The Detroit times., 1908-10-23
STANLEY KETCHELL.
Rx PAUL a. RRuskE.

BY PAUL II. BRUskE.
Unless there should be some
radical development Of an unex-
pected nature during the winter
and spring, the Detroit baseball
club will line up for the start OF
1909 az II finished the regular
league season early In the present
month.
This to quiet the rumors that are
still current In local roofing clrcies'
after passing as common gossip ever
since tine volatile Hal Chase jumped
the New York club and hied himsen
into the outlaw country.
The clubs denial of any desire fcr
such a deal, or any intention or work'
ing along any Of the plans whlch
Dame Rumor has outlined should nave
put to sleep the ChaseMoriarty prop
osition long ago. To certain ex-
tent this has been the case. There
remains, however, a considerable con-
tingent OF the fans who. remembering
only the failings OF the Tigers MEL
toned In the deal. forgetting the
many games these men have won FOR
their team and the faithful service
they have always given. are loath to
give up hope of securing the New
York pair, even at the expense OF Two
or three Detroit stars.
To such II should only be necessary
to call attention to the absolute loily
OF any deal which would involve as
sacrifice a single one OF the Detroit
players who have so signally aided In
the twice winning of the American
league pennant-
TO DISRUPT A CHAMPION TEAM
BY THE WHOLESALE SWITCH OF
TALENT NEEDED IN ANY DEAL
THAT WOULD BRING TO DETROIT
TWO STAR PLAYERS OF ANY
OTHER TEAM WOULD BE TAKING
A CHANCE SUCH AS NO OTHER
CHAMPION TEAM HAS EVER
DARED
Loss OF the pennant, following any
such deal, would be the certain office
for criticism OF the most adverse cnar-
acter.
The Detroit club has never been
one of the basebalrtraders. IL has
always endeavored to recruit Its per-
sonnet by purchase, the only dickers
i'm the swapping line having been such
insignificant ones as to AFFECT but III
tie the regular line of battle. The one
i'm portant trade which the Tigers have
pulled of In recent years was the one
which sent Elberfeld to New York in
enchaaee for Courtney and Herman
Long. This deal, I'm fact, was more
OF a purchase than anything else, al
5000 changed from the New York
clubs treasury TO the Angus Golfers.
At that IL was an intensely unfortun-
ate affair for the Detroit baseball club.
all around.
Az for the individual players
whom some Of the Detroit fans
still insist a. eligible to some sort
Of a trade, there 10 really grave
reason for doubt az TO their in
feriority TO the men mentioned az
exchange possibilities.
Gland Rossman never laid any claim
To being a great ball player. He Is
,,st as seusible TO his shortcomings
as any of his critics. He is only a
fair fielder and knows his throwing
weakness perfectly. He never claimed
IN be an antelope on the bags. BUT
HE CAN SLAP THAT BALL. Claud
NAV have lost half-dozen games last
season by his failure to do the right
thing with the ball. II is a conserva-
tive statement, however, to say that
he easily won 20. by spanking the
sphere to spots where the enemy was
not with men waiting on the bases 10
score.
Claud is a good enough first base
man to do his part toward winning
two American league flags In success.
sion in two years he has worn n De.
troit uniform.
He is young and should improve In
both felding and throwing.
Bill Coughlin Is still one Of the best
fielding third basemen In league ball.
Last year be got away badly and could