Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-14

CAN MAKE sOx HUSTLE.
McGraw's Men Show Good Effects of
Western Training Trip.

Whether the trip Of the New F"rks
to the Pacific coast in March was
financial success or not, its beneficial
results have been apparent in the play
Of McGraw's men in the way they have
worked together since the fall Of the
flag. With two problems to solve
how to use four equally good outfield-
crs in three positions and to pick
candidate for second base from album
dant MATERIAL Manager McGraw had
plenty of time to consider the puzzles
while the Giants were in Los Angeles,
and he hit the right combination on his
first guess, thanks 10 the kicks of Don
lin ana Mullen about the salary ques-
ton
When the little Napoleon began work
with his men in California clrcum-
stances made it necessary for him to
use shannon as regular outtielder.
though midwinter predictions had
Spike decorating the bench as sub
stitutc. Corcoran was placed at second.
and the team as it was seen on the
first alignment has been in evidence AL
most ever since Donlin joined the
club in New Orleans and deserted it on
the way North. but the original line
up. with Shannon in left field and Cor
cnran on second base. has been the one
that has set the pace in the National
League, barring the changes that have
been made because Of necessity
through the injury to Brownies ankle
and McGann's attack Of Illness.
Playing together for two months. the
Giants developed a system Of team
work that 10 other team has been able
to equal. for Chicago was Handicapped
by the absence Of Tinker and the fail
ure of King to report until the we of
the championships race. Dahlen and
COrcOran got full understanding of
each others style Of play at the key
stone of the infield, and now are as
rapid and well suited a pair as if they
had played together for three seasons.
instead of three months.
NcGraW made the correct guess on
his outfield and infield at the start, but
developments since the season has been
under way indicate that other en-
barrassing conundrums await him.
Shall John j. upset a winning COM
bination. which is something all man
ayers are fearful of doing, by returning
Mccain to first base and Browne to
right field when they are again able to
play these positions? Bowerman has
been hitting at a terrific clip and field
ing in faultlcss style, and Strang
never has shown to better advantage
than during the time he has been sub
shutting for Browne. Bowerman or
Mccain at first. Strang or Browne
in right? This is the doubled arrcled
question that is up to McGraw at this
minute.
ReSourcefu bah is what the Giants
have been playing since the season
orcncd and what they are cardcd to
play all season long, unless they abs"-
lutelv forget their second nature and
the instructions Of their manager.
BARRING the squeeze. every variety of
pIav to get the better Of their an
tagonists has been exhibited by Nc
Graw's men. and while their batting
ability is unquestioned, they can now
give the " hite SOX a run for the title
of hitIess wonders if capacity for scor-
ing many runs on few drives be the
means Of taking that nickname from
the Comiskeyites.
In the first four weeks of play the
records show that the New Yorks have
scored 20 runs on 146 hits and the
Chicagos Sc runs on la hlts-a dlller-
cnce between counts and clouts for the
Giants Of 335 and for the SoX OF 3S5
McCraw's men have reached first base
through errors of the enemy "a tunes
and Jones's charges Is times. New
York has received S. trips 70 nrst
through lack of accuracy on the part OF
opposition tWrlers and Chicago 81.
Totaling hits. errors and passes. the
Giants have seen the beginning bag on
25S occasions and the Worlds Cham
mons in three more games. Isl tunes
Figures certainly show both aggrega-
tions 10 be clever in putting runs TO-
eethcr on every possible opportunity
With New York slightly in the lead IN
this respect at present.
Of tremendous advantage 70 me
Giants has been the happy return q
Mathcwson to form. When a pitcher y
considered off his stride when ne WINS
- out Of "a games. as Chrlsty uiu ~
wear. the thought follows that ne must
he a wonder if right. and that + What
the Bucknel boy is now. Three smut
Outs in four trials is u Sood start on a
successful season for Matty VINO by
defeating Pittsburg on last Wednesday
rnpistcred his 1J5th victory IN the Nd-
tional League. His defeats now num-
her So. Mathewson has won more
games from every team in the League
than he has lost. enjoying his greatest
success against St Louis. Philadelphia
and Cincinnati, from which clubs he
has taken 6S contests and lost only %.
The Chicago Club has been the hardest
nut for Mathcwson to crack. but ne has
crunched it 20 out Of % times and hopes
to add another triumph to his cause the
week after next, when the Cubs are
due at the Polo grounds.