The Detroit times., 1913-01-20
Men in Losing Clubs Can't Force
Magnates the Way Win
ming Players Can
DIFFERENCE IN FOURTH
AND SEVENTH is SMALL
Developing Youngsters Is the
Purpose Of Tigers This
Season
by RALPH .. YoNKER

fNAA<A "a ~. ON n.
Holdouts from clubs In the "up-
mere one-two-three' glass stand a
much better chance of getting their
demands than do holdouts in the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." class Of the
Tigers.
Without entering into a discussion
rs 10 whether any one or all the
llgers VINO are holding out should
ret the salaries they demand, after a
rev more than cursory glances at the
Tiger sit;ition at present, candor
compels the admission that things
iook rather dark for the insurgents.
Tne opinion OF baseball fans, like
any sort OF public opinion, is always
favorable to that party who is or
seems to be the under dog.
For that reason, whenever a dis.
pute arises between player and mag
nate as TO salary or as TO any other
matter, public opinion invariably
looks upon the matter from the stand
point OF the player, for the player is
usually the under dog. or at least APP
pears to be.
SO in the cases OF the present hold
outs from the Tigers, public opinion
Is wont to espouse the cause Of the
players and threaten all sorts of dire
things IL President Navin doesn't
come across with the salaries the
players are demanding.
The management Of the Tigers can
not help but feel these threats, ut
cred or unuttered. Every club mag
nate must consider the feelings OF
the fans In the handling of his men.
Cor instance, what q row Farrell
would have stirred UP In New York II
he had failed to sign Frank Chance
'ecause OF a salary obstaclei
But there are times when. with or
without the sanction OF public opinion.
& magnate arrives at place where he
thinks that he must be adamant.
Frank Navin has said that he has
named his price to Crawford and
Euhuc and that that Is his last word
IN the matter.
In other words, he Is risking the
loss of two OF the most valuable play
ers on the team by resisting all ef-
sorts to make him pay higher salaries
than he feels he can afford.
Navin hasn't said why he refuses
5solutely to listen to the demands OF
le two players, except that II Is busi-
Less.
But the reason Is not hard to find.
II Is: The Tigers do not expect to
have a chance for the pennant.
If the Tigers had hope to get even
f5ma fleeting glances at the waving
hunting significant OF the champion
snip of the American league, and en-
hlematic OF money galore for the team
nat owns II, a little matter OF
thousand dollars In Sam Crawfcrd's
alary or In Jean Dubucs wouldn't de-
tor Frank Navin from signing the
r.en.
But when Manager Jennings him.
self admits that he cannot see any
thing better than a fourth place for
he Tigers (if they get the breaks In
hick), the holdouts have lost that full
crum known as bright pennant pros
eets which they use In prying OF dol
lars from the magnate's pile.
The Tigers must devote their time
End attention to building up new
team OF young players. That work
was started last fall and Il must be
carried on this year.
Now as far as next season Is con-
cerned, II doesn't make difference OF
two whoops in a place warmer than
the southern training camps whether
ihe Tigers finish In fourth place or In
sixth or seventh.
II they build up a team for use In
winning pennants in years following
1913, their purpose will have been ac-
,complished.
So IL Sam Crawford wants to quit,
why II looks as II he will have to quit.
And, as for Dubuc, the same. And as
ior both of them, they'll no doubt be
with the Tigers ere the season is long
started.
You see, according to baseball law,
.hese men must play with Detroit or
be released by the club. II Navin
doesn't choose to release them. they
play or quit.
The Tiger management isn't wor.