Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-17
BY J. ED GRILLo.

One advantage that Cleveland has over
the other clubs in the American League
lies in the fact that 1t can draw on To-
ledo for any playing material it may need
at any time.
Cleveland owns the Toledo club and
uses 1t to greater advantage than any
day Art Griggs was recalled from the
Mud Hens and now 1t is limited that
Chapman, the star shortstop Of that team,
will also join the Maps.
While this is a great convenience to
Cleveland. there is no doubt that this
sort of practice will eventually put To-
ledo off the base ball map. 1t is impos-
sible to make success Of the game any
where unless the people of the town take
a pride In their team. Civic pride is all
that makes the game, and TO have its best
players withdrawn from time to time Is
sure to kill the interest in Toledo, where,
from all reports. the team is drawing none
too well as matters now stand.
The failure of the Browns and Cardinals
Is blamed on the fact that the club own
ers insisted on a spring series being
played, thus putting both teams out OF
form by placing them under a strain be-
fore they were ready. A ST. Louis writer
mas InlS 10 say OIL the ndtteT.
"St Louis big league ball team owners
must shoulder the greater part of the
blame for the poor showings made up
to date, and the financial loss that is
resulting should teach them lesson for
the future. The most direct cause of
the poor base ball the Browns and Car
dinals have been showing is the damage
done the players by the spring series.
which was played with the men In no
shape to stand the strain under poor
We no hoon
In evidence ever since in lame. arms.
crippled backs and legs and illness caused
by exposure.
Where the teams have been particular
ly weak is in pitching, and it is a fact
that neither the Cardinals nor the Browns
came through the preliminary with a
pitcher in shape to do his best. The
Browns had as promising a bunch of
to see, but when the final game with
the Cardinals was played all of them had
sore arms, and. in one or two instances
1t had become necessary to pitch men
who were hardly able to lift their arms
Frill, who has just been released, was
one of these. and whatever chance he
had of making good in big league COM
pany had practically disappeared when
the regular season opened. The same
statement regarding pitchers. suffering
impairment goes for the Cardinals, with
the difference that Bresnahan had older
and more experienced twirlers. who used
a bit more judgment in extending them
selves. as their retention on the team
was already assured. If left to the man.
ayers of the teams without business Office
influence, there will be no spring series.
or the latter will be modified to an ex-
hibition series.
While there could be no extenuating
circumstances which would prevent Pres
ident Johnson from suspending TC Cobb
for his assault OF spectator on the
mt vrtv <od
in the various papers are to be believed
Cobb was really justified in taking the
matter into his own hands. Quite a
number of spectators who sat near the
individual whom Cobb thrashed have
come to the front, telling exactly what
happened. and 1t would seem from this
that the abuse heaped on Cobb was also
offensive to a number Of woman specta-