Evening star., 1909-04-11

enthusiasts q year ago for 1t then played
together for the first time. ard SO united
ly that it was one of the fastest quartets
of the race.
John James McGraw permitted a star
catcher to leave him that he might secure
added strength for his outfield and his
pitching department. two positions in
which he reckoned that he was none too
strong in 1&is. He also secured a catcher
who, he believes. will develop into one
of the best in either major league. Schlef
is the man.
In the New York Outfield.
Murray was obtained from st. Louis for
the outfield. With Donlin in the game
and If Seymour is able to make peace
with the management. after his trouble
in the south with Latham. the outfield Is
likely to be composed of Donlin. Seymour
and Murray. If Seymour should be re-
jected. Donlin. Murray and O'Hara may
be the outf'elders. If Donlin persists In
Murray may be the outfelders. Still an
other combination is possible II McCor-
mick is played regularly for his excellent
batting. and there is reserve strength to
and Cocash. all of whom have shown
major league caliber. Herzog may also
be used as an outfeldsr Whatever trio
McGraw may decide upon, 1t is certain
that he is possessed OF abundant material
of the fines. quality.
Schei, Jack" Myers, the Indian: Snod-
grass and Wilson will divide the RESPONSE
bilities of catching among them. Schlei
may have the bulk of the work to per-
form; but Snodgrass is a young catcher
who should be watched carefully. He
bears all indications Of an expert.
In the box the Giants should be strong
er than they were last year With Ames
In condition at the beginning Of the sea-
son and with Raymond. who was secured
from ST. Louis in the trade for Bresna-
han. it is figured that the team has more
reserve force to draw upon than 1t had.
1t will be nine of speed. fast on the
field and dangerous atsbase running at all
times by reason of the batting strength of
it has fine force of auxiliary players to
draw from. in. this respect being better
equipped than almost any team in the
country.
Pittsburg will present much the same
team for the championship that played
SO ably in 1905 Therefore it Is but neces-
sary TO take the work Of the club last
year as basis upon which to gauge ITS
strength in the year to come, allowing Tor
any deteriorations because of long service
on the part of certain players.
An important factor in favor of Pitts
burg, and one that must be given the
most careful consideration for.the sum-
mer to come, is an undOubted increase
of strength at first base. It is fairly Ger
tain that Abstein. who played first for
Providence in 1898, will play first for
Pittsburg this year. and upon his past
success u it may safely be taken Tor
granted that the Pirates will be much
better off by his acquisition.
First Base Was the Weak Spot.
Not untruly it has been said that II
Pittsburg had possessed a competent first
baseman last season the team might have
won the championship. Don't overlook
this fact in forming an estimate OF the
mines chances.
Strength with the bat is predominant
trait of Piitsburg. Combine that with
the possible element of good battery work
and Pittsburg will be found to fit into
the scheme of play in the National
League with an organization much to be
respected.
Philadelphia will vary but little III its
1909 personnel from that of a year ago.
The addition Of Covaleski is believed to
have strengthened the pitching depart
ment. There are some VINO are or opinion
that Covaleski may not be found so UNI
formly successful throughout q season as
he was against the Giants at the cioSe
of last summer.
YET It must not be forgotten that he
won his games. and even II 1t be true
that he was more lucky than skillful, as
l
denied that he was winner, and a win
ming pitcher is one of the most valuable
assets of any team.
Philadelphia is a we'll balanced team.
pia ying better ball than it has In some
years 1t can make runs. 1t can field well
1t is In the inability of its pitchers to pre-
vent other teams from hitting well
enough at times in close games to deprive
Philadelphia of victory by .-.e narroWest
of margins.
In the Second Division.
The four second division clubs of last
yea. will work with new mana gers this
year. There is not one which pretends
that it is of high enough class to win the
championship. On the other hand there
is not one but has sufficient clements OF
strength to make 1t an extremely difficult
matter for some other club. rated higher
by narrow margin, to win from 1t III a
game which may be Of vital Importance.
Cincinnati proved that 1t had some class
last year. Boston did not play to the
standard which might have been expected
from il. Brooklyn and st. Louis were
both disa appointments.
Even with these facts in evidence, all
four of the clubs played better base ball
II the same ratio of improvement is shown
this year the race for the National
League championship will be narrowed to
smaller margin of difference than sepa-
rated all teams in 1903.
On general principles Griffith and Bres-
nahan may be expected to drive both Gin
cinna;i and st. Louis better than they
were handled a year ago. Bowerman
at Boston and Lumley at Brooklyn are
more experimental. yet with their long
training in the National League and the
caliber of the men who have been en-
gagged to play under them this coming
season they should not prove to be total
failures unless their teams are hand-
capped by causes which are not now fore
seen.
1t would not be overestimating their
ability to say that they may prove to be
harder contenders in the close contests
than they We're in 1908 and, that being
the case. 1t is only logical to add that
they will probably have more victories
to their credit.
II any one OF these four managers
should fail to handle his players as Is
now expected from him, judging by other
base ball history. of which he has been a
part. his particular team will hit the bot
tom in hurry. with little probability
that it shall be able to extricate itself
from its plight.
OUTLOOK IN THE EASTERN
LEAGUE FOR 1909