Evening star., 1911-01-26
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Infelder Bunting, whom McAleer draft
ed from the Fayetteville club of the East
ern Carolina League on the recommends
ton OF Scout Dick PadGan, seems to
have more than one ad1nirer who thinks he
stands a great chance to make good here
The following communication is self-eX-
planatory and gives Bunting a splendid
send-off:
Sporting Editor Star: During the pase
summer l had occasion to witness quite
a number of games in Fayetteville, where
Bunting, the youngster drafted by the
Washington club, played. / wish TO say
that no mistake was made in securing
this youngster, for he has all the ear
marks OF making great ball PLAYER. Ills
fielding is clean, he can throw from any
position and his hitting made me beileve
that he was a natural batsman who would
HE in this company. / am interested In
the welfare Of the Nationals and I be-
lieve that in Bunting McAleer will spring
a real and agreeable surprise on the fol-
lowers of the game here.
y. L. NORRIS"
Ted Sullivan, than whom no man has
been identified longer with base ball and
who has developed more ball players
than any one now identified with the
game, is in the city.
Sir Tedford came down from Chicago
last night The beastly weather in the
Illinois town drove him here for shelter;
Sullivan is Owner Comiskey's scout and
confidential man. with other ends OF
the game to attend to. 1t was Sullivan
who selected Mineral Wells. Tex. as the
White sox training grounds. and he
speaks of the place in the highest terms.
Sullivan was somewhat surprised that
McAleer had selected Atlanta as the
training place for the Nationals.
He considers the weather there too
changeable for training purposes and
points out the fact that teams that have
trained there have made a change after
being there one spring.
One Of the puzzles OF base ball is' Ralph
Works of the Detroit pitching stan. TO
see Works warm up creates the impress
sion that he Is one Of the great pitchers
Of the organization. and yet Ralph has
not been able to get a regular place on
the Tigers staff in the two years that
he has been with the team. At the be-
ginning Of each season Ralph was touted
as q man sure of his standing. and at
the present time We again hear that
Ralph will be regularly called on during
the season to come. People wonder why
Ralph does not work regularly. Ralph
himself has wondered. That he has the
ability appears certain. and that it is
being kept under cover is also equally
certain. Works is q good pitcher. He IS
big, has the ability to curve ball and
the stamina. Among the few games he
has pitched have been a few stellar per-
formanceS. He has q few two-hit battles
to his credit.
During the training season of 1910
Hughie Jennings arranged game be-
tween his regulars and his recruits. Ralph
was permitted to play with the recruits
and he elected to pitch. He had been
training for two weeks. Ralph took the
whole thing seriously. went to the MOUND
and pitched his head on He twrled
~ ito 20 m, 4 vic hrft hp
failed to deliver during the regular sea-
son. He pitched his arm away in
training. got a bad start and did not get
into the stride.
again this year. Jennings is placing much
confidence in the tall worker. He has
been assured of a thorough trial and has
promised to take better care of himself
during the training season.
If Ralph gets good start and Hughie
gives him lots OF work he should be
winning pitcher for Detroit He needs
lots Of work to keep going right, SO
Hughie intends to give him the work and
see what Ralph can do.
President Taylor OF the Boston Red Sox
has just signed a new catcher who Is ex-
pected to displace the once great Carri-
gan. Charles d. Thomas is the new re-
ceiver's name and he comes from the
Oakland club Of the Pacific Coast League.
He caught seventy-one games last year.
having $50 put-outs. So assists and 10 err
rors- His batting average was .2}S
Thomas will have to hit with greater ef-
feet in the American League II he Is going
to make Boston fans forget the stick work
OF Carrigan. The latter Is a holdout. to-
gether with Pitcher Ray Collins and Sec
ond Baseman Larry Gardner. If these
players do not sign contracts before Feb
ruary II President Taylor says they will
not be allowed to make thetrip to Califor-
mia with the other Red Sox.
II hope Garry Hermann is successful
In his fight to have the pitchers box cut
down to a level with the home plate and
the bases" says II. II. Murnane, the vet
eran Boston critic There Is no good
reason why pitchers should have such an
advantage over batsmen. Take one of
those tall fellows with an overland de-
inch mound and you'll see that the best
baismen are unjustly handicapped. II
would he just as fair to make the distance
from home TO first base three yards far
ther. You must keep the diamond at
least as near the original proportions as
possible and make as few changes as nee
essary in the playing rules
Russell Ford has been heard from after
several months of silence. The Hillmen's
star pitcher says he will have no trouble
over his new contract with President Far
rell and will be on deck when the gong
rings at Athens, Ga. Ford has finally
come TO the conclusion that Promoter
Fietcher's scheme is myth
Herzog has filed a claim with the ma