Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-14

not suffer much in these two positions.
The pitching problem, however, is
more difficult. Alexander and Chal-
mers, veterans, will be depended on
for the heaviest work. There is a
long string of younger pitchers to
draw upon. They are Mayer, Marsh
all, Oeschger, who showed good form
against the Athletics in one of the
spring games; Jacobs, Madison and
Lineup. the Indian
The bulk of the catching will de-
velop upon Doom himself, if Killifer
| is lost to the team. Doom will have
Catcher Burns, a young player, to help
him out.
Chicago.
| The Cubs will start the season with
a new manager, an inf1eld new in its
combination though made up of ex-
perienced men, and a pitching staff
of veterans strong enough to offset
in measure what is believed to be
a lack of hitting power. The make
| up of the inner line of defense finds
only Zimmerman in a position new to
him, but the rest of the quartet have
had great schooling in taking care of
the bases to which Manager O'Day has
assigned them, while number of first
class utility men are ready to help
| in the infield. With HUMPHREYS,
! Vaughn, Cheney and Lavender ready
to take regular turns on the slab. and
Pierce, Stack, Charles Smith, Koestner
and label forming a reserve squad of
ability, the club is we'll fortified with
pitchers. The development of Har-
grove as a 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 cleanup" 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 bat
ting order. The addition of Jimmy
| tombstone, the Pacific Coast Leagues
champion batter last year. is expected
to strengthen the Cubs scoring abil-
ity.
Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh National League
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 infield, in the outfield, in
the pitchers box and behind the plate.
Drafts, recalls. trades and purchases
have added much new material to the
Pirate machine. The trade with St.
Louis by which the Pirates obtained
Infielders Konetchy and Mowrey and
! Pitcher Harmon has added strength
in the opinion of the management.
Hendrix ana Simon. good battery.
were the Pirate loss in the Federal in
vasion. New men are expected to fill
| their places.
The Pirate infield will be probably
the strongest part of the 1914 machine.
With konetchy, Wick and Mowrey
guarding the bags and the veteran
| Wagner at short, the infield will be
as strong on the defense as it will be
powerful on the offense. Viox, at Sec
ond, has improved over last years
form when he made a sensation by
his good work. The veteran Gibson
and Coleman and Brenegan, recruits.
will do the catching.
In the outfield Carey is the only
player sure of place. Mitchell, some
what of 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 chance.
Mensor and Hyatt will be the substi-
| tutes.
The pitching staff is the greatest
problem. McQuillan, Adams. O'Toole
and Harmon will be regulars. Kan
telhner and Cooper. young left-hand-
ers, will have to show big league cali
bre. Much is expected of Kantelhner.
Delhi and Councilman have had expe-
rience and are expected to show i'm
provement. Duffy and Mamaux are
undeveloped as yet.
Altogether the Pirates of 1914 are
stronger than the team which finish
ed the 1919 season. President Bar
ney Dreyfuss says the team is better"
and will get good start. Manager
| Clarke has declined to give an opinion
but it is known he is satisfied. espe-
cially with his young outfielders and
pitchers. There is strength in the Pr
rates this year, the indictments have
! gone to other teams and If the young
sters come up to expectations, the
team should be a big factor in the
pennant race.
Boston.
The Boston Nationals aspire to first
division honors this year With team
that has been practically made over
since he took charge last season. Man.
ager Stallings predicts that Boston
will finish at least fourth, and posi-
bly, third. The Braves closed last sea-
sons race in fifth place.
The accession of Johnny Evers, crack
second baseman and manager of the
1913 Chicago Cubs, and the resultant
loss of Bill Sweeney, was probably the
most notable change in the team.
Much is expected by local fans from
the combination mid-infield play of
Evers and young Meanwhile, the dim
inutive shortstop of last year. Re-
cruits will cover the other infield po-
sitions, Schmidt at first replacing Hap
Myers. and Deal. at third. filing a po-
sition uncertainty occupied for sever
al years. Both are from the Interna-
tional League.
| Manager StallineS has shaDed his