Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15
DOESN'T BELIEVE IN
WINNING REMNANTS
IN WINTER
Continued From First Page.)

power station is behind the bat and much
of the success of our club has depended
upon the skill with which Ira Thomas
and Jack Lapp have wiggled their fingers
Gentlemen. l have spent years in educat-
ing those fingers and now you would I'm.
do all my work. Gentlemen, shorten the
games any way you wish, but don't.
pray you, take any action that will i'm
pair the effectiveness Of my signal corps.
And the league did not. contenting it.
self with passing the usual resolutions
that the president instruct the umpires tC
hurry the contests along.
Peace of mind having been restored to
Connie Mack. the league adjourned to
meet in New York February II. Ter
minutes later tall. thin gentleman. ac-
companied by one who was short and
stout, made his farewells and departed
for Philadelphia.
The public does not complain about the
length of games so long as the players
are not allowed to resort to dilatOry tao
tics. There is no objection to a. catcher
taking all the time he needs to signal OF
steady his pitcher. But little time is
wasted in this way, but when players
walk slowly to and from their positions
it is a waste Of time for which there is
no excuse and which is obnoxious to the
spectators. Nothing appeals SO much to
the spirit of the fans as to see a lot OF
players hustling to and from their posi-
tons. There is no doubt that the enor-
nous amount OIL p61T6pneTudlld WHICH the
catchers wear these days for protection
takes up time to put on and take off be-
tween innings, and yet the catchers cannot
be blamed for taking these precautions.
But SO long as the average game does
not go more than two hours there is little
or no kick coming.
1T is by no means settled that Frank
Chance will accept the management of
the Highlanders. The fact that he does not
seem to be overanxious about arranging
a contract with Owner Farrell, as shown
by the dispatches from Los Angeles,
speaks for itself. Chance realizes that
he is in q position where he can demand
an enormous salary, for the position is
seeking him. he is not seeking the posi-
Farrell would be willing to pay Chance
10000 per season, and it is hard to I'M
derstand why he does not jump at the OPP
pOrtunity to not only remain in the game.
but under much more lucrative condi-
tons. Having been turned down by
Murphy. who has done everything to be-
little his former manager. it would be
supposed that Chance would jump at the
chance which is open to him. If ever
a manager turned down by one club, and
in fact by the entire league. has had a
chance to come back under the most
favorable conditions. it is Chance.
Just how difficult it is to make trades
to both teams Is shown in the case Of Sam
Crawford. Detroit evinced a desire
to trade it's big slugger and Chicago was
anxious to secure him, but could not
have him unless it gave up Ed Walsh.
That proposition was. Of course, con-
fell through. Walsh is the backbone Of
that Chicago team. He has been -espon-
sible for his teams achievements more
than any one else in recent years. and
even SO good hitter as Crawford could
come nowhere near to plugging up the
hole which Walsh would leave if he was
traded. Occasionally a club offers to
trade a good ball player, but as q rule
better man is demanded in the ex-
change.
Age in a catcher does not seem to
be as much q necessity as it was a
few years ago. Many managers have
argued that they absolutely must have
veteran backstops in order to put up
any fight at all in the pennant race.
race has been attributed to the lack Of an
experienced receiver. AS the managers
held to this belief, the catching veterans
were forced to eaten practically all the
games, being excused only when they
were injured. 1t was nothing unusual for
catcher to work in 100 games a few
years ago. 1t was different this year.
Stanage and Sweeney were the only ones
in the American League to catch more
than 100 games. while Meyers anu Archer
were the National pair to accomplish the
same feat.
Washington managed to get along
without any aged catcher. and the three
youngsters. Ainsmith, Henry and Will
liams, worked in q most creditable fash
ion SO well, in fact. that Washington
would have no trouble in selling the trio
for a fancy price. O'Neil and Adams,
Cleveland's pair Of youngsters. caught
lightweight games, but they were two
backstops that did show the need of more
experience. Jack Lapp is a compare
lively young man. as is Cady of the Bos-
ton Red Sox. Both are stars. Chicago
picked up a pair of promising kids in
Kuhn and Schalk, both of whom are
booked to stick around few years.
The National League has more veteran
catchers than the American. or. rather.
1t had more when the season ended. But
there is no telling what will be the fu-
ture Of Roger BreSnahan and John
King. Roger. however, caught but twen-
ty-eight games during the 1912 campaign.
He did not overwork himself in actual
warfare. Doom Meyers. Gibson and Nc
Lean are other National receivers Of ex-
perience. Among the youngsters who
received plenty of opportunities were
Simon and Kelly Of Pittsburgh, Wingo
Of the Cardinals with ninety-eight games
to his credit). Rariden Of Boston. Kill
hfer Of Philadelphia and Miller of Brook
lyn. Tom Clarke Of Cincinnati might
be claeseo As d seut-vet.