The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-10


will be given to test the players under
fire. Bartlesville may make 1t inter-
estfng occasionally and doubtless Jop-
lin will get pretty close at times, when
that team comes here for series of
games, week later.
Consequently the first real test will
come after the season starts, when the
game are close and interesting and
when the standing of the club depends
on the game. Very frequently minor
league clubs, and especially clubs which
are for the first time playing in a fast
minor league, experiment during the
first three or four weeks of the season,
in efforts to get a formidable squad of
box artists. With Cooley 1t won't take
that long. In couple of weeks he will
have a pretty good idea of what the
pitchers can do. Cooley's judgment of
a player at first sight is rare and very
seldom does he miss the mark Not
once has his judgment proved faulty
since he has been connected with the
local club.
The dope" on the pitchers at the
present time may be entirely overturn-
ed between now and the time the sea-
son opens. A pitcher that looks good
now. may fall down And on the other
hand pitcher that hasn't shown much
lyet, may develop into one Of the best
on the staff.
However, on the present dope, Slap
nicka is showing about as good form
as any of the pitchers. The Bohemian
has his curves working and his fast
one has a pretty good jump. His work
thus far has been about the best of
that performed by any of the staff.
lSlapnicka's success in the Western As
ISOLATION last season was due to spit
ter which he used. On account of the
cold weather he has refrained from
using this much yet.
Big Burnum is probably in better
condition than the other two 1eft-hand
| ers. He is going good now. but hasn't
/ taken things seriously enough yet to
| try to use much speed or curves. AS
soon as the weather warns up Burnum
will display himself and will undoubt
edly make good.
Beltz and Thomson are in the same
| boat. Both are promising youngsters,
decidedly so. and both may have the
goods for the Western League. Beltz
has been sick all spring, and is just
| recovering. Thomason has had a sore
arm and has been handicapped. If both
can get into condition so that they can
\ show their best both will likely re-
main throughout the season. 1t would
be hard to find pitchers, even those
with years of experience who could
| field any better than these youngsters.
Hendrix is coming around nicely. Last
year he rather disappointed the fans
for after working in great shape for
Enid came to Topeka after recovering
from a sick spell and failed to make
much of an impression. The fans didn't
know he had been sick. and of course
| their judgment was not accurate. This
season Rhoddy seems to have more
smoke than ever, and his fast one
breaks quick. He also has nice curve
| ball, and will likely do some pretty
good work for Cooley.
| Scott is hard to dope. He hasn't
shown very much yet. but the weather
| has been against him. He has on a
couple of occasions shown pretty
| good curve ball. He hasn't let himself
out any, and whether he has any smoke
| this season only he of all mortals
knows. And he isn't saying much In
the box he takes hold of the work nice
ly and acts like a pitcher who had been
/ in the majors since 1879.
4 Killingsworth. the new man, hasn't
been seen enough to be doped yet. He
has had a pretty good workout while
practicing with the Memphis team and
ought to be in good condition. He will
likely be seen in the game today or to-
morrow, and then there should be more
to say to him. He reports that he is
ready to work Last season with the
Albany team in the New York State
| league he made a good record despite
| the fact that his was a second divis-
ion club.
There is a chance Of having another
pitcher, although it is by no means
certain yet. Selby, who was purchased
by the Louisville team last August will
be sent back here, If he fails to make
good as this was a part of the stipula-
ton when he was sold. He has until
May 1 to make good. AS Louisville has
most of her last seasons pitchers back
there is a chance that he will return.