The Detroit times., 1909-03-18
YOUNG PITCHERS
INQUIRE REASON
FOR LIVING
FEAR MANAGER HUoHlE IS SNIP.
~ USING THEM AS GOATS FOR
TiGes' TERRIFIC sLUoGiNG
FEATs IN TRAINING. -
BY PAUL II. sRUsxE.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. March 10
In the quiet OF the evening, after the
smoke OF battle has settled over the
local ball park and two more or those
awful smuggling bees OF the Tigers had
been enrolled in the deeds OF history.
three colt pitchers foregathered In "a
secluded nook in the lobby or the
Menger and discussed the day.
Il didn't suppose there was ever a
ball club organized that could hit like
these fellows do" remarked Ralph
Works. Now you've been down here
twice before with this gang OF muir
derers. Bump Have they done this
same thing every day in the other sea.
sons-batting balls over the fences as
If il was something OF no particular
importance and grabbing II. by am
accident. they happen TO larrup IN"
ball where some outfielder can reach
it,"
The pride OF Oxford, Mich, deliber>
ated moment. Visions OF Augusta.
Ga, and Hot Springs. Ark. fitted
across his mind. Then he spoke
Well. don't know, fellows. They re
great hitting ball club, OF course.
Still. ii has seemed 10 me that they We
been hitting a bit harder down here
THAN they ever did before when | was
with them. They haven't got their
whole batting strength here either but
they have been hitting some and
YES, | guess harder than ever saw
EN- before
Talk about Teddy and his big
stick" butted In little Speer why
that man Crawford with his bat make
combination that would break up
any league | ever saw. IL must be
fun TO pitch for gang like that. All
you'd have 10 do is 10 hold the other
team TO three or four runs; this bunch
OF demons would whale round half
dozen for you easy. If they hit in their
games like they do In practice or any
where near II.
1--WE kept track az the way they've
hit me and ! figure they have team
batting average OF about 10 points
more than 800. That includes Beck
endorf and Stanage, who aren't hitting
more than half that, either.
Say. Bump. what sort OF a chance
have | got to stick in this league"
This from Works. VINO insists on re-
garding Jones as the nestor of all colt
pitchers. due to his Eastern league eX-
perience and the fact that this is his
third time south.
We'll. what chance has anybody
got?" replied the sage OF Oxford.
There isn't anybody In baseball to-
day going 10 beat out Wild Bill Dono-
van or Mullin OF Summers or Willett
or Killian. when he's right Then
there is George Winter and Suggs be
sides. who have pitched good ball IN
the big league DO you think you can
beat out any Of them
II tell You What think OF the
general proposition said Speer again.
They bring us down here so that
they'll surely have . bunch OF pitchers
to give those big fellows batting prac-
tice. Their old pitchers don't get
into shape In time for that After
one or us has bounced them OF thoye
bats until his tongue hangs out. they
call in another. When we're all OF US
all in. they quit, thank heaven.
Bat. as soon as their regular sea
son starts up. We can take a little
chase. don't II. Bump? It's back to
the tall-grass league then. guess, with
another chance next year and then
skiddoo. II we can't show we're world
beaters'
This was apparently the sense OF
the meeting as lit thereafter promptly
adjourned.