The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-23
RECRUITS WANTED,
Major League. Baseball Teams
to Strengthen Weak Spots.
MINOR LEAGUES LOOK RIPE.

Players In West and South Arr
Likely to Be Either Purchased o.
Drafted During tho Coming Fall.
while the baseball season Of 1908 Il
scarcely half over. the various teams In
the big leagues are beginning to send
out their scouts for new players with
whom to strengthen their teams.
There Ii hardly one Of the sixteen
clubs which 10 willing to stand pat, and
I'm the majority or cases the clubs are
anxious to land promising young play
srs for the remainder Of the season.
An important feature about this hunt
for players Is that the attention Of
practically all the scouts Is centered
on a sextet Of players, all Of whom
are playing ball In the west. So many
Of the western players that have been
tried out by the big league clubs have
made good that the scouts have ap-
parently decided that the best Of the
minors are to be found there.
The young players who attracted the
attention of the scouts thus far are
Pitcher Bomar and Infielder Niehof Of
Des Moines. Pitcher Fitzgerald and In
nslder Patterson Of Pueblo and Pitcher
Bono and Inaelder Gagner Of Lincoln
Aside from Marquard. signed by the
New York Nationals. Bomar appears to
be the one most sought after 1t is
said that while he was pitching for
the Decatur club In the Three league
last year he won twenty-one games.
The best portion Of the youngsters
who come from the south are not stick
ing, but many Of them are delivering
more than their share Of the goods.
This seasons count finds Sid Smith,
Wilhelm, Ball, Atz, Manuel, Graham
and Others not only holding their own,
but ranked ms stars around the major
circuit.
While nothing but guess can be
delivered thus far in advance, the
dope would indicate that the 1908 crop
from the Southern league VIII run
about as follows. listing the players
who are practically sure to go up:
Atlanta Ford, Castleton and Jordan,
with a chance that Moran and Becker
may be included.
New Orleans Lord and BARLEY back
20 Philadelphia. Ryan has already
gone to Cleveland.
Nashville McEiyeen. almost to a
Hunter to Brooklyn; Bay
10 Cleveland II be goes good the rest OF
the year; Daubert likewise: chance
hat Hub Perdue win be lifted IL he
can only hold his present clip.
Little Rock Speaker to a certainty.
A chance that Buchanan and Collins
will be tried ont
Memphis -Chappelle looks good for a
trial. while Frank Owen Is practically
another certainty, as he Is undoubtedly
one Of the best backstoppers in the
league. Cranston Is the only man on
the infeld with chance.
Birmingham-Mack Robinson, pos
sibly Raub.
Montgomery-Pepe had great show
4 he had only taken care Of himself.
Persons started out as II he intended
o leave the league, but hasn't been
ioing so well Of late. Hub Hart may
revert back to the Sox.
Mobile-Fisher figures that Benson
Will 60 up at least. -
There isn't any doubt from our low
y viewpoint that Owens is the best
In the league by couple
# laps; Ford, Castieton. Robinson,
Perdue and Ryan, not over
oolxing BARLEY, the best pitchers. Jor-
Ian is the best second baseman on
0ixie's map, but 80 far as we have
Ieen there are no Balls or Jakey Atzes
N tap around the circuits. Mcdonald
las the third sack 0vershadOwed by a
block, while Speaker and Lord have
he call over any outhelders we have
'een up to date. Every one Of these
earnest athletes should make good un-
Ter the big tent or the bulk Of them
It least.
All of the clubs that are after play
rs are paying more attention TO
pitchers than any other department.
The majority of the scouting which
ias been made public thus far has
been done by American league teams.
The Cleveland Americans have been
raveling In such hard luck Of late In
he matter of injuries that the club
8 very anxious to land some good ma
erial. Since the accident to Stovall
he scouting work has been taken up
" the club in more earnestness than
,efore. The Chicago Americans are
lIso anxious to strengthen their team,
which plainly shows that they are far
rom feeling confident In their ability
o win the pennant this year. These
ire Just two Of the clubs that are
rnown to be on the hunt for ball
ossers, and 1t is safe to say that all
he others have their eyes on one Or
more of the promising minors.
No Mercy For Rowdy Ball Players.
Rowdyism upon ball Aeld In the
Eastern league is certainly not going
o get foothold If President Powers
las his way, and from the string of