The Washington times., 1906-03-08

Here are the figures on which 20 dope
II out whether the baseball team has a
chance TO cover itself with glory this
season.
To an unbiased and critical eve there
are few signs of a championship in the
Indications that Washington starts the
season with a more promising agereea-
tion than it did last year.
1t viii be noticed that 300 batters are
scarce and that Anderson, with .279, is
the best in the lot followed by Hickman
with .Zlls hut that is better than was
on tap when the bell rang to begin hos
tllites IN l9uo- Thus, two of the outfield
positions are occupied by men who lec,it-
iHlately gained fairly good averages
with the stick
Jones May Bat Better.
In the other garden is Charley Jones.
who is considered by some of the foxiest
managers in the business 10 be the best
fielding outhelder in the ma jor leagues.
He is lightning fast on his feet all the
time, uses his head, can pull the bah
down out Of the air like human SCOOP
net, and doesn't get ratified Cnfort1l-
nately for his desirable young man. he
Is somewhat bad with the bat. as his
.5b indicates. But Charles appeared to
be getting next to himself toward the
close of 1915 and was improving with
the stick.
The outlook in The outfeId is Ger
tafniy better than last year, when the
season opened with Knoll, r mediocre
sucker and unreliable batter. in right
Jones. at his worst in center. and
Huelsman, a slugger. but nothing like
as reliable with his club as Anderson.
and incidentally, the clumsiest fielder
Ihat ever happened, in left.
Ghose Tar pastures are certainly bet
ter, on paTer, now than they We're
twelve months ago.
he viii prove better or worse remains
to be seen.
Fight for Second.
Little Nil will try for second He is
hustfing youth in fielding. but he is
so small and so low in his batting aver
age that he will probably figure as a
bench warmer, for despite his short
comings he is valuable man. popular
with the fans, and CHEEKY worker who
will I'll in at any position and give the
crowd a run for its money.
SChlafiey. from the Coast, is Carded
10 go on second, but he is another prob
lem His swattinS in the Pacific Coast
League was only .326, which wins no
prizes Stahl has an idea that he will
do better in the big league, and viii be
given a chance because. he is unusually
speedy in fielding and on thS bases, and
is expected to cover great deal of
ground.
Lave Cross should be an improve
ment over Hill at third in every way.
He is a better batter and better fielder.
The only thing Hill had on Cross was
picking up bunts, at which he was
somewhat of wonder.
Some Weak Hitters.
Joe Cassidy will do the honors again
at short. and if he can only get his bat
ting eve in working order Washington
will have the laugh on nearly every
other major team in that position.
Kittredge and Heydon are veterans
from last season in the catching end,
Neither of them could reach 200 with
the stick in 1905, and unless they i'm
prove in batting a hustling youngster
with swatting proelivities will have an
excellent chance to get job In Wash
ington this summer.
KitsOn and Sudhoff replace Townsend
and Jacobsen in the box. and as neither
OF the two eX-NatiOnals distinguished
himself last year or made any special
effort TO earn his salary. the two vet
Grams who got their jobs should do bet
ter. on the principle that they could
hardly do worse.
OF the young pitchers who Will be
trfg1,~AicCey would seem to be worth a
lot of c%pSTimenting with, because Of
his hitting. He is credited with .267 in
the Southern League last year, and that
is away above the average Of the Wash
ington team.
Yes, It's Stronger.
HenIine, 2s6 in the Three I League,
and Stanley, .261 in the American
League, will be handy around the prem
ises 20 ill in a hole in right field If it
becomes necessary TO pull Charley Hick-
man in to play second.
On the whole. it may be said that
Washington is much stronger IN the out
field and at third base, and is more
than likely decided winner In the deal
for pitchers. besides all Of which the
youngsters who started last season fresh
from the minors have had the VaIua ble
experience OF going a year in the ma
jors.
Yes. Washington should be q harder
proposition in 1906 thar Il was in 1906.