The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-06

prise. Last season Steve wanted to
buy this lad, but the deal could never
be contaminated. lie was finally Sc
cured from tho Carolina League for
this season. Fills record last season
was not glorious by any means. and
the local management was patting
itself on the back for not buying q
gold brick. Confdentially, Piez's ticket
to Richmond was bought with a round
trip coupon, and he was slated for the
return trip. He has developed SO rap
idly, both at bat and in the field. that
it is as certain that he will be fix
ture as it was that he would not when
he first arrived. He will get the left
garden. Billy Laval must prove better
than any of the three named If he
hopes to stick around.
Behind the bat John Mace is going
to do most OF the work. and Charley
Luskey is going to DO the old head
upon whom Grit will depend in case
his youngster is fighty at any stage.
That leaves n grand young catcher
loose for somebody to grab, In Jay
Rogers. Still, since this is largely
guesswork, the pair of receivers may
be Luskey and Rogers, or Rogers and
Mace. The first guess still holds. even
though 1t may be wrong. That makes
Griffin, second; Newton, short; Bresna-
han, third; Piez, left field; Eberts, cen
ire field; Harris right field; Mace and
Lusl1ey. catch. and Bussey. Burleson.
Smallwood. Harry Griffin. Strain and
Woolery. from which to select a pitch
ing staff of four. But put it down as
a guess
Probable Lineup on Opening Day.
Carrying the guessing bee further,
all guesses being based OIL past per-
formances and on what has been shown
up to date, the lineup on tho opening
day. is going to be about like this:
l5berts, CT.
Harris. rf.
piez, If.
Griffin, 2b.
Rnley, 1b.
Bresnnhnn, 3b.
Newton, 50.
aIacc.
Strain, D..
Notice that we have selected Charley
Strain for the opening game. There's
reason, here. too Strain has the
nerve, n greater amount of nerve than
any youngster so. far produced here
abouts, and another reason is that he
was uniformly successful against tho
Coolers last season.
Naturally, should our opinion hold
number of flrst-rate men must be
turned loose Somebody must go nor
is 1T saying that the men released are
not good ball players Griffin can't
keep them all, and he may make mis-
takes in his final selections, but the
team naipcd above looks good from
every angle. 1t has speed. youth.
game. and Extensively will give pitchers
in any league mighty battle.
In the two between tho game with
Blues and the opening date, State will
begin the real drills in signals and
team work. Much must be accom-
plished along this line, and much can
be accomplished in the time given, once
the club Is definitely determined upon
Plenty of Hard Knocks.
1t has been hard and rough voyage
FOR the lads who will make up steve
Griffin's lighting clan. There have
been many knocks, knocks OF the ply
steal as we'll as of the variety given
birth by fandom While every worker
For regular job during the summer
sends advance notices of his nidseason.
condition, the first few days on the
war trail bring convincing evidence
that Inactive muscles, or muscles
actively engaged at Some other sort
OF frivolity, cannot be steeled during ~
winter resting period The short time
eiapsing between the time the players
gather on the average bush league
club and the time set for the exhibit
ton games, Is entirely too short to
send them to the front in that state
OF preparedness which will give them
an opportunity to show to the best
advantage.
1t has always been mooted cues
uon In the mind of many whether
these exhibition games really pay.
FROM the box office standpoint there is
but one answer. The squad Is here
and tho individuals must be housed
and fed during the conditioning days.
therefore any money which floats till.
ward is that much money made. Tho
big league clubs and tho clubs OF the
~ leagues have nothing to lose by
PLAYING these exhibitions They have
been In the South, or In other favor
naught to do but enter the baseball