The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-01
Comment ON SPORTING Matters

While it is yet too early in the season to
do much Dragging, there is no denying
that the Saints are entitled to much credit
for the showing they have made in the few
games already played by them in the
American association pennant race. Any
team that can start the season with prac-
tically no training, and away from home at
that, and pull itself into first place in the
second week of play, certainly has some
thing of pennant winning makeup
about it, and so long as Manager Kelley
can get away with games with the team
he has he should be Loyalty supported by
the local fans.
The st. Paul management has shown an
inclination in the right direction by it's
efforts to strengthen the team early in
the season. The acquisition of Jones
should make the outfieId stronger, pro-
viding the new man makes good in the
manner he Is expected to. Should Jones
prove to be a good hitter, the outfield
will be about as strong as any in the as
ISOLATION and the Saints already have a
fairly good infield, although it is not as
strong as that of last year.
Two more good pitchers, good reliable
men who can be depended Upon after a
what is most needed at the present time
to keep the Saints at the top of the heap,
and unless they are secured it is very
largely problematical as to how long the
The pitching staff is made up very
largely of youngsters. and it has already
been demonstrated that they cannot be
depended upon at critical times Corbett
has twice been tried. and both times has
proven a failure, while Sessions, Slagle
and Bartos pitch good ball only at in
tervals. Chech and Ferguson are the only
reliable pitchers the Saints have, and
while some of the youngsters may be
able to make a good showing at times, the
experiment of keeping them on the team
may prove costly before the season is far
advanced.
Marcan is playing a good game at the
present time but O'Brien has frequently
SHOWN that he can make as many errors
as the next one. and in the games thus far
played Schaefer, whose place he took, has
made him look like nine spot.
But SO long as the Saints win, and they
have been winning, what Is the difference
whether new men are secured or not; the
question is. will the winning streak stand
the test Of time?
Mr.. Kelley should remember that 1t is
a poor time to change horses when cross
ing a stream. and If he knows where one
or two reliable pitchers can be had 1t
might not be a foolish move for him to
attach string to them.
The Northern league season opens May
20 and all of the teams are now getting
in shape for the race The prospects for q
good season in the Northern are very
bright this year, and the prospects for a
good article of ball were never better. All
or the teams are stronger than they were
last year, and no one of them has cinch
on the pennant Up at the head of the
lake, both Duluth and Superior are keep
ing up their search for new men, and both
teams are in a position to give the other
clubs merry chase after the rag.
Winnipeg, winner of the pennant for the
past two years, Will be out after 1t again
this year and it will take strong aggre-
cation to head off Manager Egan's men.
The signing of Shortstop Annis has-added
to the strength of the champions, and the
men received from st. Paul will help the
team out wonderfully. Wood is laid up
with a sprained ankle at present, but
LeBarron is expected to do good work,
and SpooneT who has already shown that
he was fast enough to play with the Saints.
viii give the champions one of the best
first basemen in the league. With Spoon
er at first, Kelley at second Hille at
third and AnniS at short, the Peggers have
strong infleld and should be able to hold
its own with any team in the league
Perry Werden has a good team at Fargo
and under the veterans coaching should
make a good showing. Crookston and
Grand Forks, especially Grand Forks have
teams which give the fans of those two
towns license to look forward to a season
of fast ball. Taken all in all, the Northern
league appears to be pretty evenly bal
anced and the race this year should be a
pretty one right from the start.
Harry Clayton, who signed to play with
Winnipeg this season, was given his re-
lease yesterday by President Lamb, and
it is probable that Clayton will remain out
of baseball this season unless he decides