The San Francisco call., 1898-05-19
ALL AROUND
 THE BASES Sacramento Club Was Offered for Sale. CALIFORNIA IN THE EAST. SAM MERTEs, THE sWINGER, MUST REFORM. Bright and Newsy Notes of the Local Teams and Their Individual
 Members-Games in
 View.
CALIFORNIA IN THE EAST.
SAM MERTEs, THE sWINGER,
 MUST REFORM.
By Joe Corbett.

Four two-baggerS Is hitting tne pali' MT. Stultz made this record in last Sun days game at Fresno.
 At the last meeting of the consolidated leagues, Messrs. kripp and Hennesy of fered to sell the Sacramento club, in cluding lease of grounds, for $23Oo, and there were no bidders, or, rather, there were no takers. I am of the opinion that Kripp and Hennesy were but testing It seems absurd that this club, the best drawing card in the league, could be bought at such an insignificant figure. Don't make that proposition again, Spike" or Bunker of sausage fame will surely buy you out.
 California players are going right to the front back East, the latest one taken under the wing of the Major League being Sam Mertes. This is Sans sec ond chance in fast company, and 1t IS to be hoped that he remains there. Cali fornians who have watched him play are unanimous in the opinion that he is a great player, his base running especially being much admired. However, an in or out fielder must have the other very nec- essary misunderstanding and bat ting-as well as base running. Sam, in my opinion, swings too nerYously at the ball when batting, ana Will eNperlehce the same difficulty in connecting with 1t as he did in '96 if he does not practice 'snapping at the ball; Pitehers trGoM VIZ a
 
 than most people imagine. To bat them successfully, one must meet the ball, not swing with all ones might. When Mertes joined the Philadelphia club two seasons ago he was a failure because he could not bat. l watched his work very closely, on account of his being San Franclsco boy, and know that he was unable to connect with the ball, principally through his swinging tactics" During his slight engagement here with the San Francisco club a month or so ago the methods en- ployed by him when at bat were the same. He could afford to swing" against the pitchers out here, however, as they are hardly fast enough to compel Eastern players to do otherwise; yet l predict that if Sam does not learn to meet the ball for a base hit instead of endeavoring to knock the cover off, his troubles will be similar to those experi- enced in '96. As a feeder and base run ner he has few superiors in the National League His success in those depart ments is assured, yet the sooner he learns that snapping or meeting the ball is the correct and proper way to bat the quicker will he reach the top Of the
 The Fresno team is putting up great article of ball at present, and from every indication will continue to do so. What they will accomplish when on the road is a rather delicate proposition to handle. Manager Hennesy thinks they Wlll go to the bottom when away from Fresno, so hurry up. ''ye raisin growers; we fans up here want to get a line on how you win games. To show there is no lack of patriotism in your part of the country, bring up a few carloads of raisins when you come; .Col. T, P. is a trifie shy and
 T saw Hughes" says an Eastern play CT. before Jennings or the tourists reached CalifornIa, and | recoH9menqed 9 aed Baltimores and All-Americas arrived at the coast. For some reason or other Mack failed to reply to my letter until Jennings had Hughes signed with the Baltimores. Mack'S negligence was good thing for Hughes. Had he joined Tl,o looc her ia m iTlQ when he would have been given chance to mix in fast company.
 Empires can spoil a game as well as players. false decision by the umpire is often as disastrous ghastly error by fielder, so far as the artistic points of the game are concerned. (Impires have spoiled many game where the spelling was attributed to the player And why? Because the error of the umpire inspired doubt, indifference and lack of confidence in the player. Such is the philosophy of Manager Coffroth.
 Henry krug has a delivery similar to that of Wilson, now pitching for the Clevelands. Hennie is doing just as good work, too
 Another scalp for Hughes. The Qua kers'' of Philadelphia fell down before his mysterious caroms Wednesday. and in winning that, game Hughes stopped. what appeared to be a "slide down the tobog gan" for the Baltimore club. l cannot understand why Hanlon is pitching Hughes and McJames so often. In the case of Hughes, am afraid he is not acting wisely. The season is very long, and when the real hot weather sets in pitcher must be strong. Hughes, l under stand, likes warm weather, but he won't think so much of it if he permits HanIon to work him out before 1t arrives. There is nothing like looking out for your own interests in baseball If you don't, nobody else will, and l am talking now from experience. Hughes should not pitch over two games a week at the most. He might be strong enough to stand it, yet it does not bring any more money. and very little thanks. With Hoffer and Nops pitching good ball. Hughes might pitch seven games a week. Should his arm become sore there is a chance for rest. The way things are at present, however, it would be impossible to give him rest, as Hoffer and Ross are likes to work those who can win; he has little use for the loser. Therefore Jim mic" should remember that old proverb, Charity begins at home.
 Pitcher Thomas of Fresno from all ac- counts is wonder" Last Sunday he let Stockton down with one nit and one run, also striking out seven men, Very muchly "a la Hughes"
 Pink Mcintyre has been suspended for one month. reason kept secret: This are inclined to be ''giddy. The league will not tolerate conduct that is not of the best, and should be complimented for such
 The Athletics" comprising as it does the creme de la creme" of the San Fran ciscos and Olympics of the defunct Pacific Coast League, is now considered one of the strongest teams in the league which fact was clearly demonstrated when a week ago they met and defeated the ''Beachconbers'' by a score of score of IA to on their own grounds.
 Jack Johnson and "Blockers" Hanley have been appointed sole agents. for a patent arm medicine. They claim it will do wonderful things with a "dilapidated arm (such as Blockers) and all the players are now using it.
 'Cootsey' Billings is satisfied that Fresno has the best team in the league, but .Cootsey Wootsey' was in Fresno when he made that statement and evil dently forgot that San Francisco was still supporting team, which is second to none in the State.
 A Combined Picnic.