Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-26
LOOKING FORWARD
TO NEXT SEASON
By ]. c. Morse.

BOSION, NOvenfDeP 6.-There mas been
a great deal of discussion about the OPEN
ing Of the playing season. Now that the
foul strike is no longer discussed and all
the clubs Of the American League are re-
signed to 1t, attention is paid to the date
of the opening of the season. AS usual.
the National League prefers the early
opening-say. Thursday. April 11-while the
American League inclines to Sunday, the
14th, as the opening. It is safe to predict
that Thursday, the 18th. will be the open
ing day in both organizations and that the
campaign viii extend to Sunday, October
g. There is no reason at all why the worlds
series cannot be extended to nine games.
The conditions In the opening game of the
series this year were about as bad as they
could very well be, and the last day was
the best in the whole campaign.
A general interchange of games between
the clubs of the two major leagues would
meet with little favor, The two clubs in
ally play together, but there is little inter-
est here unless the clubs both stand high
in their respective organizations. Again, II
the plan were tried to have the clubs play
together as they stand, the expenses would
be out of all proportion to the receipts in
many cases, and such a play would cut out
entirely the intercity games Again. the
weather conditions in the east are liable
to be extremely adverse, and in that case
the patronage would not be at all alarming.
\ X
The major league clubs are carrying so
many players this year that there will be
a great turning over of material to minor
league organizations before the season
opens. Enough players will be cast aside
to form an entire league. Clubs are COM
PEELED to secure considerable array in the
hope that a find will be secured, for the
number that make good is generally very
small. Often Goes 1t happen that player
other chance later on, and sometimes a
man is twice sent back into minor league
company and then shows speed enough to
secure a third trial.
Changes galore were the order Of the day
at the meetings Of the majors last season,
and, while there may not be made many
changes in the meetings that will occur
In Chicago and New York two weeks hence,
there will be considerable doing from that
standpoint; in fact, it is expected that more
changes will be made 80 far as the Boston
clubs are concerned than in the case of
the clubs of any other city. The Ameri-
cans have small company with thirty
six men at their disposal, and there are
many that can be spared without any
trouble at all. Manager Tenney expects to
turn trick or two that will help his team,
and there is no doubt at all that the new
dispensation will be in a position to secure
some players that will help the locals ma
terldlly. Inc CluD Is TO De strengthened
in a pitching and batting way, and If
that is done far better showing can be
made than was done last season. for had
the club of 1906 been as well equipped for
emergencies as were other clubs it would
have made a better showing by consider
able, and doubtless would have shown
speed enough to be close to the top of the
second division. Manager Tenney Is to be
backed in every possible way the coming
season. and is confident he will make good
showing.
Base balloon being pretty we'll satisfied
that Charles Sylvester Stahl Is to handle
the Boston Arpericans next season, guesses
are in order who will succeed Jim Collins
at third base. 1t has been well remarked
that the American League has but four
class A third basemen. 1t is remarkable
there should be as many as four. The presi-
dent of the American League remarked not
so long ago that first-class players were
never so scarce as they are at present.
It is a most difficult matter to secure fast
men for any position. Perhaps Cleveland
was not fortunate when 1t secured Terry"
Turner, who is considered by many the best
shortstop In the country. Time was when
Fred Parent was considered to be the best,
but Freddy has gone back, undeniably. He
does not field, he does not bat and he does
uOL run pdScS dS lie Olu dcOISc AdOiduCc
was grand fielding first baseman, but
a batsman and base runner he was prac-
tically nil. He was knocked from pillar to
post until he came to Boston, and here he
found the proper atmosphere. Champion
ships were won with big George In the
team, and some thought 1t q mistake when
he was released.
X
1t is sheer nonsense to say it was owing
70 ho 70 f hat
team failed to land the pennant in 1904, as
maintained by President Murphy Of the
Chicago Nationals. Mr.. Murphy may be
conversant with the inside history Of the
National League affairs, but he certainly
has missed 1t In his criticism of the Ameri-
can League race referred to. That year
the Boston team was SO badly crippled in
the box that 1t simply had no chance at all.
The standpat business had simply nothing
to do with it at all. The Boston and Balti-
more teams Of the nineties, winners Of
about all the pennants won in a decade,
were nothing If not standpat teams. 1t
was largely owing to the fact that the Chi
cago club of the National League met with
SO few reverses in the way of injuries to
players that it managed to land the pen
nant in its organization.
Murphy also cites the New York Ma
tionals as an example of the standpat idea.
That club was crippled last season as were
few clubs in the country, yet came in Sec
ond-a splendid showing, all things consid-
cred Mathewson was very sick man for
long time and certainly was not in his
1904 form at any time during the season.
Ames, who is one of the most effective
pitchers in the country, was also out of the
game great deal. With these two pitchers
in their usual form Chicago would not have
had the walkover it had by a good deal.
Then Donlin was out of the game almost all
of the season, and the absence Of the crack
batsman Of a club for so long a period is
almost sufficient to put a club out of
championship race entirely. Browne, also
valuable player, was out of the game for
considerable period. The Cleveland club
OF the American League has been thrown
out of the American race several times
owing to the Gripping of the players. No
matter how strong a steam Is a pennant
cannot be landed unless 1t Is fortunate
enough to play at full strength during
season nearly so. The White Sox would
have found 1t difficult matter indeed to
land the pennant had Cleveland not re-
ceived SO many setbacks and had not the
Athletics been denied the services of the
crack left-hander, Eddie Plank.
Boston cut a sorry figure in the American
League race owing to the fact that Man.
ager Collins was out of the game almost
the entire season and Catcher Criger was
crippled by Illness. Mr.. Murphy seems to
think that club can guard against all
contingencies. Judging by the experience