The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-04
CURRENT SPORTING GOSSIP.
BASEBALL SITUATION DISCUSSED
BY CLARK GRIFFITH.
VIII Make No Radical Changes In New
Yorks Although He Has Twenty
/. five Men In I.lne-Pavors a short
gchedule-Morris Park Wants Dates.

In tho carly mails to-day Clark Griffith
manager OF the New York American League
team. will send baseball contracts TO twenty
nve players. each accompanied by note
calling attention TO the fact that the men
will be asked to train In the South probably
at Brmin CHAM. Grinlth. who arrived here
from his Montana ranch on New Years Day
began the campaign. 80 TO speak. at Amcrl-
can League headquarters. in the Flatiron
building by going over the baseball situa-
ton in the following interesting way:
FIRST OF all. | would like 10 say that shall
not consider proposition TO trade on any
OF the men who came within an ace OF bring
ing the worlds championship to New York
last season. As the team stands to-day
with some additions. | consider e the best in
America. For that matter | believe that
wa had far better team than did Boston.
and that we would have won the pennant
easily II had enjoyed any kind of good
luck. 1t was one long series OF accidents
and injuries 10 our players that kept us back
Yet We came within one game OF winning
tho championship. For that reason ! think
IL would be mistake TO trade any of the
regulars. for this year / feel sure that they
will play with evon greater confidence than
before. But at the same time | have made
efforts to fortiiy ourselves by securing some
new men.
In addition 10 the old pitchers. Chesbro
Powell. Orth. Putnam and ClarSson have
handler from Los Angeles. is sure to be with
us. and ought TO make tho team. Then |
have four young righthander s In HoRg OF
Spokane. who, in my opinion. Is tho best
Of the lot. Whitley OF Vncennes who is a
protege Of our old friend Amos Rusie Holy
cross Of Cairo and Starkoll Of Boise. Walter
wilmot picked those young boods out for
me- and ! kept an eye open In our interests
all last season. / intend TO send ell OF the
young pitchers South in the spring about ton
days before the g7Ilar members OF the team
go. so that they can be in shape to give us
some first class batting practice Then.
when things get down to rock bottom. we
will begin tho championship season with at
leaAt eight pitchers. though the box work
will be done by six later
Chase the new fret basemau. who comes
from Los Angeles, was recommended 10 US
by Bill Lange, the old Chicago centreHelder.
who writes me that Chase ia star. The
young man resembles Chance OF the Chicago
Nationals. in that he is compactly built aud
weighs lsi pounds. This does not mean
that Camel will be displaced. for Camel Is a
hg class man whose equal in playing ability
would be hard 20 find. But If Chase can play
better ball than Camel The present situation
will be somewhat changed. Joe feager.
who comes from Montreal. will be sub
eiitute nhcldcr lie cen play third or short
in good shape and lsIa tptop hit'er. As iar
the outheld Is concerned, We can stand
pat. L Dave FuitZ can strike his old gait
We will he inrincblc With Dougherty and
Keller to help hin out. ,hut # ne does not
come to time we have John Anderson to fall
% -inccroly hope that jim MCGUIRE will
consent 70 play another season. as be is SIN
a great bHckstop. He a great help AT |
N" end Of the season when kleinow was |
double headers played il tie last two weeks
Of the campaign. catching eleven games /
in six days without turning a hair. kleinow /
is ono Of The best cntchers In the country |
and marvellous thrCwer. us best work |
ntN me ont "A second shall
Jack Doy I,'' trial behind the bat and Il he
can daIiycr the goods h. " III be an addition |
Of strength McManus may be retained. hut |
that has not been settled yet keeler IL the
only man who has signed so far, hnt ne other
10 paper yet. although their contracts will
be mailed to-morrow morning
lie has been spending ms vacation with
or ten pounds of solid flesh. | put him
through course or sprouts. including ,
Ing sheds and cutting down trees. which did
him n world Of good. ne has everything
possesses plenty Of nerve. lie, was a bit
light in weight last year. hut VIII have more
beef and Drawn when ne goes INTO tne ook
again, which should be OF much benefit TO
him -, 49,. 80 ..,;oro ,s,. .so
National League fellows want to play post
season games with the American leagie.
N they are on the square why did they vote
for "A schedule OF 1874 games such schedule
will make II impossible to play a post season
series in case the weather is unfavorable
II WA n high handed piece Of business any
way for all Of the players ARE in favor of "A
schedule OF 40 games. which would give them
ch9hce IT, rt" 9T ~ Nh ,,y, va tbo 49,
can League schedule would be made up OF
40 rsrnes n begin on the same day that the
Nationals opcn Then could go along |
without conflicting dates and wind up our
season when we pleased, allowing the Ma
That would show the public which league
/ IS afraid 10 test its real playing strength on
the diamond.
IA Tar as the rules nre concerned. see
no reason to make any changes While |
have seen no idea advanced that would I'M
prove upon the present rtile- he umpire $ Job,
as It Is, cannot be- much NOR, dihicuit 30
that further complications should be avoided.
Tho baseball public does not care to see kick
ing. especially in New York and Boston, where
umpres are generally upheld by the crowds
and the newspapers, but In other towns UNI
pres are completely cowed 50 that they dare
not give n visiting club the long end Of things.
The hitting has been light and tho foul strike
rule has something 10 do with Il. But n you
take this rule away. h. will be even harder
on the pitchers than at present for the reason
that batsmen can 70 back 10 the old practise
:" az 'V,r'11,s le 40 t,nnervcd know little Of
this business myself for when ran W against
the champion Baltimores Of ten ten years age,
came to fouling OF sure strikes until they
got a base on balls. Then would come a
sacrifice and n long hit and the game would
be non. That Kind OF ball is not wanted by
the public so it seems best 20 let tho present
What about our chancca for hte pennant2
Well they ought 70 be as good as anybody
unless unexpected conditions arise. Tho
Bostons may be strengthened bit, but il
must no remembered that they did not win
the championship last year as easily ~ they
did in 1908 The ChiCagos and Clevclauds .
should also be factors IN this race rs well as
the Philadelphias but think you VIII the
New York Americans making things hum
for all of them before the race Is over.
Griflth IA in splendid health and will re-
main here for the rest OF the winter. From
Cincinnati comes word that at the coming
meeting Of the national commission next !
Monday rules governing the worlds series
will probably be framed and a silver trophy /
rmhernatic OF the championship VIII he /
hung M for competition. the winner OF the |
series 70 be merely its custodian from year
10 year.
n was rumorcd in turf circles Yesterday !
that an organization has been formed with |
De Courccy Forbes. former president or the |
New Nork Jockey Club. at the head. which |
will take over the lease OF Morris Park and will |
make formal application 10 the state Racing |
tonmission for license lr such proves |
10 be- tho case. Il will be- up to t'.S coaulis-
sion md the Jockey Club 20 assume "A positive
stand IN the mater which may cause some |
friction. iuaEmuCh as N has been tho