The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-19

| championship DdSepall teams usual
ly begin to crumble and disIntograte
when forced changes in tho lineup arc
made. VIII shifts in the Chicago CUBS
| the coming season knock Chances
aggregation out of its fourth consecu-
tive pennant? That has been the IuIc
In the past, but perhaps the CUBS are
we'll enough fortified with utility mon
to patch up holes In the machine as
| fast as they appear.
Chance naturally will put forth ev-
\ cry effort to win his fourth straight
| flag to tie the old record ComlSKey
made when he had the ST. Louis
Browns, Chance gave II as his opin-
| ion when he left Tor the coast last
| fall that the 1909 pennant would be
easier TO win than last years. But
probably he wasn't figuring then on
Evers' absence.
Losing EVers even for snort space
Of time-he will report June 1-may
prevent the Cubs from getting their
fine running start, when tney have
taken in the last three seasons. Evers'
absence may be figured as sap No, 1.
Doubtless none of the fans expects mis-
substitute. Zimmerman IN all propa-
bility, TO play the game as EverS plays
1t, There will be handicap to con-
tend with With Evers out OF the
game the infield Will be weakened
and the teams chances discounted
just so much.
Zimmerman last season was count
ed on as mighty slugger. 1t is true
that he did biff the left-hand pitchers
about the diamond with great regu-
larity, but lest it be forgotten, J. Ev-
ers was 300 hitter himself and ne
was In the game nearly every day.
Added to his excellent hitting. which
In reality was fully as good as Zim-
merman's, Evers stole bases like
trooper and worked pitchers ror Dases
on balls in particularly clever fash
ion.
When Evers gets back into harness
he may require a few games unuer
his belt before he catches his stride
and before the rest of the inneId again
becomes accustomed to working with
him 1t Is safe to figure him as OF
no value to the team for the first 6O
days of the season.
There is only one OF the other regu-
in question-barring accidents. or
course That one is Steiny. the sting
CT, Steinfeldt, whose fine third-sacking
and hard hitting were such prominent
factors In the victories or the CUBS IN
1906 and 1907, had trouble keeping In
shape last summer.
Can't Keep the Fat OF.
His legs wouldn't stand training
and he couldn't keep down weight.
That means everything 10 q tnlrd
baseman. Steiny couldn't DegIn 10
cover the ground that he dio IN seas
ons past If it hadn't been for that
wonderful throwing arm or hls he
would have been up against It for ralr.
He was playing ten feet nearer the
plate than formerly and coufGn't go 10
his left or right nearly as rar as he
used to.
Perhaps Steinfeldt will be in AS
sound condition next season as ne
over was. 1t is to be hoped so, Tor
his place would be hard to fill 1t is
possible that a winters rest has CIV
en- the legs the strength they needed.
When Steiny was on the Cincinnati
team he was occasionally in worse
shape than at any time last year, and
maybe he will be able again 10 re
cover from his leg trouble.
Parent of the White Sox was in
about the same predicament all the
season that Steinfeldt IVES as far as
unsound legs were concernec. Fred
die was forbidden by Manager Jones
to take any chances on the bases. and
In the field the little shortstop was
unable TO get within two or three
steps Of hits over second, which he
used to eat up. Both Parent and
Steinfeldt are among the cleverest
men In their respective Dosiriore. and
i, would be distinct loss 10 the sport
for either of them TO fall to come TO
taw after the spring training.