Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-11
MAPS HAVE MORE POSITIONS
IN DOUBT THAN OTHER CLUBS
Line Up for Regular Posts O'Neil and
Livingston, Catchers; Kaler, Krappan
Gregg, Pitchers; Lajoie, Infield;
With Outfied Uncertain.

MOBILE, Ala, March lit is doubtful
its training season with so few players
sure Of their positions as Is the cose with
the Maps this year. Take the Athletics
the Giants. the Cubs. the Tigers or the
Red Sox, and the managers of the re-
spective teams know by this time which
men they will have established as regu-
lars at the start Of the season. The sit
uation in the Cleveland team is entirely
different For several positions there is
a contest. while the pitching and catching
departments are overstocked.
| Take the backstops, for instance. Steve
O'Neill and Paddy Livingston, the two
catchers obtained from Connie Mack, are
the only ones practically sure of retain
ing their positions. At the start of the
season the club may carry four catchers
cutting later to three. That leaves Eas-
terly. Fisher, Whaling. Adams and Tai
bot to fight 1t out for the other one or
| two berths.
| Davis has q big bunch Of pitchers on
hand. with Vean Gregg still to report
Here is the array: Mitchell and George
left-handers; Kaler. Banding, Steen,
Knapp, James, Baskette, Sweitzer, Zieg-
Ter. De Mott. Cook and Sweitzer. With
out much hesitation kaier. Knapp and
Gregg can be set down as regulars. Da-
Wis already knows what they can do.
but for the others they must be placed
in the class Of contenders for the other
five positions on the Cleveland pitching
staff. Possibly only one left-hander in
addition to Gregg will be retained. Ii
both Mitchell and George. however. look
good the team may be fortified with three
southpaws.
| That will leave jobs for five or six
iright-handers. with Knapp and Kaler al
ready set down as certainties. OF the
others Bill Steen, with his great Pacific
coast record; Bill James, with his phe-
nomenal speed; Swindell, with his bril-
liant work in the Carolina Association.
and Jim Baskette, who led the A: A
pitchers last year until he had his pitch
| ing hand injured. are the men who prob
| ably will receive the most consideration
along with Fred Banding. the veteran
who pitched for Cleveland more than a
season.
Blanding, however. Is a freak pitcher
| He broke into fast company on his speed
alone. He could not pitch a curve
Pitchers who can work without a curve
and get away with it are few and far
between, unless they develop q splitter in
its place By sheer speed Banding has
won his games. while most Of his defeats
have been hard-luck battles. He has q
powerful physique, and it seems as if he
might be able to add a round house to
his repertory this spring If he fails it
! will not be for lack of trying.
| Ben De Mott made a strong finish with
| Omaha last season and because Of that
was recalled.
In the infield Nap Lajoie is the only
sure thing. Hohnhorst must show; Peck
inpaugh will fight 1t out at short with
Olson, while Turner must beat out STAINS
bury. Brenkie and Hendryx. Neal Ball.
| however is reasonably certain to be re-
tanned as utility fnfielder.
Picking the outdelders Is easy. as Davis
intends to carry at least Ave- He has
Birmingham, jackson. Graney, Ryan,
Butcher and Barr to select from.
/ Whether or not Cleveland will be