Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-07
BALL GOSSIP OF WEEK
Papa Bills Talk to Team Bears Some
Fruit Already.
PERFORMANCE AND PAY GO TOGETHER
Men who DO Not Deliver the Goods
VIII Receive None of the Cash
IL the Rule In Omaha
1t looks better.

1t looks better.
Omaha played two games during the
week, and won both OF them. Manager
Rourke looks on this as al evidence that
what he said to some OF his young gladi-
ators concerning performances and pay
rolls went to the spot. Il am paying them
good money" says Papa Bill. and l want
good ball. II 1 can't get it from these
fellows, I'll get 1t from someone else. 1
need It in my business. and In through
signing pay checks for shirks and takers"
1t wasn't any war talk Bill made to the
boys. He merely took them quietly into
his office and explained to them the neces-
eity Of giving the people the best they
have in store and doing 1t every time. To
one or two Of the youngsters he pointed
out the fact that what might be looked
upon as good ball in the Ill league or
some other OF the minors isn't quite the
right thing for Omaha. w are trying
to please people who have been having
base ball for the last twenty-five years and
who know what good ball is. 1t won't do
to try to fool them, and I'm not going
TO try it. 1 am paying bigger salaries than
/ did last year, and am willing to spend
money in every way to get a good team,
but when 1 hire a man and pay him good
wages / propose to have good ball from
him In return" This is the kind of talk
the manager gives to his youngsters and
with some slight variations he handed the
same package 10 the older members OF the
team. III you don't play ball, 1 can't use
you is his ultimatum. The Improved
conduct of the men during the last two
games is an evidence that temporarily, at
least, the ideas of the manage have taken
root in the minds of the men.
Having Hickey and Gonding back In the
game is a big help in more than one way
On Friday afternoon the team was as
sembled on the field for the first time this
season. Not a sub was in, and the game
came to omaha with much ease as a result.
The outcome wasn't in doubt at any point,
and the end Of the session would not have
been any better for Denver than what hap
pened. Gonding is the life of the team at
all times, no matter what is going on. He
hustles from first to last, and he knows
the game backwards, so that not a play
comes up that he isn't In with. He keeps
the inhelders on their toes all the time, and
does It in q way that is effective without
being offensive. Hickey says he is In bet
ter shape than he has been for years.
What was thought to be a torn ligament
turns out to have been nothing worse than
q severe case of muscular rheumatism.
with warm weather and care there is little
likelihood OF a recurrence of this, and he
is as good for the long throw as he ever
was. But the best effect Of Hickey's re-
turn is in the influence 1t will have on
Dolan. With Patterson on third Dolan was
up in the air most of the time, for Patter-
son knew nothing about the position. and
Dolan never could tell what he was going
TO do. With this uncertainty It was only
natural that the shortshtop would be
nervous all the time he was In, the field.
Added to this has been the irregularity of
Wright's behavio on first. so that Dolan
was not only nervous over the probable ac-
ton OF his companion on the left side of
the diamond, but he couldn't tell Just what
Wright was going to do with the throw,
Hickey will remove a great portion OF this.
for Eddie is as steady as clockwork and
knows what to do in the field every time,
and Wright is likely to do better now, 50
that this feature of the fielding will get
back to old-time work. If Hickey succeeds
in making good OIL his talk he will be q
tower OF strength in what has been a
woefully weak spot for a long time.
shugart is showing his true form at Sec
ond, and his work is such as
him highly TO the fans. He is fast, and
willing. and barring a little nervousness
such as has been felt by all the inhelders
for obvious reasons, his work could hardly
be improved on. His hitting is hardly UT
TO his mark, but he is ambitious in that
direction and will surely show improve.
ment. Rourke doesn't regret that $500 he
gave Bill Wilson for the trade, although
he did part with Stewart with more of sor.
row than anger. Rourke recognizes Stew.
arts great ability as a field general, and has
nothing but the best words to say for him
Bobby Carter is showing the most i'm.
provement OF any member OF the team, SC
far as last seasons form is concerned
Carter suffered all summer from the eff
fects OF illness. and did not get into gooC
condition at any time. He is now In tn,
finest form he ever attained. Fully twent,
pounds heavier than he was in 1902, he Il
almost half again as fast. and is heldinI
and hitting at a rate that is comforting
10 any who admire the game. And NOR
than that, Carter is playing the game a
he never understood It before. His tire,
VERHHTUHEUHp WHnf