Evening star., 1911-01-29
NJ 'AlEER WILL HAVE
WISE ASSISTANTS
EIberfeId, Schaefer, Conroy
and Mcbride Four Players
Who Know Game.
TEAM WILL SOON
START SOUTH TO TRAIN
Detroit Writer Charges Major
ity of Clubs With Signal
SteaIing-Pitchers in
Demand.
BY ]. ED GRILLo.


In the matter OF having experienced
and competent advisers on his team. Jim
McAleer seems about as well fortified
as any manager In either major league
Schaefer, Elberfeld. Conroy and Mcbride
are four players thoroughly versed in
the fine points OF the game a fact which
will be OF great assistance to the man
in charge.
Plays in which either OF this quartet
is involved need not be directed. Ex
perience has made inside base ball a.
most mechanical with them. and it is
such players who are as valuable to a
team as 300 hitters.
1t is not likely that Schaefer and
Conroy will be played regularly. The
two veterans will be used whenever
there is an opening. but Elberfeld AMI
Mcbride will be in the game whenever
it is possible for them to play. 1t is a
great relief TO manager to have a pair
OF wise heads on the field. for Ii is
impossible for him to direct plays as
they come up from the bench. Connie
Mack has Harry Davis and Eddie Col
Inns to pull his plays. and this.has had
much to do with the making of the Ath-
in base ball. and the man on the bench.
while he may be quick-wltted and COM
petent enough, is not in a position To
bring his thoughts into action as the
various occasions arise.
That Is why a couple Of old heads In
the field do much to help a team to VIC
tory.
In a little over q month the Nationals,
like most of the other major league
teams, will go into training. But before
the entire squad reports at Atlanta eight
three weeks of work at Hot Springs.
SO that one team Will be virtually lit
to put in the field the very day that the
real training period opens. Not being
handicapped by having to look after q
swarm OF new material, Manager Nc
Aleer should not have a difficult time
picking the men he wants TO start the
season with. There are. of course. many
Of the positions already taken care OF.
but there are others for which a player
must be chosen. On the infield q first
baseman is needed. McAleer has Som
eriot. Henry and Lelivelt TO select from.
The other positions appear to be in the
hands of competent men. Milan is a
fixture in the outfield, but he appears
to be the only player of class that can
be relied upon IN that department of the
game No doubt he will be kept III
center and the other two positions Will
be filled from selections TO be made from
the following players: Gessler Lelivelt.
Conway, Swain, Ralston and Corbin. Per
haps there is a star in the rough among
the youngsters mentioned. but If the"
all should fail the team will be no worse
off than last year, with Leiivelt and
Gessler on Milan's sides. Now, on the
showing of this pair last season there
is no reason for enthusing over the
prospects. but there is. however, a great
chance for them to show improvement.
Gessler. for instance, had the worst
season of his career last year. while
Lelivelt was really seeing his first year
in fast company. having Joined the team
late in the previous season.
There is no chance TO improve the
catching department, while the pitchers.
led by Walter Johnson. may be developed
into a formidable staff. Good work IS
or two youngsters may show hiSh-class
form to round out the staff
Though there is much complaint among
the managers that there is too littla
batting. the averages of last season and
the one before showing a decided de-
crease, one would not think there was
any imminent need OF any new pitchers
In the major leagues. But with the howl
about weak hitting every club is Que
trying to get more pitchers. Pitchers
are the one thing that every team can
use at any time. It would seem. No club
Here in WASHINGTON we can boast OF
Walter Johnson. We have several other
pitchers who look good. but there is
room for more.
Some of the Philadelphia papers say
that the Athletics are the only team In
either league that will ask no favors in
the pitching line. Connie Mack is por-
trayed as perfectly satisfied with his
curvng staff and not worrying little
about the future. In a ducks pocketbool1
he isn't, In his heart OF hearts, long
Con is scared to death for fear thaC
Bender. coombs ard Plank viii do tn,
retrogresson act this coming season. Iia
wants a husky young left-hander to sue
coed Plank and has about four of them
under trial. He wants at least one pow
erfnl right-hander 10 make good TO-.
Coomhs or Bender In case of need, AMI
he hasn't the least idea where lie can
find one.
The Boston Americans arc all shot I,
pieces for pitching force. and John l.
Tayior would hlrc IN Egyptian ibis Il
any one told him The bird cosld throw a
spit ball. That team needs pitchers. ami
needs them mighty suddenly.
ComiSkey has "a strong staff. hut nor
strong enough. and would welcome two
new pitchers of genuine ability welcome
them like Old Pop took in the pred
Cleveland has bunch OF pitchers that
may pan out nicely, but is worrying SOM
ers and Mcclure just the same. The new
men are hardly experienced enough and
the old ones are going back, which is a
risky combination.
The Tiger pitchers are In TIE shakv
class, and Jennings would give M the
privilege of eating grass just to get two
pitchers who could transact business for
i percentage of .5f5 or better Chase.
with his powerful staff. seems to be well
ixed-his hurlers are corllers. for fair
out he hasn't enough OF them. Halihut
would be glad to acquire one more slab
,ter if he had the classy quality
The plight of the st. Louis Browns is.
If course. too sad to hoot at. and the
OF that team calls for a
5undle OF pitchers as well as other per.
formers.
In the National League there is lust an
strong a demand for pitchers. Tie Bos-
on cellarettes surely need somebody who
has q peach of a bunch with
3ucker. Bell. Barger and Sranlnn hnA.