The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-22

Special to The Journal.
Boston, April 21-They re off, every
team looking for good position in the
running. AS usual, here and there O
weak team has made good start with
the aid of favorable conditions and
heap of luck. Perhaps teams actually
out for the money have already dis
able how these weak spots will show
up in the early games, and usually
develop among the old players who
labor for new start.
It will be fully month yet before
a line can be had on the clubs, as one
team will defeat strong opponent to
fall down when up against a weak
member, so that the team that may.
look the strongest the first ten days
were these conditions so prominent as
at the present time, when there is very
little difference in the makeup of the
major league clubs, outside the pitchers
and general management. AS to the
rank and file Of players in the makeup
Of the big leagues. there is little choice
any more. Take the New York giants,
outside of Manager McGraw and
Christy Mathewson, the team is only
a very ordinary one, nothing to be
| compared with the great teams Of the
more. .-..
Mathewson Star
With the great Mathewson ont of
| the game this season, which is not I'M
likely, it would be grand race in the
National league. for several other clubs
would take a brace, knowing they were
not forced to meet this box artist. My
impression is that Mathewson has
overworked himself for at least five
or six years, for he is expected to win
every game and never can afford to
let up in his work. - 49," "*
Already I have noticed several pitch
ers working the "fade-away' ball, and
before the season is over scores of
pitchers will have this style of curve
down fine. Tt g the most effective ball
delivered to the bat at the present day,
not excepting the, spit ball, which has
lost caste with the pitchers who care to
remain in the business with strong
whip. ~. t
Jack CHESHIRE is still working the
spit ball, but not as often as two years
ago, and now taking great pains and
sending the ball up very slowly, having
developed splendid control. fully be
Iieve before the season is over this
freak delivery will have passed out OF
the game and should have been legis
the pitcher was allowed to carry lot
of grease for the purpose of preventing
the ball from being hit. Without good
hitting the game grows unlnterestlne
and hitting the ball clean and safe il
fast becoming lost art, as the scores
will show. Hitting and base-runnine
on one side with sharp fielding for OPP
position, are the essential qualities TO
interesting baseball games, and vii
bring out the features that the public
will talk about and advertise the sport
) The crowds at the opening games s a 4,
since then show that the sport ha
! increased in popularity and promises: t.
> be a great money maker for the malol
leagues. 49, - ..-,.....-,,- e. 4 -'-" 49, ~
AS usual thing retired professional
ballplayers are little seen at the games
| The main reason for this is the failure
of the owners to recognize a profes
sional and right here is where the own
ers make a great mistake, for the grea1
players of the past had their friends
and those friends are still an influence
in baseball all over the country.
= The league or club that counts thu
ex-players as friends has an asset hare
to estimate the value Of. For example
the South end grounds never recognized
old players when they came out to SCI
; the games, and the result is that :
small army Of ex-members Of the clul
and the National league are foreve
roofing for the opposition to get ever
with the men who they feel have turne'
them down. ..-E
The America nleague club of thi
J city has always made point of sending
, season complimentary passes to sew
eral ex- Boston league players. The big
gest feature Of the opening game her
last Tuesday was the presence of a
| lea st twnscnre of old faynrite nrofes