Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-02-15

B-alanced-sOme characteristics of and
Points About the Methods OF Arson.
Ward. Ewing and Kelly.
In figuring upon the pennant prospects
Of the National league teams this year. the
average baseball expert or enthusiast will
find himself almost at his wits ends he
fore he gets through, and then = viii
hardly dare announce his choice without
an 'and' OF an ''if' for fear his friends
will later on give him a smile of com
miseration when his team gets down into
the Second division In the percentage rec
ord. The reason for this extreme difficulty
in picking a winner during what is known
rs the paper season is the very even
strength of the teams. OF course. after a
month of actual play, the task will be much
easier, but one of the most delightful
things to the simon pure enthusiasts is
this preseason guessing.
In 1SSS and 1889 | named the champions
before a ball was tossed, aud held my
ground all season. Last year | picked the
Brotherhood champions. but my League
choice finished sixth and left me in mourn
ing. This year, like all the other cranks,
] am at present all at sea. According to
the outlook now five Of the teams seem TO
be so equally balanced. all things con-
| AANA AAAnN ~ NNAANNAARh VI -
apt TO depend more upon the fnesse and
ability Of the captains Of the teams than
the skill Of the combatants, and every one
who does ~ guessing must take this
point into consideration If he hopes to
come anywhere near the final result.
There are some great captains who will
be in authority this year, and some who
will not. and there are some who are not,
generally speaking, thought % be- over
loaded with ability who NHl have charge
Of teams. Arson will, ~ usual, guide the
Chicago team, Ewing will have New York,
Ward VIII hustle the Brooklyns. the pres
ent champions. Hanlon will be the boss in
Pittsburg, and Mike Kelly j. slated for
Boston. Cincinnati, so far, has neither
captain nor manager selected. The cap
tains Of the Cleveland and Philadelphia
teams will probably be figure heads, as
Bob Leadley will direct his men from the
bench and Harry Wright will do the same
for the Phillies. Kelly will have the as
sistance Of Frank Seeley, and Ewing will
be the gamer by Mutrie's knowledge and
experience.
There will be three teams individually
stronger han Chicago, but tlerp will be
none that can vie with il for discipline and
united effort, unless possibly it be the
Brooklyn team. Arson is a strict, but
withal a just man. He exacts the most
implicit obedience from his men, and, what
is more, he gets it, however much some Of
the players may kick in private. So pune
tiliOus is Arson on this point that IL any
! player, even though he were the best In the
nine, set his orders at defiance for any
length Of time he would be pretty sure be
fore long TO find himself either severely
punished or in another team. For in
stance, Baldwin, DAILY and Martin Sulli-
van. Arson doesn't care much about the
outside kicking, so long as his orders are
Obeyed and the players play ball.
Ryan and Duffy aro instances Of this
kind. Every now aud then they will feel
aggrieved and get sulky, but they play ball
every minute they are ON the field. II
they did not Arson would find a way to
bring them into line or get rid Of them.
There are certain hours for practice on the
home grounds, and woe TO the man who does
not turn up unless he has an excuse that
can be subjected 70 a microscope with per
feet safety. II the team gets TO playing poor
ball while on the road Arson will get them
out in the morning on the local grounds,
and keep them busy for hours. Such
discipline and practice, when added to An
sons knowledge OF the tricks aud strata
gems Of the game, make the Chicagos
formidable always and Outlines uncon-
querable.
Wards methods are not unlike Rnson's
in many respects. He makes his men prac-
tice a great deal, but he does his most ef-
fective work during the progress of the
game. He encourages his men all the time,
and yet is considered to be something Of a
martinez. Ward believes in touching the
pocket to sustain discipline, and yet always
gives the offending player a chance before
Hufnp him HHW1aaa e. 10 n Aavr.vN o.-.N
where strong measures are necessary.
Ward's entire team last season had the
greatest respect and admiration for him,
and was a very happy family. Ward I'm
derstands the rules of the game a. well as
any player there is, and is ready at all
times 10 avail himself Of every point that
can be made. He is remarkably expert in
getting on TO the weaknesses Of opposing
pitchers, and oftentimes their signs, and
these things help not a little 10 make up
his success.
Ewing does not believe in much prac-
tice while ms team is on the road. When
the team is at home, however, he expects
them 70 practice every morning, and they
generally DO, but he does not make as much
Of "A point Of 10 as Arson. Players cannot
get excused from practice with Aasou. but
they have no great difficulty in doing 50
with Ewing Buck is severe on his men,
and does not hesitate TO 'lace" them on
the field. Indeed he does quite as much
scolding in public as he does in private.
He always manages, however, by a bit OF
blarHey to smooth over his rebukes after
ward, and If a player is doing good
work Buck is not scant in his praises. He
does not do much filming. When he does
fine he makes it the limit in most cases.
Last year Ewing did more filming than he
has ever done before in his career, and the
aggregate Of the fines imposed was larger
than all the fines put on the New York
team for three or four years previous.
Ewing's great forte is in smoothing over
quarrels and differences among the men,
and his ability in this line will stand him
in good stead this year, rs his greatest
task will be TO preserve harmony in the
team
Kelly is different from all the others