Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01

On paper the regular team Is decidedly
the stronger, but team composed of Yani-
gans can play great ball in the spring and
the contests should be full of ginger and
consequent interest. The local enthusiasts
know all about the playing ability of the
regular nine, but the new men will be the
Sullivan, first for the Yanigans is a
pitcher drafted from the New England
League but he has acted as captain and
played almost all the infield positions. He
is big, husky fellow and full Of energy,
and Will be no novice at first. Wagner will
be the largest factor in the making up of
the regular infield, and, being played at
second, a line can be had on his quaIifica-
tons! Snyder, the catcher, is another in
field possibility and there Is no telling what
his early work will bring forth, as he is a
hard hitter. Amole and Bresnehan are not
expected to set the world afire in the field
but McHale will create a great deal of in
terest in center. Games of this character
will undoubtedly bring out all that is in
the men, as they will be in direct COMPETE
ton with players, the places of whom they
can secure If their worth is proven.
Several of the new men will be played in
the. iEfield, ard Tommy Leany will have the
work of his life cut out for him to retain
the position of third baseman regularly.
There are about a dozen frst-class infield-
ers in the big league who began the bust
ness of ball playing as catchers. and the
possibility of gettiag first-class man out
of Snyder or Dixon, and possibly Wagner.
hue held by Mff Wagner on the chances of
the Senators for next season. Captain Tom
Brown has gfjen II out that he will play
no favorites and will enter the competition
himself judging the other positions him
self. but Mr. Wagner deciding between his
lieutenant and McHale. Brown does not
consider himself an old man yet by any
means. and in this he is perfectly right.
and should be be able to continue his 300
aftfng streah iof last season the chances
of McHale will be considerably diminished.
McHale is tipped off as being a player
much on the lines on Brown-that is. a first
but it Is 10 to I bet that the new man
will have TO nossHYs almost supernatural
qualities to, -outrank his captain In base
running Heldihg ahd particularly in the
fine points of the game Should McHale
develop a strong batting eye the case will
be entirely changed, as, with the other
qualifications said to be possessed by, him,
it would throw him at once into the ranks
Of frst-class felders of the caliber of
Lange, Clarke, Keller and Delehanty. OF
one thing the local enthusiasts can rest
assured, there will be no derk-lantern tao
tics adopted in the weedingout process,
the public being admitted to the practice
games. and should "phenom' be devel-
oped the patrons of the game in this city
will be aware of the fact as soon as the
management. Messrs. Wagner and Brown
believe IN catering to their patrons. and
through this idea have made many friends
in this city.
Since President Freedman of the New
York club made his public claim that his
team has the big four of the pitchers of
the league, other managers and owners
have Jumped out and presented similar
claim, but meme of them seem to have
weakened the challenge of the Greater New
Yorker. 1t is not true, or course, that New
York has the only four great pitchers in
the league, but it would be big job to
pick another team with four men of the
quality Of Rusie, Seymour, Meekin and
Doheny. Several teams have two, and a
few have three, but New York has the
biggest. big four of the lot. In Hawley,
Breitenstein and Dwyer, the Cincinnatis
have three; in Hoffer. McJames and Cor
bett. the Baltimores have three; in Mich
ols Klobedanz and Lewis the Bostons have
three. and several others have two and
three. Manager Watkins of the Pittsburgs
is the latest claimant for the honor of
having big four and declares that Killen.
Rhincs. Hart and Hastings are as good as
any four pitchers in the big league. Take
notice, though, that Watkins made the
claim just at Christmas time. when all
mankind is merry, and when a little gift of
praise like that Is to equalize sentiment and
possibly relations by that fraternal express
sion characteristic of the holiday season.
kiilen is top notch. standard pitcher,
Rhines Is almost his equal, Hart is not
star, but n good man. while Hastings did
not amount to much last season. nor the
season before. Compared to ''Scrappy'
joyce big hlllen IS ABOUT the only
one entitled to run in their class.
There is a general opinion around Pitts
burg. Cincinnati and Cleveland that Manager
Ned Hanlon has been given ''call down"
apropos Of his refusal to return the Temple
cup to the donor, and the belief that the
tire ply will be soon sent back to Mr.. Tenn
pie. The end of the Temple cup squabble
big silver trophy, which, unfortunately, was
not appreciated by the ball players, will be
back in the hands Of the donor the fore
part of next week. The reports from Bal
is having the trophy carefully packed. pre-
paratory to shipping 10 Pfttsburg. This
means that Mr.. Harlon has been called to
order by the ls9glfI officials and been given
to understand that, they have something
to say In matters of this kind. Some weeks
ago the reports hAd Hanlon saying that
as the Baltimore Club had won the cup
at the close Of last season. his club was
entitled to hold on to 1t for year at least,
and that he in&ended doing so. The league
committee has~evidently notified the Balti-
more officials fhataAs the organization they
series the SO back to int It's 'f donoy
at once and Mi Haolon is evidently follow
Ing out the committees instructions. This
+, hsa as It snonlaQRs w the entire affair has
Mr.. Temple gaNe THAT cup for the Iaudable
purpose of increasing the interest in the
national camel and when the league off,
Ctdio met diiu S3C1OeP 10 CHI OH the cup Sc
ries without even consulting the man who
went down into his own pocket in order to
build up their game they assuredly hit him
slap In the fade which was both unkind
and ungenercus Mr.. Temple has been and
is too good patron OF the sport to be
treated tn such q manner. and the league
officials will some day find out their mis-
take.
How quickly bali players fade and pass
out Of public notice. One has but to look
over the personnel of a base ball team to
be convinced that the average base BAH
player 81 successful existence in the high
est class is hsetthE. Take the Cincinnati
and Wilmington teams asian illustration.
Captain Ewing has been IN charge OF the
red legs three seasons. yet not one of the
outfielders who was with the team when
he took the managerial reins will be with
the team next season. Only one Of the
infielders that was with Ewing the hrst
year will be on hand for practice next
spring. Only one Of the old pitchers and
but one Of the catchers that were wearing