Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-17


bled since the 1911 season closed.
He went 10 his spring training
quarters at Joplin in the highest
spirits. We hope he returns in still
higher ones. II does seem as II he had
got together fighting team and that
is all any good ball town has right to
ask. The matter Of winning the pennant
is left to fate largely. But we do want
a, first division club and we are trusting
Pas trained Judgment for having one.
OF course we would appreciate a pennant-
winning club. and Pa thinks we even
have a chance at that. Last year was
not a good one for Omaha. II fell. in
patronage as well as playing, below its
normal. Even the new park, the best on
the circuit, did not bring out the people.
Pa realized before the season was over
that his team was not meriting the best
support, and yet he inspired II to very
desperate effort toward the last. which
brought II out of second Division and
enabled II to close the season In fourth
place. When II came home that time
and began a long stay on Its own grounds
by dropping seven games m a row pa
knew 1t was "all Off SO far as the crowds
were concerned. for there did not seem
10 be any very good reason why the team
should lose those seven games. 1t had
a chance right there to leap into second
place, but let the chance slip and slipped
with It away down again. But the team
this year surely will not do that. or any,
thing like 1t. 1t Is a well organized
team, Pa thinks. We know that II Is a
better team by far. II has the best that
was in last years team. with lot OF
excellent new. material, which ought to
make 1t a steady-golng combination. And
that best of last year-Kane Thomson.
Niehoff. Arbogast and several pitchers
notably Han and Robinson, ought to be
far better tlianjever. We hope for year
Of good playing and good support by the
fans.
Jack Holland. unless all his stars
come back, will have lot OF reorganiza-
ton to do before the season opens. Don
Despair at Lincoln viii also have little
OF the same work. Don can afford IL, too.
He viii have new infield. Id toto.
Thomas. Gagnier. unglaub and Cockman
having passed. though. We suppose. old
Gus Dundon. who did such excellent work
last year. will be there. Despair had the
same work. Don can afford II, too. He
will have new infield, in toto. Thomas
Gagnier. unglanb and Cockman having
passed, though. we suppose. old Gus Dun
don, who did such excellent work last
year. will be there. Despair had the
tough luck OF falling to get out Of his
team last year all. or any considerable
part Of what was in 1t. We fear he will
not have such team this year. 1t may
be. OF course, that Gagnier will land back
on the job, but II seems hardly probable
since Washington has evidently decided
though not in its own field. So far as
Jack Thomas going is concerned. IL
strikes US that is boon 10 Lincoln, es-
peclally since 1t gets Bill Dryer In his
place. Dryer Is so much better a ball
player than Thomas that IL is not neces-
sary to consider his additional qualifica-
tons as a manager. Thomas is lazy.
which robs the team he is on Of much Of
the excellent service Of which he is capa-
BILE. With stamina, he might have been
q big Lacquer instead of a minor. but
lacking that he is only moderate minor.
We think Pa Rourke has done a wise
thing to keep old Jawn Gonding. The
veteran. who has spent a dozen years or
80 with the team, will be of incalculabla
value in the mere matter of handling
young and obstrepercus pitchers. to say
nothing OF the actual catching he will do
and general balancing OF the whole team.
John, with his noodle. Is always and ever
In the game. We have often seen times
III the last ten or twelve years when Il
seemed that he was the only man in tho
game. That sort OF man is not easily
spared. Do not think Of him. therefore.
as q has-been. He is far from that. As
q matter Of fact We look for him to do
excellent active work this season and
render remarkable service in seasoning
the recruits. He stays with Omaha. not
because he had nowhere else to go-hs
had a half a dozen good offers.
In the meantime the white hopes and
prospective wrestling champions are
reapIng the golden harvest provided by
willing supporters of sport who arc
entitled to something better than they
are getting.