Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-29

up against II for what they regard as top
notch players and there is steadily increas-
inghompetition among the hunters. We be-
lieve the big teams are making a mistake
In not settling down to more careful and
patient development of the material they
have. 1t stands to reason that this is the
only sure solution Of what seems to be a
problem In base ball. The great difficulty
is that the leading teams are unwilling to
hazard the risk of training young players
and that means that many promising buds
are allowed to go unblossomed and some
teams are deprived of their services that
need them. The leaders regard this matter
of training or breaking In new men a
psort of swapping horses while crossing the
stream, leaving all this sort Of work to be
done by the teams in the second division
that have no mortal chance to win the pen
nant and have little to lose. Well, there is
after all some compensation in the system.
Boston, Philadelphia and New York in the
American league and st. Louis Cincinnati
and Boston in the National have been doing
this breaking-in work for some time, and
today, while they may not all have top
notchers. they have teams that will be
corners for at least three seasons without
much IL any changing. The Athletics OF
course and possibly Boston and New York
In the American league may be considered
as contenders, while the others must be
4eckoned with. The Cubs, Pirates, Detroit
and one or two others have to come to a
renovating process sooner or later. OF
course Pittsburg has been doing more or
less OF it, and the others a little. but not
enough.
Observing fans must have been struck
A.
- have been played this year in this or any
other league that could be cassed as close
contests. Large, one-sIded scores have been
the rule, The writer was asked by big
league scout in a letter last week, How
sfdp you account for the heavy batting in
y the Western Lacquer" He accounts for 1t
he accounts for the heavy batting in
n all leagues by tine fact that the pitchers
have not begun to work with any degree
of reliability, and this is due entirely to
the irregular weather. Some one says, but
Omaha's pitchers have not begun to work
with any degree of reliability and this is
due entirely to the irregular weather. oh,
yes, they have. Take, for instance, the
games played on the home grounds last
week. There was Hager1nan pitching for
Denver again Omaha, undoubtedly one OF
the best minor league pitchers today. a
man who has had the advantage of Cub
training, and yet he was simply slaugh-
tered by the Rourkes and other pitchers
were hit hard. But the weather has at
fected not only the pitchers, It has hurt
all the men. Frank Chance said the other
day: There has not been q game of ball
this season" OF course that is rather
hyperboiic. but it illustrates the point.
Majors and minors alike have had to put
UP with conditions. But the intelligent fan
will not get stampeded; he will understand
that when the sun shines regularly his pets
will warm up and go to IL. Be sport,
not a knocker.
Isbell is said to contemplate retirement
j. from active work on the field and manage
his team from the bench II his recruit,
Koehler, makes good at first. We have
no desire to hope for ought but the best
for Koehler. but We sincerely wish that
Isbell may not for this or any other con-
sideration act upon his reported plan.
Isbell ripe with the experience Of de-
cade In the major leagues, is needed in
action in the Western league. What dc
we care that he plays and leads to victory
an opposing team? For the larger inter
ests OF the Western league. we want to see
Nm stay In the harness. His presence al
Xfst base adds interest and pleasure to the
game and the man who can see into the
heart of base ball can find delight In
simply watching this old warhorse guide
his youngsters. He is displaying qualities
OF rare leadership, he Is whipping into
shape, a team OF only ordinary material
one with which few other men in the
league could stay as near the top. Mort
than that. Isbell In action is worth NOR,
by far at the box office than Isbell on tn,
bench. A man good for several seasons
yet In fast company is.e of course an at
traction in minor league ball. Do not TAX,
TO the bench, ley. Stay where you are
You are needed there. Don't desert you
most Play young Koehler-whoeyer he is
a&1hewhere else and lay off some othe
man, but you stick to the game. And 1
Isbell doesn't think he Is needed at frs
base, few games on the bench probabl.
win convince him.
\ { Dick Cooley is quoted in one OF the To
peka papers as attributing his failure t,
win games on the recent eastern trip I,
adverse decisions Of the umpires. especiall!
IN Omaha. In Omaha he says he and hi
team were robbed by Umpire Spencer ant
points out that the game that went t
Omaha to should have been Topeka
by 10 to O. He says that with three mel
on bases Kunkle knocked a home run AM
the Jump called It foul Poor Dick. bal
Dick, our maynard son. turbulent. idle
reckless one" we love him with all hi
faults. II was ever thus. But wait, wal
till Spencer happens to make a good de
q cision. Dick, things win even themselve
Nup by the end OF the season. Robbery
Piffle. drlvei. Doesn't sound like good oil
Dick.
Unless the New York Americans are play
inG away ahead OF their gait they have
chance for the flag. They are certainl
going fast clip, but It win be recaile
that they made a dash last year and the
slumped But they are stronger now tina
then for the young material last year tha
has stuck is seasoned now and they hay
made valuable additions. The Tigers al
having their bumps and the Athletics gl'
ing great promise OF redeeming the hoI
they disappointed last year. II looks IN
a Peher race in both majors for the entil
circuit.
II Is not necessary 20 believe that II
rs fight is fixed TO come TO the realizi
ton that moving pictures showing a blas