St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-05

S<SEyfffalhl H.. and %ae winter inter
s& agreed among
$500 the sporting ed
itors of five or
six of the eight cities that Omaha, Kan
sas City and DeS MoineS were about the
only clubs that had fair chance to bear
away the flag. An analysis of the stu
alton, however, hardly warrants the
conclusion reached. First of all, the
proper standard by which to judge the
relative strength of the teams. Omaha
has most of the Oshkosh team, which
won the Northwestern league pennant,
and large number of people for this
reason expect victory to perch upon the
banners of the Nebraska men. 1t
should not be forgotten that the Omaha
team has no Mccarthy, no Hoy, no
Shafer, no Krock, and this quartette
did the lions share of the work which
sent the trophy to Oshkosh in one of the
closest and prettiest finishes known to
The national game. Kansas City is
feared because it is known that this or
ganization contains the flower of the
old Western league, but no base tall
critic is able to say just
WHAT THIS MEANS.
The Western league was much
weaker than the Northwestern, but it
is probably true-not absolutely So
that team picked from it could sue
cessfully cope with the leading team in
the Northwestern. Des MoineS is doing
a great deal more talking than
any of its coming competitors,
and it is already settled by
The press of the HaWkeye capital that
The Iowa representatives in the new
league will go no lower than third place.
The memory of the remarkable play of
The team last year seems to be the main
basis Of their confidence. The Des
Moines Western leaguers won almost
every game played on their own
grounds, and it is getting to be COM
mon notion down there that spell pre-
vents visitors from defeating the beloved
Hawkeye willow wielders. Just at this
moment it looks as if DeS Moines might
go a great deal lower than third place.
CuShman is great pitcher-gOOd for
but one day a week on an average;
Hutchinson is rather inclined not to
play ball this year ut all, and Wells and
Kennedy lack large number of rows
of apple trees OF being strong men in
the box. On the whole, in spite of the
bluSter, it is difficult to see any good
reason why several teams should not be
a long ways ahead Of the Iowa lads at
The seasons close. Manager Hart
thinks well of his Milwaukee aggrega-
lion, and the Cream City papers are
showing decided inclination of late to
back up his Judgment Hart came very
CLOSE to victory last year with the
SHADOW OF A TEAM,
and who knows but luck may carry him
To.I,p = I
Whites and the Chicago MaroonS, both
new Western league teams, are almost
complete cnigmaS. The most that can
ybe said of them is that, individually,
they are both formidable clubs. The
story of their team work can be better
told next June. Minneapolis, it may be
truthfully said, is at least 80 per cent
stronger than in 1887, several of its new
men being old men to the diamond, and
the prospects of the Flour City nine are
believed to be tiattering. Opinions
differ widely upon the sixteen men who
are expecting to win applause-and get
their salaries regularly-in St.Paul uni
forms. The majority of the sporting
fraternity is not enthusiastic, and many
are already placing the home team in
the last peg hole. The difference be-
tween the feeling now and at the same
time last year is very marked. Then
The close observer was willing to wager
that St. Paul would win the pennant
or get second place, but now the man
who backs his opinions with his money
is not disposed to put the local aggrega-
ton higher than fifth place. 1t is lit
Tie early, hoWever,to lose hope. Some
thing may turn up to put a new face on
the situation. Individually, the team is
in spots superior to that of last year.
For instance, Kemmler and Earle are
noticeable back-StOp improvements.
Carroll yields the bat with great effect
and fills right field chock full; whereas
last year it was generally represented
by men who SKINNED about the ground
with the alacrity OF
A CIGAR-sToRE INDIAN.
Shafer, who will open the season at
short, adds strength in batting, fielding
and base running, and Quest is a safe
man on second. Morrissey at first will
excel McCauley. He is not particu-
larry hard hitter, and is warranted not
to steal anything like base; but he is
steady, and covers great deal of ground
and atmosphere, the report being cur
rent that he once picked ball out of
the air six feet above his head, Reilly,
young man who would much rather
play ball than 80 home to dinner, will
undertake to cover the left field. His
enthusiasm is warranted, and his power
to slug the sphere fair; but he is not
man of good Judgment. The pitchers,
six i'll number. are an unknown guam
tity. Probably Veach, sober, is the
most promising of the lot. He has done
some great work under the old three
strike rule, and, il he can be kept
straight, will doubtless do quite as well
as in 1856. Duryea is a phenomenon
both ways. He can either put a team
through with three or four scratch hits
or gladden. their hearts with twenty odd.
including numerous doubles and triples,
with home-run or two thrown in. An
derson is troubled with the same COM
plant, and Tuckerman never was any,
thing more than fair pitcher. Young
Sowders is his brothers. brother up to
date, and the rumor floats in from Cham
/ paign, ILL.,, that he was a terror to the
Sucker state amateurs. Vogel is not
professional pitcher and has his reputa-
ton to make. He is ST. Paul boy, and
his t0wnSmen are anxious to see him
prove wonder. All in all, it is hoped
that Joe Quest will make a winner of
the team representing the capital city of
Minnesota. The man who constructs
anagramS offers the following omen of
good luck to Manager Barnes:
DeS Moines
ST. Louis
MINNEAPOLIS
Omaha
st. Paul
Milwaukee