The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-23
TOO EARLY TO
SIZE UP TEAMS
CLUBS HAVEN'T
HAD A REAL TRYoUT.
speed of the Millers In Opening Games
Is Subject of Favorable Comment
In Toledo - Fans Anxious to Have
NIillers Show More Strength at Bat.

Is Subject Of Favorable Comment
In Toledo - Fans Anxious to Have
Millers Show More Strength at Bat.
Minneapolis has opened the base
ball season in a most suspicious fash
lion, as compared with the last two
years. The team won It's first game
with Toledo by close score, and lost
Until the team has played the rest
of it's eastern games, however, 1t will
he Impossible to make any accurate
predictions in regard to its finish.
In fact, the team will not have fair
TEST until it reaches Minneapolis, and
has played a. few games on Its own
bgrounds. While on the road there IS
no chance for morning practice, and
consequently little opportunity to per-
fleet team work.
The baseball writer's In Toledo ao-
nait that the millers have shown re-
rnarkable speed in the field and on the
sacks. They have repeatedly
knocked down drives that looked safe,
and are given credit by all for playing
a scrappy, gingery game. That Is
will be a great relief after the rubber
headed exhibitions of last year.
I'D to date the millers have done
nothing to disprove the charge that
they are weak with the stick, getting
only five hits in the first two games.
The management admits that the
team Is not bunch Of sluggards, but
insists that it is good enough with the
stick to supplement Its speed in the
field, and to win most Of its games
behind the strong lot Of pitchers
Manager Watkins maintains with rea-
son that it Is seldom possible to get
together a minor league team which
is strong with the stick as well as
fast in other respects. Men who can
hit, field and run bases, are rare, and
minor leagues, they are snapped UP by
the big fellows. Watkins theory is
that a fast team, with fair hitting
strength, and supported by strong
pitchers, has more chance Of winning
than a smuggling bunch which Is def
teamwork. AS he has practiced this
theory in the selection Of his teams for
many years, with almost unvarying
success, it is fair to assume that he is
correct.
A winning team, however, must
have some strength at the bat to sup
plement its strength in other depart
1nents. The more it excels in fielding
or pitching, the more 1t can afford to
dispense with heavy hitters. Whether
Minneapolis has we'll balanced team
in this respect can be determined only
by results. Up to date, however,
there is no reason to alter the predic-
ton that the millers will be one, two.
three in a race.
st. Paul has started out we'll by
winning its first two games. The team
has been pittad against the weak Co.
lumbus batters, however, and it's new
pitchers have yet to show their met
tie. The real test Of the team will
come when the Northern league re.
l. -
the hard hitting teams. In Checl
and Ferguson. Kelly has two tried
box artists, but the others, even Sla.
gle, are experiments. The team Is shy
an outfelder, and Spooner has beer
playing In the right garden. The saints
are likely to slump when they strike
the strong Indianapolis and Louisville
teams
Indianapolis has completed a fas
outfield by the addition of Swander
a recruit from st. Louis. With Ho
griever and McCreery, Phillips has J.,
fast and hard hitting outfield, and hi
infield, altho largely composed o
Kansas City Is generally regarded a.
the weakest Of the western teams
however, the Indians cannot be SALE
to have proved themselves yet
Louisville broke even in its first tw'
games with Milwaukee. The brewer
are said by their supporters to b
nearly, If not quite, as strong as las
year, but, like ST. Paul, they are sh,
on veteran slab artists. Meredith, II
fact, Is their only reliable man.
Toledo has shown up much strong
or than last year, and the reports in
dictate that Long has his men playing
a snappy game. At best, however
they appear to be second division
prospect.
In the National league the Ptttsburi
team Is having hard shedding and I
ence for the three-time pennant win
ners. Up to date, however, the ney
pitchers on the team have been do
ling much better work than was ex
pected. It is the unanimous opinion
that Pittsburg is far the best team
Ing staff, and If the youngsters max
good. there will be nothing to it.
New York leads the league JUS
now, but many predict that the team
will slump before the season is over
Sporting News points out that Nc
Graw has had an erratic career a
manager, q career In which brillian
success and dismal failure have al
ternated. Sporting News says Of tn
giants:
New York is better equipped i
the infield than in 1908, but there
mlSglVlng In the minds OF man
about any team which McGraw man
ages, in view Of his record. He wa
q sensational success as manager i
1899, when he was employed by tn
observation-disclosures syndicate to OF
crate the orioles, failure In 1901 an
ti902, when the manager-owner of tn
American league team Of Baltimore
and made q creditable record with tn
1908 giants. He employed the sam
method each season, and the varianc
in results can be only accounted fe
on the score Of luck. II baseball luc
is with him, he succeeds: if it
against him he fights the umpires an
league officials and drifts with til
tide. His first clash with Brush wi
end his career with the New Yor
club If it occurs during slump Of til
team, and 1t is liable to come tn
year. The st. Louis cardinals are tn
most improved of all the major leagr
teams and should be no lower tina
fourth. with good chances Of doin
better.
Nichols has high-class pitchers,
satisfactory infield and outheld FL
catchers are not up to the standar,
but Grady and Byers are hitters an
hustlers. There are no laggards (
mutineers on the Robinsons' payroll
and their success in the spring seris
with the Browns has served to IL