The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-01
NJ ANY A VIC DRY
BY HASEBALL's
SMALL FRY
Present Training Season Remarkable
for the Number of Defeats by
the Big-League Tourists
In South.
Jennings Scheme of Splitting Tiger
Stars Between Two Squads May
Never Be Repeated.
sY PAUL Il RRuskE.

Inc loss Dy the donovan bouu Oh
uorthbound Tiger tourists of four con
secutive games 10 the Houston club
or the Texas league calls attention 10
the fact mat never in the history of
training trips have major league clubs
suffered n similar number OF defeats
as have lowered the banners during
the season now drawing to a close.
TIE Tiger regulars have a record OF
losing one training game under Jen-
niugs during the three prior seasons
he has oiilCiated IS the pilot OF their
fortunes This yea: news OF Detroit
defeats has been pattering in ar rate
that is simply astounding.
A parallel is afforded by the Chi
cago WhitesoXs who. In their tour e:
the far west. have lost almost as manv
games as they have won. Nor Is this
all. by any means. The Cleveland
Maps have been trimmed by New Or
leans, the Birmingham club has az
fixed several maJor-league scalps 10 ITS
belt. the former worlds champion
Cubs have lowered their colors on sew
eral occasions, and virtually all the
major league clubs have been forced
10 swallow the more or less bitter pill!
of defeat more often than usual.
Minors Getting 5etter7
Specifically this condition would
seem TO Indicate either an improve
ment in the general grade of baseball
IN the mosquito leagues or else a fall
ing of in the class OF the men who
wear the suits that proclaim them rep
resentativcs of the big cities. To a
certain extent the latter explanation is
true.
Undoubtedly the talent which is pro-
3uced in the training games by the big
leaguers Is comprised Of an increasing
number OF young and untried players.
These are naturally 10 the fore in the
training season. which is almost the
sole opportunity with the youngsters
OF the managers who are naturally de-
sirous of making the test as thorough
as possible. Big clubs are carrying
more youngsters than ever before and
the practice OF scheduling two sets OF
games, thereby diluting the real stel-
lar nature OF the attraction, Is now
elmost universal
Yet there has been OF late an added
factor in the growing feeling that de-
feat AT the hands Of a rival of lower
class in the training season brings
necessarily no disgrace.
This partakes naturally OF sane
physical conditioning and training
regime.
A veteran pitcher no longer hurries
his training by taking chances with his
calary wing when minor-league CLUB
-
players catch the spirit OF the older
men and won't as a rule risk a dan
gerous slide or charley-horse by GO
ing to their limit when there is moth.
ins but sentimental value attached TO
a victory.
Not SO Startling at That.
Il is this state OF affairs which has
undoubtedly resulted in many petty
triumphs ty the small fry of the base
ball world. For, while the big leaguers
are progressing along steadily in their
training regime, their opponents
many OF whom live in the south and
keep in condition all winter long-are
using all their skill, speed and
strength Add to this factor the trick
fields OF the south and the present
condition becomes far less startling.
The situation with the Tigers is this
year a peculiar one. neither Of the
teams being the one on which Jen-
nings will rely for his start Of the big
campaign. In fact, the little man.
ayers unique expedient of abolishinS
the second team and dividing his vet
Grams evenly between the two squads
appears 10 have so weakened each as
to make victory difficult for either.
Whether or not the present plan viii
he repeated another year is not known.
But Il Is easy for the average sup
porter Of the Tigers 20 understand
hughes desire TO have his regular
team together as soon as il can pos
sibly be arranged.