The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-12

GEORGE HOGRlEVER, ClNClNNATlS.
for league managers In their choice among
the young bloods, but the batting record Is
moro likely to be deceptive. Batsmen in
minor leagues face a class of pitchers so
much inferior to National ieaguc -, wirl-
ers" that there is no means by which
correct estimate can be made Of their bat
ting abilities. But the fielding Is done in
oil leagues under pretty much the same
circumstances. The minor league fielder
has just as much ground to cover, just as
difficult flies to catch and just as hard
grounders to stop and field as his brothers
in the major leagues. When he compares
the two classes of pitching, however, an
other story results. So it is that Hogriev-
er's fielding has disappointed no one. 1t
Is quite up to his Western league record,
but he fell back when he changed from
the Western league pitchers to those of the
National league.
Hogrievers experience as batsman in
the higher grade has been the experience
of two thirds of all the young players
brought into the National league this
year. / have only TO mention the cases Of
Collins, Hines, Carey and Gray to illus
trate the point.
This leads me up TO the subject of Ma
tional league pitching, and it may be said
that there is promise that the pitching Of
1895 will be weaker than 1t was in 1894
as a whole. There is scarcely IA club in the
National league that is not complaining
Of It's weakness in the box. Cincinnati,
New York and Pittsburg alone are hold
ing their own in that respect or are inn
proving. Cipcinnati's four pitchers seem
to hold out we'll. How long 1t will last
remains to be seen. In Hawley, Pittsburg
has a star. The other men on its list
are doubtful. For New York. Rusie In all
his successful professional life never pitch
ed such strong ball as he Is pitching now,
and he has already shown that he is peer
less beyond any question. Neekin had
been doing fine work, but caught cold in
his arm and got badly out of gear. The
punishment which he received In the game
against the st. Louis Browns on Juno
was tho worst of the season. That score
of 80 hits, with total Of AZ bases, and Is
earned runs will hardly be beaten this
year. It was case Of good pitcher try
ing to work with a sore arm.
In Boston neither Nichols nor Stivctts
is doing the work he did in other years.
Brooklyn is deplorably weak at the rubber,
and with Stein entirely out Of harness the
Bridegrooms are.in bad way. Anson be-
gins To realiZe that he may fall behind for
lack Of staying pitchers, and Cleveland has
no standby TO put In tho box. Both Young
and Cuppy have been hit hard. Baltimore
misses Mcmahon, and the Phillics are In
the same old rut. Taylor has not como up
20 expectations since no recovered the use
of his arm, and IL looks as IL McGill were
already weakening.
At this point the question may be asked,
Where arc the 30 young pitchers about
whose brilliant prospects in the National
league we heard last springp They haven't
developed. Wallace Of Cleveland, McDcr-
mott of Louisville and Phillips OF Cincin-
natl arc about all who have any prospects
Of staying In fast company, and they are
not yet sure
The New Yorks recently offered 81, 500
for the release Of BrCitonstcin and Sl0, 900
In cash for the transfer of Burkett and Nc
Koan from Cleveland to the eastern me
tropolis Both offers were declined, not
because the amount Of money involved was
not appreciated, but because neither club
could replace the men. II shows how rare
a gem good ball player Is in these days.
IL also proves what a firmly established
business professional baseball has come TO
be. When el0, 600 is offered by one club
and declined by another merely for the
transfer of two players, the world knows
that there Is more money at the gates than
thore is in selling releases, oven at those
excessive agures.
Some years ago $1,000 would have
bought q whole team, and the man who
expended thst sum In such a way under
the unstable condition of tho game would
have been considered nc subject for n
guardian. Now n is diff esnt A team Of
good baseball players Is as valuable as a
string of SO many immense diamonds.