The Detroit times., 1909-03-06
"KINGS OF THE BUNT' THE TITLE THAT
JENNINGS COVETS FOR HIS TIGERS NOW

GETHER SURELY. LONG BEFORE
THE SEASON STARTS. OR IN
VERY MUCH MISTAKEN. In the
neaDtime. the other catchers will have
better opportunity To get into the
swing OF our play than they would
with the big German on the job
And I'm looking for star or two
to develop among our new pitchers.
Jones. LaFftte, Works and Speer have
all been prnounced ripe for fast com
pany by competent judges. I'm ex-
pecting lot of good work from George
Suggs this year. All these men viii
get a thorough trial this spring, not
only In the exhibition games but in
the league struggle as well. | expect
that Summers, WiIlett and Mulin will
have TO stand the main part of the
burden during the first month. SO far
as the veterans are concerned. That
will leave plenty Of opportunity for the
youngsters.
Yes, 10 per cent should be a con
sentative estimate of our increased
strength, provided none OF the older
members OF the team drop off in effec.
tiveness and they all finished up like
active, robust young men last year.
You may be interested to know, Mr.
Fan, that I'm hoping to develop a bit
OF an innovation in the play OF the
Tigers this year. Mr.. Fan. We've been
together two seasons now, and we've
developed the greatest batting team
in baseball. Our pitching staff is all
right. think that Wen compare very
well with our rivals on the bases. The
changes we've made in our fnfield
ought TO make our defense quite biz
stronger than last year.
But there's one department Of the
game in which | believe we can inn
prove quite a bit. It's department
we've never had much opportunity TO
develop before. This spring | mean 10
make ii the main feature OF our prep.
aration.
| WANT THE TIGERS TO DE
VELOP THE SCIENCE OF BUNTIN,
AND PLACE-HITTING.
Our team, Mr.. Fan. mas gained the
reputation OF being a bunch OF slug
gers, pure and simple. This is all
right. of course, in its way. Smuggling
will win whole lot of ball games. other
things being equal. But now and then
they could not slug. Against such men
in the future they are going to bunt.
Right here I'm goin to serve warn.
in on Cy Young, Jack Powell RUDE
WaddeIl, Walter Johnson and few
other pitchers who don't like TO stoop
down after those tantaIizing little taps,
that the Tigers will keep them busy
sending during the coming season.
Well start out by bunting; we'll
keep on bunting: we'll bunt and bunt
until we get their tongues sticking out
from fatigue. We may not score in
this way right off; we may not score
for five, six, seven or eight innings. 1t
may all happen In the ninth. But
eventually, Mr.. Fan, ! expect we will
get to them and the Tigers need only
one inning to beat any pitcher after
they've gotten his goat.
Bunting is an art that has to he learn,
ed. Some of our men know IL pretty
we'll now; those who don't will learn
1t this spring, | hope. With Cobb,
Bush, Crawford, Mcintyre, Schaefer,
Moriarty and the rest all at it and leg
ging 1t down TO first with the speed
for which they are famous, figure
that the Tigers will earn a new dis
tinction this year. The pitchers they
can't slug they can bunt, at any rate,
and that is the plan we shall adopt
when the occasion arises. We mean
to be we'll prepared, for the first time,
on the buntation proposition.
AS for the rest, you know. as well
.haf Mill
try TO do. We're not in the least going
to change our way Of battling for every
game. no matter how easy II may seem