The morning times., 1896-12-14

This is the guessing season in baseball.
on paper all the clubs are champions,
yet only one wins the nag. AS Il clever
writer once put IL, there are three periods
in a baseball season-claiming, playing aud
explaining. The present is the claiming
period. However, strict sense OF justice
compeis the admission that less claiming
is being INDUCED in by the magnltes at
present than at any time for The past
three or four seasons.
The boys have learned better fIom eX-
perience ana Ned udnlon. 1ncy nave bc-
come aware that Brag is a good dog, bat
that Holdfast is better. Consequently
they are not building so many air castles
or huInorlng pipe dreams as OF yorc.
No TIPS THIS WINTER.
Ii YOU want to know where the clubs Will
stand at the END OF next season you
viii have to wait until it is played out
tips on the transaction are not being flung
around with the abandon of previous years.
Perhapsa reason for the unusual quietude
at TINS Time is the unsettled conult.on of
several clubs. With the exception of Balti-
more and Chicago none have finally de-
cided on who will fill their in and outrieid
positions.
Between McAleer and Blake, Cleveland
wants new fielder; Cincinnati has a first
a first and second baseman. Philadelphia
Is totally at sea with upward of three
dozen players on her list, from which a
regular team must be picked, and Boston
needs a catcher and right fielder.
New York cannot expect to cut much
ice unless Rusie can be pacified and a good
hackstop and left fielder added 10 the Joyce
roster. Brooklyn is i'll the process of
reorganization, and as for st. Louis and
4 ,,tis iS la no tpHt
Next To Baltimore and Chicago, Washing
ton is nearer settled for next season than
any other club. According TO The state
ments of Earl Wagner and Manager Schmeiz
there Will be no changes in the club from
last season unless new fielder can be
secured Such an addition of the kind de-
sired seems very remote.
LINE UP OF THE SENATOR'S.
Accordingly, the line up OF the Senators
next spring will be as follows: Mercer,
Maui, McJames, Norton, King, German
and FLYNN, pitchers. Mcclure Farrell and
McAuley, caUchers; Cart wright, first
base: O'Brien, second base; Reilly, third
base; DeMontreville, short stop; Selbach,
leftfield; Tom Brown, center; Lush, right
and Smith, Abbey and Wngley as reserve
pla yers.
IL Is seen that the MeSSrs. Wagner have
nineteen players on the payroll, with
Manager Schm elZ, a total OF twent Y
men. The list will probably be decreased
by three before the season is very old
The club has no use for three catchcrs,
and should al Maul's famous salary arm
get back into joint there would be nc
need for seven pitchers. In that cast
either King, German, Norton ar Flynn
would be let go.
OF the four, Norton would have the best
chance TO remain, as he is young and gave
much promise last fall until he was stricken
with illness. King is independent of the
game and would as soon stick to his busi-
ness in St Louis as pitch. silver did
good work last season, and if Maui S arm
flickers next spring he viii hardly be
turned out to grass.
German is an uncertain quantity. He is
an unlucky pitcher. When he goes in the
box ii seems as if the team behind him
goes to pieces Whether this is due to lack
of confidence in him or just pure hard incb
deponent sayeth not. Anyhow, il is a fact
as the record proves. The Marylander is
popular with the local fans, all of whom
would re joice in seeing him strike 4 winning z
gait.
He should be worked hard and early in
the season and perhaps steady employment
would kill his hoodoo and render him cf-
fective and OF value to the club.
As to Flynn, the southpaw, who Mr.
Wagner got as good measure from New
York in the Joyce deal, not much Is thought
He seems to be hung together with rust y
hinges. With Mercer satisfied, Maul's
arm free and easy, McJames in his '96
| form, Norton in good health King in
| good humor, and German Shy on hard luck
| there would be no room for Flynn.
M'AUI-GY Is WORTH KEEPING.
Mr.. Wagner announced through The
Times quite while back that of the mer
| he has under reserve only Flynn and Nc
Auley were open for negotiation. Hi.
| wisdom in Offering Flynn on the market
| the opinion that it would be well to tie t
| Pat McAuley-
Louisville is in sore need OF a steady
| reliable catcher like Mcclure. 1t look,
| from both standpOintS like an acceptabl,
deal. And there you are. The Ioca
| baseball public would be 10th to part witt
| Mcclure, who is as good a backstop a!
ever dug spikes in the grit, and is tn
most reliable, hardworking, day in and da,
out player in the profession. But TIL,
| fans recognize that such a deal would b
| of advantage to both the Senators and t
| Mcclure. Washington needs anot hel
| fielder worse than it does three sta
| catchers and in Louisville Mcclure woul,
| become king and would receive the sal
| airy limit and more money besides.
A matter that gave the grand army o
| cranks of this city great deal of concern
| last season was the second base play o
Johnnie O'Brien. II will be admitted tha
O'Brien's work at the bag was not salts
| factory, and on the surface it looked a
| if he was shirker. Thereby hangs a tale
1t will be remembered that O'Brien'