Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-22

/ Despite the great demand for first
! class ball tossers all along the line
1t is impossible for some of the clubs
to secure firstclass players. Not on
lily Is the Cry from major league
/ teams. but from the minors. One
strong minor League has been scour-
ing the east diligently for frst-class
infielder, and has been willing to pay
almost any sum within reason to Sc.
cure such. one.
President Dewey of the Boston Ma
tionals has been after n collection of
Observation-Disclosures, catchers and u
spare inficlder-and has found 1t
mighty difficult to get what he Is af-
ter. 1t has been said often that
there are not enough high.grado ball
tossers In the country to man two
major leagues, and this comes very
near to being tho truth. "Wanted--
First-class ball tossers," continues to-
be the cry of the day. When club
allows veteran material to go in the
nope OF securing something letter 1t
has mighty tough contract on It's
hands. Pittsburg parted with Second
Baseman Claude Ritchey-had to do
1t, so it's said-but Abbaiichio comes
Il long ways from being IL Rltchey
Clark Griffith has now been engag-
cd five seasons in collecting cham
pionshin team and still has his trou-
blcs. He came within ono game of
1t at one time, but this season seems
to lack considerable of being at the
head of Il pcnnant-winning combina-
ton. On the other hand Comiskey
achieves wonders with team which
is very much of the picked-up de-
scriptiOn, yet it does wonders and nc
team In the country puts up more
interesting game. The Robisons have
expended immense sums season upon
season in the endeavor to secure a
good ball club, and can attest to the
difficulty of the task
So with the Washington club. The
club was not last season simply be-
cause of the decentralization of tho
Boston cluh-no other reason. Nhis
season new deal has been made;
and one of the most indefatigable
workers in the country has been Sc
cured as manager, and there can be
no doubt ut all that he will DO an
Improvement upon the previous order
OF things. President Ban Johnson
cannot always hit the vail on the
head, and he missed fire considerably
when he planted Jake" Stahl to han.
die the Washington club. Stahl was
no Fielder Jones. not by whole lot.
Jones proved to be one out of n
great many and exceeded all eXpectn.
tons. Collins lasted long while In
Boston. Cleveland has yet to have
manager who can land pennant
winner, and the same. is true of De.
trOit. 1t looks as if Detroit is nearer
the winning path this season than
since the club was member of the
American League. Hugh Jennings
has done finely with the club and
has not belied the expectations OF
those who prophesied that he would
make good. That tho Boston Amori-
cans could well use such a manager
cannot lie gainsaid.
If club cannot secure a flrst.class
playing manager, bench manager Is
far preferable, for the reason the
game has grown so that the man who
handles the playing end of club
SHOULD not be hampered by anything
outside the supervision of the men.
The Boston Americans are now the
only club that has playing manager
of the clubs of the eastern section,
and curiosly enough the Same is true
of the Boston Nationals, for Tenney
is the only playing manager in the
east. Chicago and Pitsburg have
two first-class playing managers. and
both have strong clubs to handle.
Many are of the opinion that Lajoie's
game would be helped immensely
were he not burdened with the weight
OF managerial responsibilities. Still
1t must be admitted the club has done
as well under his charge as under n
bench manager. This does not show
anything-only that the club has not
yet had desirable man on the bench
TO direct the club.
A manager cannot hope to accom-
plish any results unless he is given
carte blanche and is entirely freed
from interference of tho officials of
the club. In Boston Mr.. Dovcy holds
himself completely aloof from Manag-
or Tenney on all that concerns the
players. 1t is mp to Tcnny. he says.
The responsibility is wholly his.
There is no butting in there. Ten
ney feels the responsibility than he
had last season. for he has the say
about getting players and price is not
allowed to tandin the way If a
player is procurable every effort is
made to land him. II must be adj.
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