Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-10-23
DAILY SPORTING LETTER
Bv Frank C. MenIke International New. Service

NEW YORK, Oct. 22.-Those who
are looking for John McGraw to bust
up the 1914 Giant machine and heaye
il into the scrap heap are due for
disappointment John may do little
tinkertng here and there, but when
the Giant machine Of 1915 gets into
motion there won't be very many new
cogs in the makeup,
There are two reasons why the
Giants won't be reassembled entirely.
One is that MeGraw feels that his
1914 outff is good enough to grab
pennant if a few weak cogs are re-
moved and some new ones substitute
ed. The other reason is that the
most OF the 1914 regulars are hooked
up by iron-clad three-year contracts.
McGraw couldn't put his old stars
on the market and get value received
for them. He couldn't offer them for
sale and find many ready buyers be-
cause those who are in the market
for players don't want TO pay a fancy
price for the men and also pay fancy
salaries TO the players for the 1915
and 1916 season, as would be the case
il they bought some of the Giants.
The Giants pitching stan in 1915
won't look much different than it did
in 1914 Mathewson, Tesreau. Mar
guard and Demaree are attached to
Z the club by contracts that still have
two years TO run. McGraw wouldn't
7 let Tesreau or Matty go no matter
what offer was made. He viii keep
Demaree because "Steawer Al" looks
like a real pitcher and he will keen
Marquard unless some other club
makes him a most tempting offer for
the eccentric left-hander.
Contrary to the general belief, Nc
Graw isn't anxious to let MarQuard
go. He CURES that 1914 was "Rube's"
of year He recalls the fact that
nearly a dozen Of the games that
4Rube" lost was not through any real
fault OF "Rube's," but because the
Giants time and again failed to hit
behind him. A half dozen of 'Rube's"
defeats were l TO or to l affairs.
when a pitcher loses games OF
that kind it doesn't reflect on his
ability-it reflects on the lack OF
batting power behind him." declared
McGraw
Ever since the middle of July the
rank and file of fans have been can
ming" Merkle, the Giants first sacker
Firing Merkle seems to be one of
the annual WAYS the fans have of
entertaining themselves, but unless
McGraw finds some star of the first
water among his first basing recruits
next spring, Merkle win be back al
his old station. McGraw thinks LOT
of Merkle's ability
Doyle will be back at second nexi
year. He slumped badly this year
both in fielding and hitting, but Doyle
normally is a steady fielder and {
slugger. Probably he will do a come
back in 1915.
Fletcher will be at short again
Outside of MaranyiIle. OF the Braves
there is no better fielding shortstoI
in the National league Fletcher is /
timely hitter and fast on the paths
McGraw regards him as one OF thu
most valuable players he ever had.
A stranger may be stationed a
third when the 1915 season opens
Stock, the 1914 regular. is a gooC
fielder, but weak with the stick
Eddie Grant, the alternate, is goini
! back and cannot be looked upon Il
hold down the job in regular fashion
McGraw has a number OF recruits
who are candidates for the job. blu
he wants to get a seasoned playe
and may pu. through some trade thii
winter that may land third sacke
for him.
The outfelders will cause McGrav
but little worry. Burns will be bacl
in left-that's certain. Snodgras
most likely will be in center For tn
right field job, McGraw can make hi
. choice from a flock of recruits, in ad
dition to Robertson. Thorpe, Murra,
, and Bescher. Murray and Besche
are nearly through as big leaguers
but may show a reversal of form
next spring that will entitle them 4
jobs.
Behind the bat Meyers. Mclean an
Smith will do the bulk of the work
Meyers had a bad year, but McGray
! doesn't think the Indian is all in-h
, thinks that he simply slumped an
will come back. Mclean is stead
and reliable. Smith, a youngste
, brought from the Southern league
showed great style during the las
few games of the season and ma