Читать книгу Frank Merriwell's Support; Or, A Triple Play онлайн

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Frank’s team had been well advertised in Omaha, the papers telling of its successful career through the Rocky Mountain region. Thus far not a single defeat had been chalked against the Merries; but now it began to seem that the long string of victories would be broken.

“La! la!” sighed Jack Ready. “How foolish it is for a man to try to do more than he is capable of accomplishing!”

Then he pretended to wipe a tear from his eye as Rattleton, looking very cheap and disgusted, came in to the bench.

“Somebody please kick me!” mumbled Harry.

“With great satisfaction!” exclaimed Jack, and he proceeded to do so.

“Thanks!” murmured Rattleton, as he sat down.

Frank said nothing to Harry, for he knew the unlucky chap felt bad enough about what he had done, and Merry had learned by experience that it did little good with a young team to “call down” the players or “chew the rag” with them on the field.

Old stagers will take a call-down, but it takes the spirit out of youngsters, sometimes making them sullen and sulky. A young ball-player needs encouragement at all times, criticism often, but public call-downs never. The captain or manager who is continually yelling at his players on the field and telling them how bad they are doing, causes them to lose five games where he drives them to win one.