Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-16
PROSPECTS OF MAJOR TEAMS.
Philadelphia Nationals Hurt by Feds
 Raids-Chicago and Pittsburgh.


 Shot almost to pieces in the raids of the Federal league, the Philadelphia National League team has reformed It's lines and will make a determined eff fort to show well in the pennant race in the senior organization Having lost Knabe and Doolan, two important in field men, Brennan and Seaton, de- pendable pitchers, and with the poSsl- bAity of not having the services of Killifer, the Phillies enter the pen nant race much below last years strength, when they. gave the New York Giants a battle for first place.
 Manager Dooin. through a fortunate trade last season, has Bobby Byrne, a seasoned player to fill Knabe's place and is using Ireland and Murphy two promising youngsters at shortstop. He has strong hopes that the club will not suffer much in these two positions. The pitching problem however, is more difficult. Alexander and Chalmers. veterans, will be depended on for the heaviest work. There is a long string They are Mayer Marshall Oeschger, who showed good form against the Athletics in one of the spring games; Jacobs Mattison and Tincup, the In dian.
 The bulk of the catching will de- lost to the team- Dooin will have Catcher Burns, a young player, to help him out.
 Chicago.
 The Cubs will start the season with a new manager, an 1nfield new in it's com bination though made up of ex- perienced men. and a pitching staff of veterans strong enOgh to offset in measure what is believed to be a lack of hitting power. The make up of the inner line of defense finds Zimmer- man in a position new to him, but the
 
 schooling in taking care of the bases to which Manager O'Day has assigned them, while 8 number of first class utility men are ready to help in the in field. With Humphries, Vaughan. Cheney, and Lavender ready to take regular turns on the slab, and Pierce, Stack, Charles Smith Koesner and Babel forming @ reserve squad of ability, the club is well fortified with pitchers. The development of liar grove as catcher of merit makes the catching department look strong, with Archer and Bresnahan in shape now to do the heavy work On the theory that a. ''clean-up'' hitter is needed to help the rear guard manufacture runs O'Day has practically decided to drop Safer, who led the league in triples last year, to seventh place in the batting order The addition of Jimmie John stone, the Pacific Coast Leagues champion batter last year. is expected to strengthen the Cubbs' scoring abil- ity.
 Pittsburgh.
 The Pittsburgh National League 1 team which starts the 1914 season is different in many respects from the team which started out in 1913 with such bright prospects. There are new faces in the infifield, in the out field, in the pitchers box and behind the plate. Drafts, recalls, trades and oh terial to the Pirate machine. The trade with St. Louis by which the Pirates abtained Infielders Konetchy and Mowrey and Pitcher Harmon has added strengthen in the opinion Of the management Hendrix and Simon 8 good battery, were the Pirate loss in the Federal invasion.
 New men are expected to fill their places.
 The Pirate infield will be probably the strongest part of the 1914 machine. With Konetchy, Viox and NIowrey guarding the bags and the veteran i Wagner at short the infield will be as strong on the defense as it will be powerful on the offense- Viox at sec 1 ond, has improved over last year. form when he made a sensation by | his good work. The veterans Gibson and Coleman and Brenegan, recruits | will do the catching.
 In tho outfield Carney is the only player suro of place. Mitchell, somewhat of a failure last year, has | shown good form in spring practice. and may secure @ position. The third place lies between Jim and Joe Kelley, with Jim Kelley having the better l chance Mensor and Hyatt will be | the substitutes.
 The pitching staff Is the greatest problem. McQuillan, Adams, O'Toole l and Harmon will be regulars. Kant 1 elmer and Cooper, young left handlers, will have to show big league calibre. Much is expected of Kantelhner. l Delhi and Councilman have experience 1 and are expected to show improvement l Duffy and Mamaux are undeveloped as | vet.
 r9.i. Nr,,...o,, oF +bo N IT +a1y,