Evening journal., 1908-11-07
RECONSTRUCTION
TIME IS At HAND
Big Leagues Figuring on Get.
ting Rid of MaICOntentS
and Filling Wants

NEW YORK. Nov. I'm the baseball
world reconstruction time is about at
hand. Peerless leaders sure of their jobs
are figuring on getting rid OF the mall
contents ON their teams and are intently
hearing testimony about new players
purchased and drafted. who are sup
posed 10 fill the long felt wants. There
is hardly a team In the country which
does not ned strengthening in some de-
partment, and the various leaders are
working overtime nowadays in speculat-
ing how they will he able 10 make
changes that will produce better results
than we're procured in the past.
A poll OF the managers reveals Just
one man in the Pullman organization
who is satisfied to let things drift alonS
as they were last season. Frank Chance
Of the Cubs thinks the inhabitants OF
the Windy City can get along for an
other year with the lineup they had in
1908, but does not know what he wc,dd
do II King made up his mind TO quit
the game. The Peerless Leader has no
backstop in prospect who could take
his chances OF equaling Charley Com
iskeys record of turning out a four
time winner would be slight unless he
again had Killing on the Chicago team.
Chance is a stand-patter as regards his
pitching staff and his inheld. for even
| n Steinfeldt should slow down "Husk'
believes Heinie Zimmerman. the Bronx
boy. will make a capable substitute. The
outfield OF the Cubs will have only one
change, Holman being promoted to the
ranks Of the regulars and Slagle going
to the bench. Chance has in reserve
three promising suburbanites from the
minors and is not viewing the outfeld
proposition with alarm.
John MeGraw of the Giants has only
few shifts to make in his team to be
satisfied with it, The Little Napoleon
wants a leftielder whom he can re-
l. on, and thinks he has such a play
er in Merkle
The Pirates are looking fo~ players
to guard first and second bases and
also are in the hunt for a rear outheld-
er TO cover center. Fred Clarke. the
boss of the buccaneers, is satisfied
with his pitchers and is perfectly will
ing to go along, just as McGraw is,
with one star backstop. The Corsoires'
problem of getting a reliable frst-sacker
IS thought to have been solved by the
purchase of Abstein from Providence,
but no second baseman is in sight for the
Dreyfussites. Abbaticchio is a fair play
er. but he doesn't work well with Wag-
ner.
Clarke considers Roy Thomas as be-
ing about all in, and is on the scouting
job for a new outfelder. Dan Moeller.
the leading batsman Of the New York
state League in 1907. being considered
sure Of the job of center fielder Of the
Pittsburgs next year.
Billy Murray will make a few changes
on his Quaker team. kitty Brans-
field. though he nit over 800 last sea-
son. is too slow a thinker 10 suit Will
liam j.. who also has the hunch that
the Slowtown combination would be bet
ter off II John Titus was decorated with
the Tinware degree. Murray is satisfied
with his pitching staff. with three Of his
inhelders and with two Of his suburban
ties. but Is willing 20 talk trades FOL
Branshed and Titus.
The other four teams of the Nation
al. League are in the rut, and their
owners are open to suggestions looking
toward improvements. The Cincinnati
Reds have a lot of promising youngsters
ST. Louis prides itself on its wonderful
, pitching staf, Boston has a good back
stop in Bowerman and little else. and
Brooklyn has many fast men and one oI
two stars who would do better in some
3 other city.