The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
LAST WEEK OF PRACTICE
INDIANAPOLIS TEAM SHAPING IT.
SELF FOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.
Mccarthy, Mcfarland and Hogriever
VIII he the Permanent Outfield-
Cleveland Games This week.

The Indianapolis team To-Day enters upon
It's dnal week of practice before the open
ing Of the championship season on
"Wednesday. April q. This year has been
the worst on record for early spring prac-
tcc. There has been absolutely no warm
weather since the ball players arrived, and
they have had little opportunity TO get into
condition for the hard work OF the season.
Still. as that is largely true of most all
the Western League teams, Indianapoli. is
on pretty nearly even terms in that respect
With the rest.
or the young players who have been in n
measure tried out during the past two
weeks. Jackson and COckman are the only
ones who show immediate promise of being
able TO hold up IL fast company. These
two players are fast and evidently qualified
10 jump right IN and make their mark in
the Western League. They are good
hitters. apparently, though of course
ga MSu'a soma sAe Of h the Weston d94en
best pitchers 10 show their mettle.
Both appear TO be hard workers,
and n would be wise fOr the management
10 hold on 60 them in some shape or other.
OF course. Flynn can hardly be denom-
mated a youngster. for while he is very
}Outnful IN appearance. more so, possibly,
than the two men just referred to- his ex-
pcrlence with the ChicagOs under Anson's
Immediate training has put him well in
line with the veteran players His ability
il unquestiOned and it is only "A question
OF whether his health is likely 10 continue
good. If il does. any team would find him
a NaiuaDie man. as he can cover more
ground IN the Outfield by far than the av-
erage " eStern Lacquer. While not a hard
hitter. Flynn has a good eye and is rather
a dangerous man for any pitcher TO go up
against.
Gray's appearance here last week was
hailed with pleasure by his old-time admir-
ers. That he will be found at third base
during the season fer Indianapolis there is
little or no doubt While a trihe cratic in
his held work at times. Gray is brilliant
player and hard hitter He will help
bring in many run for indianapolis this
season If he plays ball the way he used TO
90. anu the hope and belief is that he has
improved greatly from his League expert
ence OF the past two years. He was always
= iaVor1te here and is additionally valuable
because of his ability TO PLAY the outfield
or 10 go behind the bat His fast outfield
work Is we'll remembered here and has on
Hdhy an occasion. created a sensation and
saved a game His only drawback in the
past was bad knee. which CauseI him to
imp great deal and interfered somewhat
Hitn ms running This. he claims. will not
VIII be glad TO learn.
Tn. outfeld OF the indianapolis team this
year IN spite OF all that has been said about
It. will probably resolve itself into McCar-
thy, Mcfarland and Hogriever. These three
men are the most available. all things con-
staff In Hogan and Flynn he has two very
clever players. but neither is quite as use
ful. take him all around in game. as
either OF the three men just mentioned.
Motz Stewart. Eustace and Gray will make
up the infieid, and the pitchers and catchers
are well known. Whether the club will
carry five pitchers not remains to be
seem IL certainly will not carry more than
that except, possibly. for the first month
OF the season. OF course Phillips. Fore
nssn. GOar and WOlters are fixtures. and
ne ne Hith place, If at the end Of few weeks
NdIhths decides 10 carry five pitchers, will
De given TO either Monroe or kellum. The
former has decidedly the better head and
IL his habits continue good and the man.
aSement feels well assured that he will nor
lapse curing the season. he stands a good
snow Tor permanent place on the team
Now That Damon has gone, kellum is the
only left-hander. and ii is possible espe-
clally should he prove effective i'm these
Keep him for the benefit of the numerous
Ieft-h2nded batSmen IN the Western
League If indianapolis will only hit at a
fast clip this season the pennant will come
back here TO a certainty The team has the
pitchers and the felders. and it only re-
mains 10 be seen whethe1 they can get to
work with their sticks right from the start
and hit themselves back into the champion
snip.
Kahoe Will soon fill the place left vacant
q year ago by Eddie Mcfarland. Manager
Watkins says that to-day he is a better
catcher than Mcfarland when the latter
first came TO indianapolis. One thing is
certain. and that is that the club never had
a catcher who was faster at getting the
ball away than is KahOe. If runners steal
second on him this season il will be because
they have increased in speed since last
year. for he certainly gets the ball away
like a shot. If he does not hit above Me
F'arland's old mark Watkins viii be the
most mistaken manager in the country at
the close of the present season.
The Indianapolis players will be home
from Cincinnati. tomorrow night They
viii meet Tebeau and his Cleveland war
riOrs in battle array on Tuesday afternoon
at the OhiO-street grounds. These three
games with the Spiders viii be the first real
big contests of the year. kellum is to pitch
the opening game Tuesday. and watkins
looks for great things from his left-handed
curves. With the sort of weather that In
dianapOlis il entitled to after this long
spell OF waiting. these Cleveland games will
attract big crowds. The fighting qualities
of the Clevelands are well known and the
games promise 10 be of the snappy sort so
greatly appreciated. especially after a long
winter. All the pitchers will be seen in the
box during the three days. and the team
will line uD practically as it viii open the
season against Grand Rapids week from
next Wednesday