New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29
rs THE YALE NINE PLAYING 'P0SSUM"f
DISSATISFACTION WITH ITS coNDTIoN-sTAss sAip
20 HAVE LOST HIs CUNNING.

DISSATISFACTION WITH ITS COMPLEMENTARY BAL"
20 HAVE LOST HIs CUNNING.
New-Haven, Conn.,, April 2s.-Much concern Is iei.
Mt Yale I'm consequence Of the wrctched. cordition 4"
be university nine Friends Of the nine have In every
nossibls way sought to encourage the nine anu "
ersuade the players that they expected TO hoid
In safety the honors by Yale during tho last 1"o
years Before the outdoor playing began tho NM
trained In the cage and apparently made sau'ia.'o'
progress. Stage seemed to BIO as vigorous 10 VI ol,
and those who watched his work said he had ih'eh'eu
a new curve puzzling than any yet ate"p'eu y"
the field. This new curve has not yet oeon seoh ~
pubuc and thus far Stage has fallen far pehina ns
former standard of excellence. Damn. the eatcher'
always received Stages delivery with unerrng acou
racy, and q past ball to him rare occurrence.
This season his fingers apparently all thumbs"
and his work is awkward aud positively distressing.
Gwhat on earth ais the Yale nine this yearf' is tho
question oft repeated by Yale men. No ono seems
able TO answer the inquiry. In DAMS behalf IL Is
hut Justice to say that the many Wild pitches delivered
by Stagg constantly annoy him. When stage succeeds
In sending ball spinning over the plate In tho old
yay. Damn generally receives 1T in good FORM Ia
the game with Amherst last Wednesday. Damn and NO
Bride who played first base wore the only members
OF the nino that played passable game The DINERS
scanned utterly unable to handle ball On tho grounu
and were not at all sure Of the high balls. The Am
herst men are inferior players, but they found no o
Guilty in hitting Stage
McConhey. the second bascman, Hunt, tho centre
fielder, and Mccllntock the third baseman, all OLD
members of tho nine are playing wretchedy, and per
form worse work to-day than they did at the beginning
OF the season OF the now players, Calhoun the short
stop. Is the only man who has improved since the
season began. He Is a good catcher. lie should %
placed at third, and Noyes. member OF last years
nIne should DO placed at short DallzeI the Hesn-
man OF whom so much was expected, plays worse
rame today than no did when the season opened dc
scems unable to exercise any Judgment and is there
fore Of almost no valuo In the right field where
he "a at present playing. Mcbride. the new thru
basennan is natural player and man OF good luog-
mept He needs practice, but will mako valuable
man before the season ends His greatest fault Is al
the bat. Walker who is playing left field, seems 10
be as thoroughly incompetent as i Is possible ior
novice to be- Apparently he never can learn 10 pay
ball but he has firm determination to stick until no
docs learn, and he may make player
The enthusiasm which has been such distinguish
ing feature of Yale spectators is wanting this year.
and Yale field athletics to have struck another
declining era. A moro dsheartened set OF faIe men
never kicked their heels against the historic fence
and tho sorry condition Of the nine is constant TOPIC
Of conversation. stage processes 10 ieel cei'@n
that all will end WELL and he says that when the niho
wears of Its freshness 1t will play with success ana
briancy. A few students express the opinion tns.
staga is payng "'possum' and that when the regular
college contests begin ho will astonish those VINO no"
feel so much concern In reference 70 Inc nnn that
Stagg has been obliged to study SO hard during te
closing year Of his college course that his 10
velopment has suffered materially TO the conserve
tive ave the true solution of Stages condition Is mat
de Is discouraged. In any event, it remains Iaes
10 any that represented the college during the last
-