The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-02
GOOD REPORTS
FROM CHAMPAIGN
EARLY PRACTICE OF THE NEIL.
LERS rs ENCOURAGING.
McNichol Appears to Be Find-Dan
Lally Making Good at First-To-
ledo Team Looks Stronger Than a
Fortnight Ago Open Race In the
American League.

millers at Champaign are encouraging
and, as far as they go, coRfirm the
good opinion previously formed Of the
team. The real test will not come,
however, until the first series or two
in the league schedule are played.
The exhibition games scheduled are
with minor league clubs, and will give
comparatively little opportunity to
judge what the men can do as a
team.
McNichol, the inlelder secured from
the coast, appears to be a. find. Re-
ports from Champaign say that his
third base play is a revelation. Nc
Nichol was highly recommended to
Watkins two years ago, by a good
same man urged Watty to spare no
effort to get the youngster, whose
work, he said, was better than ever.
In practice McNichol is covering lots
of ground. and his throwing is fast
and accurate. He is also a fair bat
ter and fast man on the sacks.
Dan Lally promises to be fixture
at first base if his work continues as
good as it was in the first two or three
days Of practice. Dan says first base
is cinch after playing the outf1eld,
and he has not the slightest doubt
himself of his ability to make good.
The Toledo team looks considerably
stronger than it did a fortnight ago,
altho it does not yet appear that
Manager Long has collected a bunch
sion honors. He has Reisling, Cristall
and Coughlin Of last years team, and
Jack Deering, secured from New
York, for pitchers. All are pretty
good men, and Reisling is a star, but
the pitching staff still looks weak COM
! I. - @%h "a n INC
Brown, a catcher from the Southern
league, will do the bulk of the back
stop work unless Zalusky comes to
time. For first base Long has Halle
| ton, who performed in the New York
| state league last year, and was second
! in batting with a percentage of 1928.
| Brouthers, the third baseman secured
from the Southern league, should
make good. He batted .348 last year
Long himself will play short, and
there is no question about his work
For second Long counts on getting
Billy Phyle, who, it is reported, will
be allowed to play with Toledo if he
his statements that games were
thrown in that league last year
Phyle is valuable man If he can be
kept in good order.
In the outfeld Toledo is not Sc
strong. Frisbee, who played in the
|
Deninger, of the New England league
are the men secured up to date. Lone
is trying to get two more good out
fielders. With this lineup the team
looks stronger than last year, tho no
| as strong as Minneapolis, Indianapolis
Louisville and st. Paul, and hardl!
stronger than either Milwaukee, Kan
sas City or Columbus. IT,, -ugzs. 49,
Less than two weeks remain befor
the opening Of the American and Ma
tional league seasons. In the Ameri
can the race promises to be prett.
good. 81 The Boston American leagu
club will stand pat on its champion
ship team, the only important chang
being the trade of Hughes for Tame
hill. Both clubs figured out wher
they have little the better Of tn
deal. Boston cannot be figured a
materially better than last year. Cleve
men in better shape than a year age
and should easily be in the first divi
sion. Last year the great Lajoie wa
unable to play his usual game unit
the middle Of the season, owing to hi
severe illness OF the winter. This yea
Larry will start in good condition, an
Bernhard, who also was i'll during
great part of the season, Is expected t
do as good work as in 1902, when h
led the league. pitchers. Cleveland i
spite of a very poor start had n
trouble in finishing in the first divisio
last year, and should make a goo
fight for the rag this season.
Philadelphia, as usual, looks CON
paratively weak on paper, but it locke
the same way last year and the yea
3 before. Connie Mack can be counte
on to finish we'll up if Waddell wi
, tend to business. The New Yor
Highlanders should be much stronge
than last year. Mcclure and Kle
D now have strengthened the catchir
department, the pitchers are fully ;
!, strong as last year, the infield has tt
= advantage of a years experience t.
: gether; and big John Anderson shou
Q strengthen the outfeld material
:. Last season the highlanders came /
e, fast after they struck their gait, al
o this season they ought to be in tt
e fight from the first.
: OF the second division teams, Oh
cago is the only one that has BET
materially strengthened. George D
Z Wis will help the infield wonderful
: if he plays in anything like his o
l. form, and it is reported that he h
IT been doing well in practice. Jig
Y DoEahue also is source of strengt
d and the team looks somewhat strong
behind the bat. The Whitesox b
- fair to make a good fight for the fiji
division. st. Louis has not be
strengthened, so far as appears no
The infield and outfeld may do be
ter work, but it is hard to see he
Anderson and Powell can be replace
Powell is star of the first mag1
tude, while Howell, who was secur
from New York in exchange, is il
good second-rater. In fact, w
Willie Sudhoof is the only man on t
- pitching staff who did good work IL
summer in big league.