The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-18
MILLERS DO BETTER.
Play Shows an Improvement During
Second Week Of the Series
at Home.
Sore Arms Still Plentiful Among
the Pitchers-Base Running
Weak as Ever.

The millers have made slightly better
showing during the last week. During the
seven days ending with Thursday, they.
won four games and lost three. That is
not phenomenal record, but it Is much
better than they did in the first ten days
after returning from the trip. Had Yeager
had foresight enough to take Thomas out
OF the game last Sunday it would have
been five out Of seven.
lers to get four pitchers In shape at the
same time. Just now Vasbinder, Will
liams and Mcdonald look good, but the
rest are to the bad. Stimmel has sore
arm; Jack Katoll Is evidently not right
yet, and it Is doubtful whether he will
be able to work his regular turn this sea-
son. Thomas arm is a most uncertain
quantity also, judging from the games OF
Sunday and Thursday. If the pitching
staff would get right once, the general
team play might improve also.
The fielding showed a marked Improve
ment in the Columbus series, the team
PLAYING two errorless games In succession
Yeager is badly needed, however, for
Ludwig's work has not been up to the
standard, especially in throwing to bases.
The managers hitting also would
strengthen the team considerably. 1t
looks now as If Yeager would not be back
in the game before another fortnight. and
another man to relieve him.
In the first few games in which he
played Denny Sullivan showed up quite
as we'll as McCreery, If not better. He
is quite as fast as Mac, and on the whole
a more valuable fielder, for he tries for
hits on which McCreery used to decline.
Sullivan is, If anything, faster on the
sacks, but it is hardly probable that he
will continue hitting as we'll as his pre-
lecessor. If Sullivan continues at his
present gait however, McCreery will not
be missed.
The fielding Of Oyler and Martin, in
spite Of errors, has been feature Of the
home series. If Oyler's throwing wing
were a little more certain, he would cas-
fly be the best shortstop In the league,
and as 1t is few have much on him.
The weak spot Of the team continues
to be its footless base running. Spooner
has been the worst offender In this re-
spect Manager Yeager certainly ought
to be out on the coaching lines in uni
form. It wouldn't hurt his bum digit,
and 1t probably would do a good deal to
liven up the work Of the team. The base
running is what counts in garnering
scores, and If Yeager wants his team to
win, he should spare no effort which
might bring about an Improvement in this
Or any other line.
The millers and the mud hens play the
last game of their series tomorrow after
noon at Minnehaha and in the next seven
days the team has it's work cut out, with
ST. Paul Monday and Louisville and In
dianapolis following for three games each.
ST. Paul and the Indians of course will
be hard propositions, and Louisville is
as per cent stronger than when 1t was
here last Then the millers broke even,
and this time they will have to show their
top notch form to take the odd. These two
series are the last the team will play at
home for nearly month.
The much advertised St. Paul dow,
town park Is finally completed and It is
announced positively that the nillers and
the saints will formally open the park
with Mondays game. Much interest has
been shown in the event here, and large
crowd of Minneapolis fans will be present
Like all down town parks, the st. Pau
grounds are small, but well constructed
1t is to be hoped that the attendance in
the sanity city will show pronounced in
crease, for Lennon has spared no money
to get together winning team, and the
fans have SO far failed to show appre.
citation Of the high class ball that the
club Is putting up.
If the 1nilers are to finish in the frs
sdivisiory they will have to play phenome
nal article of ball from now on for none
of the four leaders seems likely to drop
and Kansas City will be hard to displace
The fight between ST. Paul and milwaukee,
for first place is getting interesting, blu
indianapolis cannot be overlooked. It i
the weakest of the three on paper, blu
Watkins generally has something up hi
sleeve, and he is noted for strong finishes
The writer has always been of the opinio,
that both Indianapolis and st. Paul woul,
beat out Milwaukee, and he still SO thinks
louisville, however, is playing as fast a.
any of the three teams mentioned, an,
the colonies cannot be overlooked in tn,
betting. The race Is one of the pretties
seen for some time, barely half a dozel
games separating the four first division
teams.