Evening star., 1909-03-07

league.
While no one will doubt the statement
that roasts Kill off lots of comers. still
it's an open question whether or not just
as many are spoiled b. too liberal ap-
plication of salve. The salve feels better
than the roast. but often its effect Is just
as detrimental
OF late years il has been Il popular fad
during tho winter months to tout the
youngsters signed by the club for the
coming season.
The pitcher from the coast is dubbed
the Human Whirlwind." and the fans
are assured that he will fan the batters
a. his pleasure. His best games against
1tuboville are freely commented upon and
the wonderful strike-out record he estab-
lshed against Farnersvilie is held up TO
the astonished popuiace.
The new infielder from the south IS re-
ferred to second Wagner, Lajoie.
Wallace or Evers. II he happens to be
OH the same team with one Of these stars,
IL is often limited that he will crowd the
Veteran hard for his laurels.
The minor league outdeider recently Sc
cured Is said to have Ty Cobb. Mike Don
lin. George Stone or Fred Clarke backed
off the boards On the bases he. makes
Ty Cobb look as If he was standing still,
willie at the bat Mike Donlin is d feeble
sister compared to him.
Perhaps once In a great, great while all
the pretty things said about the new
corners are true. Occasionally some
youngster proves even a better man than
the dope made him appear, and he crowds
the veteran out of his job. a position he
had played for years. and which he ap-
I,P Jn.s1n iynn
Such cases. however. are very, very rare.
Base ball is played only half the year.
hut the fans simply must have the dope
served up to them throughout the year.
of course the politics of the game furnish
some reading during the winter, but the
average fan in any league Is far more
interested in the playing rather than the
business end Of the sport.
During the winter every club naturally
makes an effort to strengthen it's team
by the addition Of stars from other
leagues Or picking up youngsters from
unknown places in the backwoods Every
player, no matter how good or bad he
may be. has his boosters, who feel con-
fldent he Is sure to set any league on
fire. They express their opinion in loud
words, and their views find ready space
on the sport page.
Unless the fan happens to be a very
conservative chap and reads the cold
weather reports with only one eye he
IS sure To become highly cnthused over
one or more of the youngsters picked UP
10y his fayorte team. Much of the win
ter time is spent arguing the relative
merits OF the new players and trying to
fls TIRE just what part they will play in the
march to the pennant.
On the cold weather league dope handed
10 them many of the fans get the opinion
1lat this or that pitcher happens to be
n c a ~ fnch ~ -t,-I:.
Sometimes IL is rumored that the new
player or players may take part in the
opening game. No matter when any new
Tayer breaks in. the fans are sure to
flock to the park TO see him perform
and pass criticism on his work
Naturally. after all the nice things
ihat have been said about him, the fans
usually look for the youngster to prove
himself a wonder right off the reel. and
If he faiis-ah. there's the rub.
Perhaps no young player created such a
furore as did Owen Bush. the new De-
troit shortstop, for the brief space of
time he was in the league.
Bush secured by Detroit from In
dianapolis and had been something of q
snort fielder in the American Associat tion
1Ie joined the Tigers Just when the team
vas going badly. OLeary being out of
working at short and Bill CougnIin play
Ing third on his nerve alone.
In an effort TO break the tough run of
luck. Detroit having just been trimmed
Three straight by Boston. Jennings decid-
ed 20 try Bush at shortstop. Quite few
OF tie Tiger fans looked on It as a crazy
move on the part OF Jennings. while
diners inquired that he had given up hope
and was going to give Bush q real tryout
!. certainly vas one mighty tough place
10 throw in ,youngster not Yet twenty
Years ce age TX was situation where
ne had lots to lose and as much to gain
IL he could brace up the intield and get
Ike Tigers going at their stride again he
was Il hero. but II he frittered away sew
eral games and put the Tigers out of the
running he would be a dub.
X
Bush was plainly nervous In his first
game. I happened to be working that
game. and it's rather funny to me now
Low he tried to take his base OH balls OH
tisfee bad ones. 1t took me several sec
"I,ds to convince him that he needed an
other wide one before going to first.
In the field he had several errors; I be-
lieve 1t was three. but I am not certain
"n that point. Fleet of foot and anxious
10 make good. he tried to cover. too much
ground. and once lie went clear over In
front OF Herman Schaefer who was play
Ing second. and bungled up a little
9roUnder that would have been easy for
the Teuton.
Detroit managed to win by a run that
day. despite Bush's three clinkers 4
couple OF defeats followed and then the
Tigers began to win. with the work of
Bush as feature of practically every
game.
Few fans had much praise for the little
sbortstop after his first days work A
thousand reasons were given why he
wouldn't make good. although everybody
had TO admit that he was wonderfully
fast on his feet Coming home from the
grounds that day l was forced to listen
10 all kinds of talk about the young play
er, while that evening it was just as bad
around the hotel lobby. Every one want
ed to see him make good but admitted
he couldn't see him with Lick tele-
scope.
No: daunted I'm the least by his poor
start and the criticism of the fans he
went out the next day all the more de-
1ermined, and inside of a week he had
everybody IN Detroit singing his praises
His work was big factor in the winning
of the pennant.
All youngsters are not like Bush, how
ever and many a less determined chap
would have been ready to quit after such
bad start.
Too much boosting leads the fan to ex-
pect entirely too much from the new re-
Cruit. The young player OF TODAY who