The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-21
HOW THEY SHOULD FINISH.

AN: $;:;:::: AZ: E;;:;; $:
The defect in such dope is that it
proves too much and too little. In the
first place, the fielding and batting rec
ords of players in the Pacific, Northwest
or New England leagues are bumped with
those Of mon who were in. the American
National; manifestly an unreliable sort
of figuring. Again, no account Is taken
OF team work, which is quite as impor-
tant as batting, fielding or pitching.
Other conditions being equal, there. are
three American Association managers
whose teams will lead the league. They
are Tebeau of Louisville, Watkins of In
dianapolis and Wilmot of Minneapolis.
These three men have proved themselves
the superiors Of any other. managers in
the league, and their teams must be ex-
pected to finish considerably better than
the dope indicates.
President Johnston and Manager Will
mot of the local team were incl:hed to
scof when they saw the figures of the
Dispatch.
Let them figure on the dope as much
as they want to before the season opens,''
said ;Wilmot. I'VE are satisfied with our
team, and when we get first-class
short-stop cnched we will be willing to
stand pat, and let the results speak for
the team. The dope says that we are
sixth in pitching strength, but I am will
ing to bet our twirlers will show up as
well If not better than those Of any
other club in the league. Stimrnel. katoll,
st. Vrain and Vasbinder are the equals.
Of any other quartet you can name. Vas
binder was in bad health last year, and
pitched only two games. It is manifestly
absurd to take his record for 1902 as an in
dex to his real ability. Sporer and New
lin will show up much better this year
with a fast team behind them. and
heady catcher at the other end of the
alley. Figuring pitchers averages on per-
centage of games won and lost is worse
than useless. Suppose Sporer had had the
Indianapolis team behind him, and Kel-
lum had been pitching for Mi'a.Hapols
last season. don't you suppose their rec
ord OF victories would have been a little
different?'
Manager Reisling of the Toledo team
takes the barrel of flour for cast-iron
nerve. Yesterday he wired President
Johnston OF Minneapolis to this effect:
Twill you trade katoll for Carrick? ?
Answer" 49,.
It took Johnston and Wilmot half an
hour to catch their breath, but when
they were able to sit up again the follow
ing answer was sent Reisling, G. 0. D.:
"Yes, if you will give us 100000 to
boot" -
Vasbinder, who has signed to pitch for
Minneapolis this season, was married
March 16 to Miss Flora Goddard of Saline
= vile, Ohio.
There is an element in the National
league which is working tooth and nail
to undo the work accomplished at the re-
cent National-American peace. conference.
S The well-posted fan will not need more
than six guesses to decide that Brush and
Freedman are the leaders in this move
ment. The method adopted is to defy
the terms OF the peace contract and at
tempt to play Davis and Delehanty with
the New York Nationals in spite Of the
agreement by which these men were
awarded to the American league clubs
with which they played last year. Presi-
dent Pul1am of the National league has
very sensibly taken a firm stand upon
the matter and says that neither man viii
be eligible to play with the National
league until he has fulfilled his obligations
with the club holding his contract
The Columbus club has entered claim
for 1nfielder Charles B. ISuhns, just signed
by Toronto. s+... = =.
Frank Killen has gone to Mt Clemens
where he will stay until time to report tc
the Indianapolis club Z. -.s f.. =.
Manager Cantlllon of the Milwaukee
club has put in a claim for La, Chance
first baseman of last years Boston. Anleri-
cans, and Outhelder Tommy Dowd, for.
merly Of the Boston Americans
Indianapolis will not get Pitcher Brun.
ner, the sensational performer with Chat
tanooga last year. When Chattanooga
y was dropped by the Southern association
the youngster thought he was free ant
signed with the boosters. Montgomery
however, took the Chattanooga franchise
and claimed Brunner as one Of the assets
of the club. The National board hel6
that the player must follow the franchise
& Watkins lost a good man by the decision
&5 Tom Tucker. eight years first basema1
ss for. the Boston Nationals, has announced
81 his retirement from the diamond. HI
says that no efforts will tempt him from
now on, for he has a fine position with
& Iiolyoke, Mass, paper company, and in
tends to stick. f
William Gray, the inventor of the catch
A er's pad, died recently in Hartford. H
left a goodly fortune to his family grow
8 ling out of this and other Inventions Thi
is but one Of numberless instances Of .th
E fortunes our national game has helpe,
men to who might otherwise have neve
known prosperity.
President Brush of the New York club i
still dissatisfied with the outcome Of th
Il peace conference held at Cincinnati J.
Il few weeks ago. His latest declaration
s that the commissioners swung the AK in
stead of waving the olive branch
Baseball Is the chief sport Of the Port,
II Ricans. not only among the Americal
residents, but the natives also.
Newest and Best Train. Il
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