The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-07
With Editorial Fingers Firmly Crossed
W. Announce That the Highlanders
Will Be Stronger Than Last Season
With Stronger Outned, Doubtful, but Probably Better nfed, Same Old Catching Staff
and Mighty Fine Looking Lot Of Twners Blanks Grew Looms Strong This
Sprngime After First Week of Practice.

A deSultory first week of spring
training has passed-and the coming Of
the second lap finds Manager Blank-
enship with Il iull-or soon to be filled
FOSTER, which includes Old stars
whose merits are beyond question ana
new men who look better every time
they move. Really it is too early for
any dope on the 1913 club. one can't
figure out summer batting averages
by measuring the length of clouts
made off pitchers who are lobbing EN-
over. Nor can one judge a pitchers
possibilities by the zip with which he
end the pill down the alley wien
heaving straight ones for exercise.
AS a matter of fact y0u never can
dope those things ont until the score
book shows the facts in black and
white.
But fact and early spring prophecies
never were meant to ne connected. SO
hare goes for a hopeful little discussion
of the {Highlanders, based upon a
weeks observation. our editorial
fingers are securely crossed We re-
serve the right to reverse any or all
decisions at any stage of the game.
This is merely one mans opinion.
Everyone who has watched the re
cruits at work has framed up some
sort of dope on them. This is the re-
suit Of one formulation; that's all.
We might as wen go the limit and
spring it at the start. The league
champions viii be stronger than they
were last year. The team that takes
the pennant from Highlander park will
have not only to be better than the
1912 champions but better than n team
that is a good deal better than the
holders of last seasons pennant. A
complicated sentence, that, but one
expressive Of our Vernal hopes. Now
for the reasons that lie back of that
rather Teutonic confession of faith.
The Outfield.
The. outfield this year will be head
and shoulders above that splendid trio
that performed circus stunts in the
field and at bat last year. Joe Tobin
in center is only a youngster and has
developed a lot since last spring. He
will play better BAN this year thar he
did last, partly because of added eX-
perience, partly because of his youth,
partly because Of the fact that a big
league berth awaits him. Bassey
looks a lot better this year han be
fore. 4 With three crack outfielderS to
compete against the old Spaghetti is
showing everything he has-which is
quite a bit, by the Way-and is work
ing like a demon. Both of these
men, if they keep up the pace they
have set, are sure Of their jobs in the
garden.
The other o%utfield job lies between
Daschbach and Cordtz. That doesn't
necessarily mean that either or both
of these men can't play just as good
ball as Tobin and Rassey. Both
Daschbach and Cordtz are }prodigal
Ons of the Union league and we
haven't seen them work enough to
judge between them. Cordtz worked
yesterday, but didn't do much after
a Wearying ride. He is a fine little
ball player, though. That's a cinch.
Daschbach looks so per cent better
than he did when he was with Scrappy
Joyc"'s collection of misfits. Then
he was the only genuine jewel in a
paste collection, now h" is polished
and recut until he looks like a young
kOhinOor. There are some who point
To Dasch's batting average in the
Connecticut league with misgiving.
bHShrr Sn't to be judged thereby.
Figures are our most successful liars.
Anyway, they are two stars, both Of
Them far better men than jake War
ron Whichever gets the third out
fio'd na'th Will strengthen the gar
den. II Curdtz gets the regular job
pasch probably viii be retained as
utility man, for he can hit in a pinch
and can play either outf'cld or infield.
For that matter he may land Il regular
job in the inner works if non of the
shurtstop possibilities assay well.
Which lands us face to face with the
infield.