Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-04
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

Willie Keller, in his day the most
scientific batsman the game ever knew,
is to teach the art of swatting to the
Brooklyn players next season Willie
has been engaged for this purpose by
Owner Ebbetts A batting coach is a real
innovation. While IT has been proven
that pitchers can be improved with prop
err handling ard fielders can become
more expert, it has been argued that a
players batting cannot be improved to
any great extent. Good batters are born.
and SO are poor ones. and they seldom
improve their form, regardless of what
they may resort to.
Keller was a great batter, of that there
Is no doubt He had great eye. which
made it possible for him to follow d ball
on its course to the plate. The eye has
much to do with batting, and unless
Keller has discovered way of improv-
ing the players lamps he is not apt
TO make bowling success of his new
position.
II his Young pitchers show the improve
uent that is usually expected after their
first year in fast company. George
Stovali Will have IA most troublesome
team in ST Louis next season A better
corps N young twirlers than that OF the
Browns has never been gotten together
or ore team and if they all show good
- fern next season the BROWNS are going
w a hard team to beat.
IN Hamilton the Browns have one OF
te 81 left handlers in the league. Alll-
Dn and BaUmgardner are a splendid pair
yorng right handlers. and in Weilman
OVAL appears to have picked up another
poe Waddell. There are others on the
tcbang staff who have shown some
hiss so that il is plain that the Browns
IRE Ia have a strong defense, and any
time d team has that it is always sure to
- L. e ~
wears ago finished last, or near 1t. but
they made a lot Of trouble for their rivals
q, that, because the team had strong
pitching staff
So long as Frank L.aporte can hit
around the .:;,o mark his position on the
Nations Is intield is fairly safe. IL is 10
easy matter to pick mp Noungster who
can jump right in and WELD the ash AT
that rate. and the value of having
that sort of hitter in the lineup is APP
parent. Laporte has always been good
hitter. though ne has never been star
in the field. whether played on the in OF
out hcld. Griffith secured him to bolster
up his teams batting at a time when a
slump apparent I.aporte made good
IN this respect, and he is sure TO he kept
i'm the position until Griffith is satisfied
THAT he has a man who can hit about as
well and is of more value in the field and
on the bases.
Realizing that they threw away theil
chance Tor another pennant by Hstless
ness and overconiidcncc last season. the
members Of the Athletics seem deter
mined To make "a desperate fight in TN,
next campaign. Connie Mack has the
promise Of his play ers To take good car,
III themselves during the off season anC
~ hustle from the time the bell taps un
I'll the finish next season. If Mack
pitchers can come back he should have 9
bette team next season than he has
ever before had, That 6utfield looks Il
he stronger. Mack picked up "A pair o
mighty clever young players in Murphy
and Walsh, whom he secured from Balti
more This pair is sure Of regular posi-
tons. and then hc has Oldring Strunl
and Daley, the coast sWgger. to choos,
from. II is needless to point out that HI
has a wonderful inGeld. perhaps tn,
greatest in either major league. and tina
SOFT of a combination needs but COOS
pitching 10 make i; Il success.
Grover Land. heavyweight catcher. i:
going after the coming-back record. Gro
Yer first "A member of the Maps il
the latter part of l:sS and early portion
of 1893. lie was allowed to slip over I,