Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-18

try over WI find chief interest this
season win be, "Can the Cubs make
Il n four straight penants and three
worlds chanapionshipsF" For or
against the team, no fan can get away
from that question. II IL THE question Of
1903. No team ever has achieved this dis
tinction; no National League team ever
has won four consecutive league remnants.
Manager Chance says his team will do II.
OF course, that's what Chance ought to
say. A mAnas less bold wouldn't win.
But laying aside any claim Chance may
make. the fact is the Cubs would be better
prepared to achieve their ambition IL Killing
were with the team. That doesn't by any
means signify they are unequal TO the task
without King. however. Evers will return
60 the team II. IN the Judgment OF Chance.
he IL needed. He will return June 16. But
the CUBS arc 20 powerful in every other
department that they have q show OF re-
peating. Their batting strength probably
il greater than last year and on the whole.
with the one exception OF the catching
department, the team may be stronger.
That. Of course, is not reckoning one way
or the other with second base, for Evers
Is available when wanted and until then
Zimmerman will cover the bag all right.
But ia offset whatever weakness the team
may have sustained by the loss Of Klins
NJ may Be wise 20 look 10 tie nearest rival
De last year and examine it's condition.
New YDrk surely cannot be as strong,
or II 90 II IL yet to be demonstrated
B~resnahan, who was as much to the Giants
as king was TO the Cubs, is gone; Donlin,
who probably enabled the Giants to become
o~ontenders for the pennant to the last, is
gone. These facts should be considered
along with those relating to the Cubs.
And after all is said and done Murphy can
get King back any day he comes to
Kings terms. 20 that settles that.
-
II all reports We hear shout players In
this region receiving and rejecting fancy
offers from tho outlaws are to be accepted
at their face value. then these same out
laws must ave sustained several large,
sickening jolts Of late. 1t IL a good sign.
indeed, to find promising young ball players
with the stamina TO turn down tempting
offers from clubs not within the pale OF
organised base ball. No man. OF course. with
: an eve for his own future welfare would
long be tempted by such an offer, but just
the same many q young fellow, flushed
with pride and flattered with attention does
not stop 10 think OF the consequences and
To find that 20 many are thinking of them
is gratifying to the men who are iaboring
so hard to maintain base ball on q per-
manent and legitimate business basis. II
means, too. hat the doom Of these outlaws
is not far off 1t this thing keeps up as It
has been going this past winter. The
California outlaws especially have shown
by their repeated attempts to invade the
Western league that they recognize their
straits.
The injury 10 Cadrnan, Onaaha's new
catcher. that will put him out OF the
game for several weeks at the very star;
OF the season, is a reminder Of that injury
to Graham which put him out for a whole
season. and It ought TO be a forcefuI warn
ing 10 players and to managers that this
utmost extreme caution is necessary
in these abortive spring days, when joints
are stiff at best and muscles knotted
Better go without a little training than L
get II In some such weather as we hav'
been having and generally have. Tht
spring training Is q doubtful quantit,
anyway In the preparation Of a ball playe
Tor his seasons work.
The announcement that George Graham
would be on second base when the ssasoi
opened was greeted with enthusiasm 4
Omaha and wherever Graham lie known o
the interests Of the club appreciated. N
young man ever came into the Westerf
league with greater promise than Graham
n all goes well with him physically he
sure to land In . big League. Until the
he viii help Omaha win another pennant.
1t seems q shame for q first basemans q
Autrey's capacity 20 be hooked up wit
q team Mke Cincinnati already possesse
Of q great first baseman. a shame e
Aubrey and a shame for other teams thu
could make such good use OF bis service
On general principles. IT'S a shame for an
player 70 Be- handicapped by . cincinna
contract.
In the first game ,cy Young pitchs
against thS Browns his old catcher. Ia
: criger. made two hits off him. Il wouI
be prstty hard for Cy TO fool Lou. Orig,
knVws about a. well what Young can ar
win do as Young does himself. Either s
Louis or Cleveland would be better off
unite these two old comrades.
Let the lusty. leather-lunged lout lar
poon the ump--its the sweetest sound
the year. Who r. there 30 cold. that wou
be willing to do without this rolliekin
reckless raseAl9 what would the game
without hint
Turk or Bulgarian. Jew, Gentle. italia
French or Russian. they all look alike
Gotch. The American. The only Difficult
is he's abe real thing and the rest q
COunterfsits-in his class.
The last week started things In I
major iaasEaa and the one just upon
4 opens 'em up FOR the Western. Gee. j.
can't scac<ly wafti
with a Browns ct the head OF I
batting list and q Brown at the To-
the Cubs ought 10 do 'em up In broV
4 style.
sresnahan showed the second day OF I
season he was still true TO the McGrs
traditions by getting put off the groun,
Reports from Chicago. April Il. doubtls
were received with at least passing inter'
by Mr.. G. H~sekensmidt.
Jack Pfeistsr starts in where ne left
AH