Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-07
MANY CHANGES ERE
THE SEASON OPENS
Difficult to Discuss Prospects
of the Various Major Lea.
que Teams Now-Casting
Away Old Timers.

cluba return from their southern trips
and one can get an adequate line on
the real makeup of the teams One
cannot foretell what changes may be
made In the lineup between the be-
ginning of the exhibition campaign
and the championship opening.
There is no doubt at all that there
will be many releases before the clubs
reach their own grounds. 1t is not
the easiest matter, either. to decide
what men to keep and what men to
let go, for an exhibition trip III not al
ways the best guage by which to judge
a player.
With so many shifts in the manage.
ment of clubs, naturally new ideas of
conducting club will follow. and it
Will take some time before everything
Is in first-class running order.
/. In the American League three clubs
will be under new pilots-W Washington.
boston and Detroit OF the new
corners, Cantillion and jennings are
well qualified for their new charges
by reason Of their ample experience.
while Stahl has been so closely allied
with Jimmy" Collins, the former
manager Of the club. that he ought
to be fully acquainted with every de.
b.
II we turn to the National League
We find that the only change in man
agement is In an eastern club-Phil.
adelphia-where William ]. Murray
will supplant Hugh Duffy, the latter
going back to minor leaguedom. Not
another change is to be made in the
National.
Stahl will have his hands full in
the Boston club. for great things will
be expected Of him. The club was
rank tailender last season, and made
the worst showing ever made to major
league ball by first-class organiza-
ton. The pitching corps sizes up
iirst rate. but that pitching corps has
neen handicapped for long time by
the lack Of hitting and good base run
ming behind 1t. Last season the bat
ting was practically nil, and the base
running ditto. and the pitchers were
continually growing because they
were holding the opposite side down
10 Few hits. yet there was so little
batting behind them the club did not
win. What mockery the record of
games won and lost by the pitchers
under such conditions A pitcher will
size UP to excellent advantage when
his team is helping along to some ex-
tent. II one sizes up the Boston club
one VIII find prospects Of an excellent
fielding team, but nothing that will
cause any apprehension that the club
VIII be any stronger in points where
1t was weak last season. Parent. once
one OF the leading batsmen and base
runners of the country. has gone back
is ~ because he long ago won his
spurs? He was once mentioned in
connection with the leading players in
ms position. but no longer is that the
case. me infield sizes up very weak.
indeed. in the base running depart.
ment, and that department surely is
one of the most important in n team
and woe be to the club that does not
show to some advantage in that re.
spect. OF the outfield Stahl and the
newcomer Sullivan, are the only ones
VINO give promise OF showing I'D at
all well In this department.
The tendency Of managers is to cast
off all old timber and begin anew
build up, secure pfayers anxious to
make regulations for themselves and
not retain men who refuse to live up
to past regulations, and who receive
very large salaries, but do not earn
them. 81 That Is what Ned Hanlon has
done N Cincinnati He has cast off
lot OF old timber and has searched
Tor the best youngsters he was able
20 secure. He has progressed on the
principle that secured for him pen.
nahts galore and glory in Baltimore,
and hestrted the same thing in Brook
yny but did not succeed in accom-
plishlng results. 1t seems that "Pat-
sy Donovan has been more success
1ul with that team, for it is bound
10 make good record in the race.
IL looks as If it would take Hanlon
time. to- show results in Cincinnati. IT
is not:so easy TO build up team of
pennant winners now as 1t was when
Hanion took hold in Baltimore.
So with the Boston Nationals. II
is essentially a team of young blood,
and Manager Tenney is bending his
energies In that direction, securing
speedy Youngsters rather than old.
timers, who, while. still able to nut
up good article of ball, have done
their best work and are on the down
grade, yet want all kinds of money
to play
Certainly the new Washington man.
ager isE dark horse and wants to
be looked out for. He is a man bound
to get out of his men all the work
there is, in them. He has some mighty
good material, too, and there is no
doubt 1T has the makings of fast
ball team If he doesn't make bet.
ter record for Washington. and easily
ut that, than any manager they have
mad In that city, 1t will be surprising
indeed. Cantillon has an air of con.
fidenoe about him that is infections.
ne thinks very highly indeed of that