Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-23
Judgments
in the last five years Omaha
has finished in first division, third
in 1909 and fourth in 1912. In 1910,
- 1911 and 1913 it finished fifth.

has no license to finish above seventh at
the very best The cry is and has
been for pitchers. not more pitchers, but
rather. we would say, just "a" pitcher.
Give us right now one man who can be
relied on to go out and stop any team in
the league and we will hobble along.
even though fatally lame at short and
second. We go nothing en- the argument
that team needs a big staff of pitchers.
On the contrary, 1t has always been our
belief, born of close and long observation,
that no team needs this and that many
team suffers from surplus of pitching
material even though often of excellent
quality. Here are two examples, Boston
Nationals and Chicago Americans. No
one will deny that Comiskey has great
galaxy of pitchers. and If he would re-
duce the number he might get along bet
ter. Boston is forging to the front with
cut regiment of boxmen. If we owned
the Rourke team, we would trade half
of it, If necessary, for one reliable pitcher.
That exhibition against Denver Thursday
was a clincher, Seven runs in the first
inning, yet Omaha loses. While some
rotten Unfolding went on, the chief cause
was the rotten work in the box. Crabbe
had nothing and Willis had nothing, ex-
cept his usual dOn'tgiveadamn indiffer-
ence 1t was disgusting, and the won
der is that even 200 or 800 fans will toll
crate it. They are about all that is left
Of our once big crowds.
New York fans are said to be murmur-
ing discomfort at Manager Chance OF the
Yankees. They think he should be higher
up the ladder by now. Maybe he should,
but the big fellow has had his troubles.
in the first place, he took hold of as bad
a misfit as could well be found, hardly
any of whom he has left. Then he lost
his best pitcher, Ford, who. jumped to
the Federals. Ray Caldwell who went
so bad last season that he was almost
slated for release. developed this year
into the premier pitcher of the team
Just as things are going good, Ray
jumps to the Federals, Still, the Yam
KEGS are fighting hard and threatening
to break into q higher position.
Discipline is difficult this year. Many
big Ieaguers are signed UP for two or
three years ahead as a defense for the
magnates against the Federal invasion.
This gives the player. 1t is said, a feel
ing of security. so that many are not put
ting up their best ball. Then when fined
or otherwise disciplined, they jump to
the outlaws. Truly, the way of the
major magnates these days is rough. but
the players are fools who fail 10 see that
such tactics will, II persisted in. XIII
the goose that laid the golden egg" Just
as surely for them as their bosses,
Denver still relies a lot on bluffing an
umpire to win games. 1t got away with 1t
M, l., kaxl tturh WA hi ink
Stockdale meant to be fair. He canned
one of the Bears and If he had canned
two or three more would have COM
manded respect. You seldom see an
Omaha player canned these days. Poor
fellows, they don't seem to have spirit
enough even to make a noise On the
coaching lines.
Has 1t come to this that the other
teams use Omaha as the butt OF their
pitching jokes Old Lew Richie, one OF
the great Giant Killers" beats US for
Sioux city; then old Cy Morgan, the ex-
Athletic star cast off by Kansas City, is
put in by Denver, and he holds US; then
comes the climax with our old fellow
citizen, Steve Meter, who also beats US.
How long, oh Lord, how long!
Pa Rourke hasn't told us so, but we as
sumo from watching the team play that,
in addition to pitchers, he is still looking
for a second baseman and shortstop. II
is a shame to waste as fast an outfielder
as Marty Krug at second.
A week ago they had Lajoie laid out
and buried. Then he opened the week on
first, has played great game there and
hit at his old-time clip These old jades
are hard to Kill.
Omaha golfers considered themselves
fortunate yesterday afternoon TO watch
Francis ouimet. the golfing sensation of
the year, IN action. To humble all the big
cracks is no small feat
Another victim OF the speed mania This
time the wealthy New York sportsman,
Spencer wishart, who rode more than a
mile minute simply for the sport of the
game.
Ban johnson announces he is for clean
base ball II Ban hadn't talked so much
on previous occasions such an announce
ment might not seem necessary
lust as a matter OF record, we rise to
remark that schliebner is still setting
things on fire at first.
This is doubtless the most interesting
season Muggsy has experienced in many
years.
Isn't II a little early, though. to predict
the Boston Nationals slump!
Not for a long time has the OLD Ma
tional put up a better fight.
Young Thomas seems 20 have lost tha'
keen batting eye Of his