In his wheelhouse

[Sparlin, Don M.]

Colleagues,

Our local color commentator for the Cardinals baseball team, Mike Shannon,
uses the phrase "right in his wheel house" when describing a pitch thrown to
the liking of the hitter.  This is used when the hitter subsequently drives
the ball especially well and to a good location in, or out of, the field.

The wheel house of a river boat is the center of control.  If a thing is in
the wheel house it is under control.

My inquiry is whether this expression is primarily used by sportscasters
located in river towns, such as St. Louis and Cincinnati, where the
connection would seem more appropriate.  Does anyone have another occurance
of this phrase to report?

Thanks for your consideration,

Don Sparlin
Professor Emeritus Physics
University of Missouri - Rolla