The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-13
HITTING FALLS OFF.
Millers Fail to Land on the Ball
With Their. Former Reg.
ularity.
Team Does Well to Break Even on
the First Games Of
Trip.

In the first four games on their eastern
trip the millers did not show up with the
stick as well as they did in the home
series. In the four games they made to-
tai Of only thirty four safe ones or an av-
GRACE Of eight and a half a game. That
is not enough to win most contests, unless
the pitchers are in great form, and the
base running fast. In the latter depart
ment Of the game the millers have always
been weak, and it is due to the work of the
rwirlers that the millers broke even.
It was hard luck to be cut out Of two
games at Toledo, for the Yeagerites would
at least have broken even, and possibly
taken both. Rain at Indianapolis or CO.
lumbus would have been much more &C.
ceptable to the local club owners. The
team is in good shape, however, and ought
to find it's batting eye again ere long.
When the millers are hitting at their true
gait, there is nothing doing, for any one of
the four twirlers can be trusted to let
the other side down with three or four
runs at most, provided the fielding is up
to the standard. There is still no reason
for backing water on the prediction that
| during the trip.
| st. Paul has made the best record Of the
| western teams during the last week, hav-
| ing won five of the seven games on the
trip, up to Thursday night. The saints.
| however, have been pitted against Toledo
and Columbus, the two tail enders, and
are likely not to do so well against Louis
vile and Indianapolis. Milwaukee has
struck a snag, only breaking even with
Louisville, and losing two out of the first
three with Indianapolis. Kansas City has
/ won two out Of five. It Is probable that
1 both the brewers and the blues will re-
turn home with thinner percentages than
those they carried away. Indeed 1t would
not be a great surprise to see both ST. Paul
and Indianapolis pass the brewers before
the latter reach home again.
Kansas City and Minneapolis are having
a pretty seesaw for fourth place. This
really belongs to the millers, but they
can cinch it only by doing better work
against Indianapolis and Louisville than
the cowboys do against Columbus and
/ Toledo. To do this the n1illers must play
| at the top speed.
Besides cutting Yeager's men out of two
probable victories, the three days lay-off
during the first week Of the trip undoubt-
edly hurt the teams play against Colum-
bus. The team that works every day
has the edge on the bunch that is forced
/ to lay off. s.
i In the National league Pittsburg and
/ New York continue winning, and up to
date the giants have proven a better road
team than was expected. On the whole
Iie.spuis 1las oeeii playing d petter game
CURING Inc last TWO weeks Eth ls New New
forK. Inc pirates TOOK TWO out OF three
ofsthe series with New York and con
tnued their winning streak by making
it three ,.sfrai ght%with Boston and Phil
i .aaeiphla. sIhey had Won nine straight
4 games up TO Thursday night, and theil
Work IN administering two: straight shut
Il outs to @NfcGraws men is feat worth
mention, for the giants boast eight .30t
batters:.s;;.
4 outside: OF the pitchers Pittsburg has q
a better balanced team than New York
4 There is certainly no comparison between
! the inf1elds, but New Y ork is nearly az
!. good as the pirates in the outfield, anc
, stronger behind the bat 1t is doubtful
whether. Pittsburg,s pitchers will show
I.ups as well as Matthewson or McC4innitv
hit iustN5a nov, S ,ot onI,, The .,a+ 40. !, ,