Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-12
LAJOIE'S CLUB
FAILS TO WIN
EMBoDIES MANY GREAT BALL
PLAYERS
Pitchers Are Strong, Batters Powerful
and Fielders WonderfuI-Lack of
Team Work and Poor Manage
ment Result in Failure

VIII the mystery of the American
league be solved next season? Will a
satisfactory explanation be finally fur
nished as to why the Cleveland club
doesn't win the flag, or will Lajoie's
men furnish Il new solution by winning
that flag, as they have so long been
picked to do?
Il can't see" says Jake Stahl, why
the Cleveland team doesn't win that
flag by as big margin as Chicago took
the National league pennant. That
team has everything and none of the
ether clubs can compare with it when
you look them over, and yet Cleveland
cannot win.
I've seen and played some baseball,
and I've tried to learn the secrets o.
the game, but the failure of the Cleve-
lends is too much for me-"
When the composition of the Cleve-
land club is studied and the greatness
OF the men who made up that team is
fully understood, the mystery becomes
still more bewildering. Study that team
man for man, compare it with any 9TH
er club. and then try to figure out why
it doesn't distance the others-as Stahl
said, just in the way the Chicago Cubs
National league.
Appears InvncibIe
That team looms up like an invincible
Colossus. fortified in every section, over
V helmingly superior, and yet it cannot
win. The pitching staff would not need
tC be the best on earth with such a
team of fielders and hitters behind it.
Yet it Is good-so good, In fact, that it
would Nt-ir, Of &c fro
ferred TO any other city. Joss is a terr
ror to batsmen; Rhoades is a winner
right along; Bernhard is a long ways
from being a dead one; Hess is a most
dangerous southpaW. The whole staff
is one of actual class and merit, and
the failure of the team cannot be laid
to the pitchers. The catching depart
ment is strong.
Clarke and Bemis are not only good
CatChers, but murderous batsmen, and
no team in the land has a pair of
Catchers who can do the all-season
hitting of the Cleveland backstops No
fault, therefore. with the catchers.
Stovall. who did some of the first base
playing last summer, is a rough-and-
ready fellow, useful at any point, a
serviceable utility man and husky hit
ter.
Rossman, who has been given to De-
troit, fielded we'll enough and batted
over 300. The balance of the infield
is a literal dream of perfection.
On second perches the Incompatible
Lajoie. not only a king of batters, but
a grand fielder. Shortstop is covered
by a little fiend of fialders and a ring
ing swatter, Terry Turner. on third
base is the wonderful Bradley, a mon
arch at the bag and a noble batsman.
Are Great Hitters
Such an infeld, coupled with such
batting power, would be enough to win
flags for the average manager. In the
outfied are three giddy wallopers who
are also amply able TO attend to the
flies. Congalton hit for keeps last sea-
son.
Harry Bay is as fast as ever and a
simply splendid fielder. Elmer Flick
is a crackerjack fielder and a rafting
hitter. Where can you beat that out
field on all points Of value?
The men are all intelligent, and the
team when complete for action pre-
sents such a front of hitters and fast
felders such as no other outfit can Of
fer And yet they cannot win the flag.
The plea of accidents and injuries
helps some, but other teams, not half
so powerful, fill the ranks when men
are hurt and go right on winning
games. Then, what on earth is the
matter with the Cleveland club? What
real excuse does It have for being a
yearly loser?
The answer: The teamwork is in
ferior and Lajoie is not cut out for a
no inside ball and too many individual