The Detroit times., 1912-12-25
SPRING PLANS OF l9O7-OS
RESURRECTED FOR TIGERS
System That Brought Out Sew
eral Good Tigers To Be
Tried in 1913
EARLY TRAINING FOR
YOUNGSTERS is IDEA
Jennings Will Have the Recruits
Report Week or Two Ear
lier Than Usual
By RALPH l. YoNkER.

ny hALFH l.. rONNGn-
Manager Hugh Jennings, OF the
Tigers, will go back to the system or
spring training which he used in 1907
and 1908, the two years In which De-
troit took its first two American
league pennants.
This system differs from the one
followed last year chiefly in one par
ticular. That is, Hughie himself will
20 south q week or two early with
the youngsters and get them started
before the rest OF the men get there.
There is q double advantage in this.
First, the Tiger boss can have the
youngsters ready for actual work by
the time the veterans get on tne
grounds ready to timber up. Second,
the arrival OF the youngsters all in
Q bunch ahead OF the veterans VIII
give them a better chance TO show
their real stuff than when they ar
rive with or after the veterans.
Jennings is strong for the right
mental attitude in players, especially
youngsters who are just starting out
In the big league. His chief criticism
OF some players has been that they
lacked confidence. II is this cen
fdence which he wants 10 inspire IA
the new men before the old fellows
arrive on the scene.
One would be surprised at the ave
which the veterans first inspire in
the kids who have Just broken out
OF the bushes The young fellows are
tfmid and afraid to let out at hrst
when they are made TO show tnelr
stuff before the old-timers. But IL
they are on the ground nrst, they VIII
be very much at home before the
veterans arrive on the scene.
After a few weeks OF association
with the men who have been break
ing into the headlines for years, ike
Cobb and era wford and Muffin aud
the other veteran Tigers, the young
steers get to know them as friends
and forget that awe which they had
at first.
II was this system that brought out
Edgar Willett in 1907. Willett was
big. bashful farmer boy from tue
Kansas prairies when he came TO tEc
Tigers. But ne proved to be one Oh
the Jungle's mainstays in the years
that followed his debut. Killer,
Downs and others we're brought out
in these years, and by these methods.
The Washington club is going to
try the same stunt as the Tigers.
Clark Griffith wants his pitchers par
ticularly to be in the south and 70
have work there in advance OF tie
regulars.
II Is quite likely that the majority
OF the men will be sent 10 French
Lick Springs or West Baden, lnu.,
for q week or SO TO get the adVant-
ages of the baths there before report
ing to Charlottesville, Var where etne
regular training quarters are located.
Pitchers need more time TO gel
ready than do the other pleayers'
says Griffith and in that he agrees
with Jennings.
II will have a regular routine lor
them. They will have a good work
out one day and then rest their arms
the next, putting IN time chasing
flies to get themselves into condition.
"This, to my way OF thinking, Is
the only way TO get pitchers into
shape. 1t was very successful last
spring
Major league bosses are looking
for better weather this spring than
they had last. In fact, they don't see
how 1t could be very much worse
than 1t was last February, March and
early April IL will be remembered
that every club in both the MAJOR
leagues was kicking srenuonsly
about the lack of time for condltlol'-
ing.
There will be more chance for tie
Tigers to do indoor work this spring
AZ Gulfport than there was last
spring at Monroe.
Last year when the rain that came
30 continuously in Louisiana refused
10 relax and Manager Jennings be-
came absolutely Disguised, he search
ed all over the town for a place TO
put in a handball court. There were
a number of county fair buildings out
at the Tigers grounds but none OF
them had ceiling high enough 10
permit the installation OF a handball
COURT