The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-20

When a lot Of alleged wise guys
were telling US after the world cham
pionship series last fall that the Tig-
ers needed catcher. the average De
troit fan grinned and bore il. con
fieent In the belief that. in another
season. with Schmidt and Payne ill.,
tact and free from broken bones, The
experts would have another think com
ing.
When a sterling catcher like ira
Thomas was added 70 the layout the
home contingent determined thar
there certainly could be no further
apprehension felt on this score.
FROM THE DOPE OK THE SEA
SON UP TO DATE. WE ARE COM
. PEELED TO ADMIT THAT THE Al
LEGGED WISE GUYS WERE RIGHT
AND WE WERE WRONG.
N the Tigers are going 70 De beat
en- out In the race OF 1903 Il Will 30
because Of weakness behind the bat.
Schmidt has cauah. every game
on the eastern trip with the eNeep-
ton Of a few innings on Saturday VII
Thomas went In with villa Bill Don
ovan.
They haven't all been bad games by
5 large margin bur some CT them
have.
On the other hand, there have been
/ but one or two occasions when Dead
J hsot Charlie has been picking them
J on the bases as re did In 1905.
His throwing has been erratic in
the extreme and. on more than one
kaau dfycNf1r rrNfncffVeN
of runs 10 the enemy. Charlie IS
plainly not yet on his stride
Payne was in wretched form In the
games he caught here. but did hand
out two swell exhibitions In St Louis
Thomas has yet TO win his spurs.
With a first class catcher-or a
catcher working In first class form 20
! be exact--the Tigers could regard
their chances for the flag as enhanced
fully rs per cent.
The Tigers, good a good look at Wal
ter Manning. Erifith's new sensation
in the pitching line yesterday and,
( when II ~as all over they had IL
cense to wonder whether the lad was
good or lucky. At any rate, IL is safe
TO predict that II will be many a day
before Mr. Manning pitches a game
in which fortune smiles more on his
efforts than II did yesterday.
The Tigers secured eight hits of tho
Manning persons delivery, including
two-baggers. In addition. he walked
three men, hit one and cut loose
wild pitch.
And the Tiges got only one run
while New York, by hard pounding.
secured six scores in the first three
innings, Willett holding them safe and
shut. eut-in the next five periods
But Msnnlne's good luck Is still fur
ther emphasized by the fact that he
was able to hold the Tees with their
best batters up IN the pinches. In
the frat inning there were Tiees on
second ard third and none out Man
ming threw Crawford out at first and
tanned Cobb and Rossman, the Cham
pions' BIG hItters.
In the second the bases were filled
with none out. Manning famed killian
and Mcintyre and held Schaefer TO an
infield grounder. In the third craw-
ford opened with double and could
not advance.
The Manning boy was surely a child
OF fortune for such a series of lucky
escapes is vouchsafed to the average
twirIer about once in a season.
However, the afternoon was not
without its encouraging feature Ed
die Willetts work was beyond re-
proach. Taking the firing line after
Niles, Hemphill, Chase and the other
sluggers had effectively trimmed Kill
liam, he pitched in fine form and seem
ed to be rapidly mastering his old
weakness with men on bases. Eddie's
underhand ball was working in fine
style and he had the New Workers.
breaking their backs trying 10 con-
meet.
II Willetts form OF yesterday is no
hash In the pan. II loos as II, when
the final wedding out comes, It viii