The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-30
BAD BASEBALL TO BLAME AS
ONE CAUSE OF TIGER SLUMP
BY PAUL a. aRuskE.

What IL the matter with the Tigers
The question was asked on this
page yesterday, and number OF re-
piles were given---those daily In the
mouths of those devoted followers OF
the game who have stuck to the cham.
pIons from their disastrous start, both
J here and at Chicago. and throughout
\ the campaign which has at last land
4 ed them In last place In the American
( league race which they last year led
20 q victorious conclusion.
One solution OF the problem. nor
.Gdvanced heretofore. appears TO de
f5nand attention at last. however. and
E In II seems likely 10 be found the real
( answer TO the question.
THE TIGERS ARE PLAYING BAD
(, BALL.
With The exception Of two or three
>snsmbers OF the team. every one OF
the Detroit regulars is away behind
7 his usual clip.
I The pitchers are being thumped
with painful regularity, the infield Is
iprcns 20 unravei bad play In pinch
1 nt any time, and the outfseld Is not hit
ring.
The cstchers are not coming up to
expectations. except In an occasional
game, and the whole aggregation lacks
the grand spirit which formed it's
chief asset In the campaign Of 1907.
Yesterdays game furnishes an ex-
cellent example OF the way the Tig-
err have been losing regularly.
- a. be- q
- team to whom he has been a bug
|bear for many years. was thumped
Tor ~ hits, including triple by Don
ahue with a man on base. Any time
the Sox get dozen hits OF any twirl-
er they are going to score a bunch OF
runs. and IL will take a lot OF batting
to; overthrow them.
Payne. selected to do the catching. n
WAS badly on In his throwing and al
lowed three isolated steals OF second
base. A perfect throw to the plate
rot away from him. and Siever failed
20 back up the fling.
Bill Coughlin made an expensive,
error on q chance which the average
echoolboy infielder would have hand
led with confidence and effectiveness.
Tyrus Cobb dropped q line drive and
missed q chance to throw out man
1t the plate, which would have been
easy for him last year.
Even the reliable Sam Crawford
was throwing badly. and one OF his
heaves, intended to cut of a man at !
the plate, was as near the third base ,
man as the catcher.
With chance after chance to bat In |
runs on White. who is not In good |
enough form TO pitch against either !
OF the other western clubs, the Tiges, 4
were poweriess except on occasions I
when fortune favored them In the |
manner OF high fly falling just be-
tween the infelders and the occu- |
pants of the outer garden.
But q small share OF the TfgersY
seem to care TO tackle the job on the |
coaching lines any more, and Schaefer |
and Cobb. who showed SO much en-
thusiasm In the early stages of the |
race now sit on the bench when not |
engaged In some actual duty in their |
regular turn at the bat or on base.
y Yesterday the excuse might have
been made that the weather was too |
eold for mId-season play. This would |
~ WILD but for the fact that the |
o1Ibef teams don't seem to mind the |
weather conditions much and 90 on |
handling plays In workmanlike man
nor and trimming the local heroes |
,slen they get ready about every day.
The Tigers are In a slump mentally |
and physically. They show no signs |
- yet Of getting out of II. There |
1nu't loyal fan In town who doesn't |
1c11eve that they VIII be up and doing |
before long, but the longer the slump |
the longer the climb and the sleeper
rho ascent.
ALONG IN SEPTEMBER WE MAY
Nm SIGNING FOR THE GAMES
THAT WENT BY THE BOARD
BACK IN APRIL