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 Ilg'
ers needed q catcher. the average De
troit fan grinned and bore IL, con
6cent in the belief that, in another
season. with Schmidt and Payne IN
tact and free from broken bones, the
experts would have another think com
ing.
When a sterling catcher like ira
Thomas was added to the layout, the
home contingent determined that
there certainly could be no further
apprehension felt on this score
FROM THE DOPE ON THE SEA
SON UP TO DATE, WE ARE COM
PEELED TO ADMIT THAT THE AL
LEGGED WISE GUYS WERE RIGHT
AND WE WERE WRONG.
II the Tigers are going TO be beat
On out In the race Of 1908 Il will be
because Of weakness behind the bat
Schmidt has caught every game
on the eastern trip with the exeep-
tIon Of a few innings on Saturday when
Thomas went In with Wild Bill Dom
ovan.
They haven't all been bad games by
. large margin but some Of them
have.
On the other hand, there have been
but one or two occasions when Dead
Dhot Charlie has been picking them
on the bases az he did In 1905.
His throwing has been erratic in
the extreme and. on more than one
occasion has been directly productive
LOT runs to the enemy. Charlie is
K plainly not yet on his stride.
Payne was In wretched form in the
y games he caught here, but did hand
tout two swell exhibitions IN ST. Louis,
Thcmas has yet to win his spurs.
With a first class cateher--or a
|,eatcher working In first class form TO
he exaet--the Tigers could regard
khelr chances for the flag ss enhanced
puIly rs per cent.
The Tigers good a good look at Wal
ter Manning. Grifiith's new sensation
An the pitching line yesterday and.
when II was all over they had a H.
cense to wonder whether the lad was
.lgood or lucky. At any rate. It is safe
ITO 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 the
Manning persons delivery, including
two-baggers. In addition, he walked
three men. hit one and cut loose a
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 out In the next FIVE periods.
But Manning's good luck Is still fur.
4her emphasized by the fact that ne
WAS able to hold the Tiges with their
best batters up In the plnches- In
the frst Inning there were Tiges on
second and third and none out Man
ming threw Crawford out at first and
famed Cobb and Rossr,an, the Cham.
pIons' big hltters.
In the second the bases were filled
with none out. Manning famed kilIlan
and Mcintyre and held Schaefer to an
3nfSe'd grounder. In the third Craw-
ford opened with double and could
not advance.
The Manning boy was surely a child
~ fortune. for such series Of lucky
sscspss- u vouehsafed 60 the AVERAGE
swIrier about once In a season.
However. the afternoon was not
without it's encouraging feature. Ed
die Willett's work was beyond re-
proach. Taking the firing line after
Niles, Hemphill. Chase and the other
Slugxers had effectively trimmed XII.
Han, he pitched In fine form and seem
I'd to be rapidly mastering his old
weakness with men on bases. Eddie's
nnderhand ball was working. In fine
style and he had the New Workers.
Breaking their backs trying to con.
meet.
If.willett's form ofiyesterday is no