The Washington herald., 1912-02-21
ANOTHER RUMOR
GOES THE ROUNDS
Mcbride for Stoyall Is Latest
Yarn for Capital Fans
to Discuss.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
By WILLIAM PEET.

No sooner had the trade been announced
whereby washington gets Jack Knight
for Gabby Street than rumors OF other
swaps began 30 circulate in the Cap
itaL
A baseball fan said yesterday: 81 hear
that Grifith Is going to trade George
Mcbride TO st. Louis for George Stoyall,
and that Stovau will play first base for
the Nationals, Jack knight being shifted
over 10 short, where he is quite at home"
Such a swap on the face of it would
be absurd. Griffith could probably have
had Stovall and a pitcher for Street had
he wanted to do business with Cleveland,
and while StovaH would likely make
Washington a good first sacker, Grif Is
after youngsters and not veterans.
II must be borne in mind that Jack
knight is a young ball player, good for
at least six or eight years more in the
big leagues, as his habits are Of the
best.
Knight had u poor year in New York
last season, and it is safe to say did not
put up the game of which he is capable.
There are several reasons for this
knight and Chase did not hit It on very
well, and IL was well known fact that
Hal Chase never could get the best re-
suits out of his men.
Early in the season Knight developed
a lame arm, and was played at second
base, but as the season progressed his
arm grew stronger and he covered short
in capable style, never being troubled
with sore wing, or at least his work
in this city did not show II.
John B. Foster Of the New York Tele-
gram. the editor of Spalding's Guide.
states that Street will be valuable to
the New York Highlanders in more ways
than one. He hits the nail on the head
with the following:
Among us there are fans" who will
not concede that the pitchers Of the
Highlanders have lacked for many years
the benefit of high grade catching. Not
10 hurt their feelings, possibly, II would
be better not to say that the catching
department has been weak, but to state
that II the catching department had been
better it is possible there might have
been better results from the pitchers.
That should please everybody.
II the above premises are correct, IT is
possible that the pitchers of the New
York American League club will make
more progress in 1872 than they did in
1911, for unless the arm Of "Gabby'
Street goes back on him there should
be a dierffent system OF applied coach
ing this summer.
that when Ford is pitching he pitches to
Sweeney. and not for Sweeney, and there
have been occasional games when the
truth OF that assertion seemed 10 have
been we'll demonstrated.
Now, Street may not catch Ford. II
he does, those who are fond, Of placing
light wagers may make up their minds
that Street viii have something to say
about the job behind the bat, or he will
not catch.
There are two young pitchers on the
Highlanders who are likely TO be much
better on for the benefit OF the expert
ence which Street possesses. They are
Caldwell and Fisher. Very probably
they will not be asked TO break their
backs an the afternoon throwing curve
balls. II they are, then il will be time
10 back up on Street as a sound adviser.
The new catcher, who comes to the
Highlanders in place OF Knight, now
and then has trouble with his arm.
He is not the strongest thrower in the
world. He is compelled TO take q step
TO get the ball on its way, but he is
accurate, and that counts as much as
man who is very strong and speedy but
who is as likely TO throw hole through
one OF the advertising signs on the fence
as he is to hit the gloves OF the man who
IS covering second base.
Street has been in the game long
enough TO know when it is not advisable
- throw. Some players are never more
happy than when they can keep the ball
in the air. Perhaps il is because they
wish 10 be rid Of it as quickly as posi-
hle. II Is a wise catcher who does not
throw when It is even money that a
runner will make a break for another
base II he does throw.
II Knight regains strength in his arm.
and he applies himself to baseball, one
Of these days he may develop into a
player who will be considered Of the
standard A selects