swinging the foot back and partly behind him, which is a very bad fault, as it weakens the batter’s position and spoils his ability to drive out sure hits.
When a shrewd pitcher finds a man is given to stepping back or pulling away from the plate, he is pretty sure to “keep ’em in close,” which will drive the batter back right along.
One after another the members of the team came in and took their turn at bat, and Merriwell’s instructions were obeyed implicitly. All were surprised by the skill displayed by Dick, and it was the universal opinion that the boy had the making of a pitcher in him.
Indeed, Dick had accomplished much in the short time he had been at it; but he was the brother of Frank Merriwell, and the same sort of perseverance and determination dwelt in his breast.
When Frank was satisfied that Dick had thrown enough, he took the lad out and went into the box himself.
At this point, before Merry had delivered a ball, several persons entered the grounds by the gate. One seemed to be an old man with gray whiskers, while two of the others were Black Elrich and the man who had first caught the big dog by the collar in the Hotel Metropole.
Elrich was at the head of the party, and he advanced straight toward the diamond. As he drew near, he loudly said:
“So this is your team, Merriwell? I’m glad I found you here. I’ve brought Dave Morley, manager of the Reds, along. This is Mr. Morley.”
A short, stout, thick-set man came forward. He had a smooth-shaven face of the bulldog cast, and he was smoking a black cigar. His first words were: