New-York tribune., 1912-04-22

II something is not OOne 10 prevent
1epetition of the disgraceful scene which
marred the game at the Polo Grounds on
Saturday, baseball will suffer. Thomas ].
Lynch, president Of the National League,
can be counted on TO punish the offenders,
but he must have the support and coop
Grafton of the club owners If the effect Of
that punishment is to be lasting. The life
of an umpire is not a happy one. but his
first business is to preserve order on the
diamond and to keep his temper, no mat
ter what the provocation. Rigler IS an ex-
perienced umpire, and a capable one, too,
but this makes his offence In striking
manager on the field the more aggravated.
No doubt he felt himself grievousy in
suited by something Dahlen said. other
wise he could hardly have used sucn ex-
treme measures. This, however. while ex-
cusing him in the eyes of many, is slight
justification under the circumstances. AS
for Dahlen, the Brooklyn manager little
be said. He had just served a three
day suspension for umpire batting" So
called, and there will be few who express
sympathy II President Lynch imposes the
maximum fine and penalty for the part he
played in the swinging Of fists. 1t recalls
the Magee case of last year, and shows
q.
will be interesting to watch developments.
What is the matter with the Yankees?
has been the burden Of a score of letters
which have come to my desk in the last
two or three days. One would think that
the sporting editors or baseball writer's
possess some inside knowledge which
should be shared with the fans" but
must confess TO being quite as much in the
dark as those who sit on the bleachers /
40 not resent the implications on my pre-
dicton OF a few days ago, that the
Yankees would be in the running for the
American League pennant neither am |
willing to retract the statement that Harry
Wolverton. the new manager of the team,
had one Of the strongest pitching stats In
the country. and that personally / would
not exchange it for any in the American
Leasve There is plenty Of time.
AS has been said so often, one swallow
does not make summer, or one red apple
a feast, and the season is all too young TO
consiGn tine Yankees TO a place in the sec
ond division. The race is not always to the
swift, and Wolverton has team which is
capable OF much better things than has
Dten SHOWN 10 uate. one thing Is sure,
Russell Ford and the other pitchers are not
in the best of condition. due, no doubt, TO
the almost constant rain on the spring
training trip, Lack of confidence in the
pitchers is almost sure to affect the other
players and much of the unsteadlness which
has been so apparent may be put down 10
this The loss OF five straight games on
their own diamond, three to the Boston
Red Sox and two to Washington, proved
bitter disappointment 10 followers OF the
team but the time has not come to throw
up hands or shout in derisioD. The Yankees
may prove to be disappointment, but II is
only fair to Wolverton and his men to wait
few weeks before launching shafts OF
bitter criticism
One word may be added Let IL be re-
called that on April % last year the Phila-
delphia Athletics, who won the worlds
championship. were a bad last in the
standing. with two victories and six de-
fcsts. Then. too. II memory serves. a Bos-
ton team which Won a pennant began the