The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-16

| ping the DdSS-lODDeFs.
AS CATCHERS BOTH LOO
RIGHT NOW LIKE THE FINISHED
ARTICLE Both are Chunks stout
burly chaps who look as II they'd %
able 10 guard that home plate against
any assault. ana give as good As thcy
are asked 10 take, Stanage, IL VIII %
recalled, showed Detroiters he couid
throw last fall, taking part several
times in the public practice OF the
club. though he did not get mo the
game. There is no question regarding
Beckendorfs heaying ability. wheE 4,
is youched for by such judges as
Connie Mack, Freddie Payne ana
Malachi Kittredge.
In size Stanage has a slight adVant'
age. being nearly two inches taller
than Beck" The latter is built a.
most exactly like Harry bemis. OF the
Cleveland club. Facially he resembles
Hack" Spencer. OF the Browns, as hs
looked before he got Tar In accumula''
ing that superfluous adipose tissue
which SO hampered his work durfns
the last two seasons.
Neither OF the catchers is much U.
batsman, and both have been tried
out In faster company than they kept
last year-Stanage with the ST. Louis
Nationals and Beckendorf with the
Providence and Toronto Eastern
league clubs. Both went back because
they failed TO hit the ball often enough
for clubs that needed TO have
catchers able 10 assist materially III
this department OF the game
Jennings figures that both the men
may have improved a bit IN stick Work,
though neither accumulated much of
an average last year. However, the
Tigers can stand some catching that
doesn't couple batting ability with the
backstopping. No other team Is IA
yored with such a wealth OF sluggers
In the other positions If MESSRS.
BECKENDORF AND STANAGE CAN
THROW, CATCH AND WORK THEIR
NOODLES AS GOOD CATCHERS
SHOULD, THEIR BATTING SHORT
COMINGS WILL BE FORGOTTEN.
In speed-more particularly fieetness
Of fcot-Reckendorf has IL all over the
man from the Golden West. The New
Yorker isn't any startled fawn, exact
ly, but he can leg off the distance be-
tween the plate and first at a right
rapid clip. His work on foul balls Is
also superior. Everything considered,
il looks now as IL Beckendorf had a
shade the better Of the duel for the
premier catching Job, with Scnmio'
temporarily barred.
Three new pitchers have done their
little stunts In the practice up 10 GATE
in a way that gives a very fair idea OF
what may be expected from each.
Works. "Bumpus" Jones and Speer
rank in that order, in what they nave
shown us.
Works is sure TO be nicknamed
"Rube." He Is one OF those tall. raw
boned fellows who suggest arcadian
surroundings, even in uniform. Though
his, home city is Quincy, Ill--or near
there, more likely-he has lived or late
I'm the southwest, and most or the time
outdoors. He is tanned TO brick-red
and gets redder yet when he becomes
we'll warmed up TO his work. Good
natured. like all OF the baseball rubes,
he is nevertheless very careful or MS
physical well-being and will never give
any trouble 10 a trainer or manager
by habits not properly deemed eu-
ouette for an athlete.
SPEED is WHERE MR.. WORKS
RESIDES. He can whirl that long.
bony whip about his head and crack
IL with such vim that the ball land }
in the catcher's mitt with report sug-
costing July 4 and the most popular
method OF its celebration. That fast
ball OF his has a jump at the nnish'
breaking In toward right-handed bat
ter and big Ralphie can put IL ABOUT
uherp he wants 10 already.
From what Works has shown us
down here IL looks as II the big CUES
ton will come with him when ne races
the taunts Of the hostile Indians on
the coaching lines. " he succeeds IN
maintaining his aploub and will pay
reasonable amount Of attention TO the
runners on the bases when such are
there, Works is very likely to develop
some day into something much more
useful than a mornlng-praetlce pitcher.
Though Astounding In confidence 81
the start Works Is not quite so cocky
since he has seen the stuff that VIII
lett. Summers. Mullin and Suggs have
at their disposal. Also some batting
feats by s. Crawford and others, per-
formed in spite OF that jumping. fast
hall OF his. NAV have affected his
serenity. At any rate he quit fgur-
ing when the Tigers Will go round the
eastern circuit for the second time and
connded TO one OF his newly-found
friends the fact that, II he didn't sue.
coed In making the team. he would
prefer being placed in the Eastern
league.
Works is right good fielder and
hits like a bush-league regular.
There isn't particle Of change IN
"Bumpus" Jones. the Oxford farmer.
"Bumn" Is now making his third south
ern trip with the team. aud knows thai
/ It's now or never so far as big
/ league berth in Detroit is concerned.
His arm is I'm much better shape than
/ wear ago when he really did no pitch
I ing az all. after the first three DAYS.
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