The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-09

Evers must expect this and allow
for it, and do not believe he will.
Added to that the Chicago public is
ready to turn upon the team and
roast it viciously as soon as anything
goes wrong. I doubt if the fans will
wait for things to go wrong They
like Evers, they like the players, but
they are after the management and
will abuse the players because they
can't reach the owner.
The chief strengthening move of the
team has been to get Roger Bresna-
han. This probably was a precau-
t~ionary move, as Jimmy Archer re-
fused to sign his contract. Evers al
ready had the best catcher in the
country, and the acquisition of Bres-
nahan makes his staff the strongest
in either major league. With Need
ham to help out and coach the young
pitchers and Cotter in reserve, it is a
wonderful catching staff. Yet a huge
percentage of its strength is wasted.
With Archer catching in form,
Bresnahan can work only as a pinch
hitter, which means Archer will catch
perhaps 80 games to so for Bresna-
han, and B~resnahan Weakens the team
a bit when he replaces Archer. In
other words, Roger would have been
worth almost three times as much to
Cincinnati, for instance, as he is to
the Cubs. In ease of accident to
Archer he will be Invaluable although
he never again will be as good a ball
player as he was. He furnishes the
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which they needed desperately last
season.
Vic Safer will play first. He Is
young, a fast, clever man, a good
hitter, and while not aggressive he is
learning. He isn't brilliant or a fight
er, but a corking first sacker mechan-
ically. Evers at second gives the Cubs
the best second baseman in the cir
cult. Whether his individual work
will be affected by the worry of run-
ming the team is a problem. Under
standing his temperament, ] do not
believe it will. He always worried to
the limit anyhow and can't add much
to it. He'll give every ounce that's
in him to win and will fight to the
finish.
In talking to Johnny, | urged him to
cut out fighting the jumps for the sim
pie reason that they will all be wait
ing to soak him at the first oppor-
tunity. He amt quit fighting them,
but believe he will restrain himself
more this year than he ever has done
until he lives down his bad reputation
among them.
-. # H. =
ward third. Both short and third are
vulnerable spots. Zimmerman, al
though a marvellous hitter, is not a
good fielder and is not a clever inside
man. He had a good season last year,
and inspired by his great batting he
fielded better and eve improved in
his work on the bases. He ann be
expected to hit to the same clip at bat
his year, and it is a serious doubt
whether he will field nearly as we'll
and his well wasn't very good.
Bridwell was secured to fill the gap
at short. He is a grand fellow, one of
the smartest, cleanest and best short
stops in the country, a fine fellow and
a gentleman, but his arm is not good
and he is troubled with other lame
nesses and is slowed up.
The deal that brought Corriden and
others may prove the salvation OF
third base. Just why Corridor is a
great shortstop no one quite knows.
Detroit did not intend to keep him,
and it is doubtful if he would have re-
manned in the big league, yet the Cubs
bid for and boosted him until several
wanted him. He hit 1920 in the Asso-
citation, yet stole only 30 bases, which
does not make him the whirlwind they
ere toutiZg him to be. His fielding
was not gecd, Msn wMo played with
and against linn inform me he is
neither brilliant nor especially reliable
as a fielder, although a fellow who
tries for everything and hustles.
f. Mcdonald, picked up from Boston,
seems to me a promising man. Just
how he eScaped Boston [ cannot ull-