Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05
BENCH WARMERS"
When Opportunity Offers Sub
stitutes Often Become Stars.
FLETCHER LOOKS GOOD
Manager McGraw Develops Several
Corking Good Players From
the Utility Role.

NEW YORK, February 4.-That some
of the most brilliant lights in base ball
are hidden under the law that keeps them
on the bench is proved by the fact, which
has just leaked out, that Fred Tenney,
while here few days ago. offered Nc
Graw his pick Of most any two players
on his club for Arthur Fletcher
McGraw laughed at the proposition,
and went SO far as to say that he
wouldn't exchange his star utility man
for three ordinary players on any team in
the league. This may be Fletcher's year
to shine.
1t is pretty tough on young fellow of
Fletcher's ability to be kept on the bench
and nobody realizes that more than Nc
Graw. Fletcher understands the situa-
ton, however, and takes it philosophic-
ally. He knows that McGraw is holding
on to him with deathlike grip SO that
he can go in and grab the first job left
open by player on whom age begins to
leave its mark.
There is not better infielder in the
business than Fletcher said the Giant
manager yesterday. And he will be a
good hitter when he begins to play reg
uiarly. In all of the games in which he
took part last season Fletcher walloped
the ball on the nose, but he hit in very
hard luck. Time after time his drives
would go like a shot right into some
helders outstretched hands. He is full
OF life and ginger. and it is a pity that he
hasn't the opportunity to play regularly,
but his time will come just as it came to
Devlin, Devore and Merkle They all had
to go through the MILL
I'm my opinion" said Fred Tenney.
Fletcher has the most remarkable pair
or hands In the game. He can gather in
grounders with such ease that he makes
all the hard chances look easy His fin
gers are long and strong. and that is
what counts in an infielder. He can
throw with the precision Of a rifle and he
is a good hitter
When Arthur Devlin stiffened up for
awhile last season it was thought that
Fletchers time to become star had ar
rived. but the old veteran suddenly
spruced up and his legs and arms became
as nimble as ever. When the series with
the Highlanders began he was at his best
and we'll do the fans remember what he
dld In those seven games of fighting. Dew
lin Is the Oldest man on the team in point
of service, with the exception of Mathew
son, and according to the rule of things
he probably will be the first to break
down. McGraw has laid his plans so that
If Devlin ever slips he will have Just as
good man i'll Fletcher to put in the gap
and go right on
The history of the game shows that
many of the best players have been bench
warmers for several years before getting
out in the open. A notable example is
Solly Hoffman of the Cubs. At one time
he and Sammy Strang were the star util-
ity men for the Giants and the Cubs, and
Hoffman did not get chance to show the
general public how much he was worth
until Slagle got too old for the Cub out
field. Holman then slipped right into the
gap and the Cubs were not weakened in
the least by the absence of their old vet
eran.
Lobert of Cincinnati was also a utility
man until he fell heir to his present lob.
Merkle was on the bench three years be-
fore he got whack at a regular job. He
has absorbed SO much of the game from
bench observation, however that the alb
sence of Tenney from first base was not
felt in the least. Devore also did bench
service for three years. and it was not
until the middle of last season that the
fans began to get" his real speed