Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

Continued From First Page.)
an option on the Phillies, tried to secure
Chance. He went to Hermann and Of
fered nearly ten times as much for
Chance Hermann had paid, but was
turned down because Hermann had
promised Frank Farrell that he would
turn Chance over to him for the waiver
price. Locke, of course. figured that he
could create a great rival In interest in
his team If he could secure the famous
field leader. To have turned over so strong
a team as the Phillies to so competent
a manager might have meant much. and
surely would have given the National
League a much better standing i'm the
home of Connie Mack than 1t has en-
joyed in recent years. But Hermann
had given his word, and that was all
there was to ii.
Just what Roger Bresnahan's status
Is would be well worth an explanation
from the powers that be. Bresnahan
could not be released outright by the St
Louis club without the consent of the
other clubs of the National League. II
seems that Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and
Chicago all have claims in for Bresna-
han, and Yet he is not a free agent.
Bresnahan cannot sign with any club so
long as he contends that his contract
with the st. Louis club is still in force
Were he to accept one of the other offers
he may have he would violate that con-
tract and consequently have no claim
against the st. Louis club. But after
he has settled his affairs with the St
Louis club that club will hardly have
anything to do with disposng of his
services to some other club i'm the league
1t will be up to Bresnahan to pick his
job though il would seem that the league
would have to decide which club has first
claim on him. This might be decided by
priority of claim or by lot.
Ordinarily. when club wants to get
rid of a player Ii can accept any propo-
sition by other clubs in the league Of
which it is a member. but i'm the Bresna-
han matter such does not appear to be
the case for the club must do business
with Bresnahan direct and not with any
club.
among the recruits on the team will be
among the infielders who aspire to fill sec
ond base next season Griffith will have
four candidates for this position not fig
uring that Gideon, who played there on
occasions has developed enough to war
rant his having chance to beat out Nor
gan, Laporte. Morley or Williams. Grif-
fifth will start in knowing that i'm Laporte
he has a man who can add strength to
the team extensively, though thepe is some
doubt as TO his being capable 10 fill the
position competcntly when il comes to
fielding Morgan. on the other hand.
showed a lot of Improvement in his field
ing last season, but his batting was not
consistent enough 10 give him clear
field for the place Little or nothing is
known about Morley and Williams, two
youngsters secured from the minors
They both have good records among the
little fellows. but it remains for them to
show i'm this company.
1t may be Griffith's good luck to get A
hitter of the Laporte type who can field
well. In that event the infield would be
made at least 20 per cent stronger.
OF all the critics who are venturing
an opinion as to the outcome of the next
flag race I'm the American League there
Is but one who does not give the Ma
tionals a chance to finish in the first
division. There is one element which
sees the pennant coming here. but the
majority figures that the Nationals will
be close up and a sure thing to he az
good as fourth
Jack Ryder of the Cincinnati Enquirer
is the one exception. He believes lie
says. that Philadelphia. Boston, Chicago.
Cleveland and Detroit will beat out
Washington. Now. this prediction may
come true, but il is only naturally that
one must figure past performance when
sizing up ball team. On form the Ma
tionalS are sure to be contenders and
unless RYDER has some inside information
to the effect that johnson Is going to lose
his arm, Milan a leg and Mcbride am
eye ii is hard to see on what he bases his
prediction.
expect some of the players who on the
occa sion of their first trial I'm fast COM
pany last year performed brilliantly TO
improve the coming season. II is question:
a BILE whether Griffith can be lucky enough
to make another ten strike out of the
minor league dragnet. The percentage
of picking up star ball players is rather
small. 1t happens sometimes. and then
fails for years. Last year the club was
lucky in his selections. No less than five
of the recruits made good and they
should go even better this year. but there
is no assurance by any means that a
single good player will be found in the
large bunch OF recruits to be tried out
I'm the spring. If there are any more
Fosters. Gandils or Moelers i'm the squad
Of youngsters it will be remarkable
Washington. Of course, has
just good chance to pick up some
jewels this spring il had last, but
1t is not often that lightning strikes twice
In the same place.
But even if all the youngsters fail. Grif-
fifth will still have a team which must be
with. 1t would be the same
team which finished second last year,
benefited of course by seasons expert
ence and the fact that il would be
stronger at the outset this spring than IL
was last