South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-19
BRAVES LOOKING
DANGEROUS; JOHN
EVERS BIC HELP
Should Give Good Account of
Themselves When Showed
Against Giants, Cubs or
PirateS-Need Good Catcher

Four or FIVE years ago If a man had
been brave enough 90 predict that ne
would live to see the time when the
Washington Senator'S would land as
nigh az second place in the chase for
the American league he would have
been given the merry Ia. IA.
With this as a fitting introduction.
the prediction that the Boston Braves
viii this year present some lively ar
gument for the rest Of the teams in
the National league is hereby offered.
Strange things happened at Washing
Braves7
Last year the Braves was one Of
the hardest hitting teams I'm the
league They were a little shy on
the pitching stuff and the inneld was
as liable To blow as not There was
nc steadying cog 20 keep the rest Of
the men in working order
Eyers a Big Help.
With John Evers, late boss Of the
Chicago Cubs there IL will he a diff
ferent story. John is the boy TO ball
ance the Braves inheld and as he is
somewhat Of clOuter as wei. his
handing around near that second
sack when the Boston Braves fling
ers are working is going to be a
mighty big help in developing the eff
fectiveness Of these same Brave hurl-
ers.
From a second division team which
for few years has been the joke of
the league the Braves are now look
ing up and the prediction Is made by
many students OF the national game
that they can be counted on 10 give
the Giants. Cubs and Pirates race
Tor the league honOrs this season.
To begin with Stallings by mis-
work last year showed that he was
capable OF getting good work out Of
his men He made them play the
game for all il was worth and the
Braves on the road was one Of the
best drawing cards IN the National
league. With good. hard hitting and
some sensational lads in his inneld
ne made the best OF them hump for
the long end Of every contest.
Men Make Teams.
Many a team has been made by the
addition Of one man while many an
other team which landed well down
towards the bottom landed there be-
cause there happened 70 be a big hole
around somewhere and there was no
man TO shoot into that hole. With
the hole absent and everything work
ing in harmony the team would be
anywhere from 10 to 80 per cent bet
ter according to the old figuring. that
chain is only as strong as its weak
est link.
With Evers on the job at second.
Sweeney. one of the surest hitters in
the league. could be sent to another
infieid position or TO the outfeld The
weakest spot on the team Is behind
the box but a couple Of recruits might
prove finds for Stallings
The Cubs viii be weakened by the
absence Of Evers while il looks as if
harmony would be a lost art among
the followers OF Murphy, If they re-
main as such this year. The Pirates
have been weakened by the raids Of
the Feds and the Giants are not ex-
pected 10 be stronger than they were
last season
Looking for Stars
While no predictions Of a pennaut
for Boston are being made IL is ad-
mitted that if Stallings picks up few
men like Meanwhile and Connolly in
the next few years the future has
many bright promises for him.
Speaking of Connolly. he Is q for
mer Central Lacquer and was with
Kenworthv. They made the hardest
hitting pair Of pitchers ever seen in
the Central league and 10 see one
of them come 10 bat I'm a critical mo
nent was enough To give the loyal
home fan the ague.
Connolly has hammered out home
runs and showed over winning tallres
time and time again. While pitching
ne would make hits when other play
ers fell down. Joe finally grew tired
of pitching and was sent TO Terre
IIaute when GAINESVILLE refused TO al
low him 10 desert the box.
His judgmen* was correct and he
has been improving ever since. He
hits any kind of a ball and was ter
Tor 20 any pitcher in the Central
TDN MrYATC TIAgrC HAfhMT Ano