The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-06
CHANCE CALLS OFF
JERSEY CITY GAME
Rain Just Before Game Provides
Good Excuse in Addition to
Cold Weather.
POLO GROUNDS NOT READY
New Y0rks Practise at Ebbets
Field To-day. as Dodgers
Are in Baltimore.

New York Americans to Ebbets Field
Brooklyn. for q bioodiess battle this after
noon wilbert Robinson's Dodgers are In
Baltimore for exhibitions. so that the
charges OF the Peerless Leader will have
Mr.. Ebbe,s's lot all to themselves I,
happens TO be an Of, day for the Chance.
men so far as real activity Is concerned.
The jump to Brooklyn IL necessitated
because tho Polo Grounds vii, not be
ready much before the date selected for
opening the American League campaign
Groundkeeper Fabian Is rebuilding ne
diamond. which was molested last fail In
order to book the big football games at
tho Brush Stadium. II was intended TO
have the Joint homo OF the two local
major league clubs ready by this time.
but the exceptionally late spring interfersd
with the plans
Jersey City yesterday afternoon. but
Manager Chance succeeded In having the
date cancelled when . heavy rain and
wind storm broke Just prior 10 thu
scheduled time Of play More than two
thousand rabid enthusiasts were turned
back from the gates Later the sun came
out bright. but the chill winds held and
the weather was too raw for comfort
Remembering what happened TO his club q
year ago tho Peerless, Leader Is not In
clined to tempt fate too far.
1--WE are pretty lucky TO have escaped
so far" said Chance yesterday afternoon.
II went into the Brooklyn series with
great apprehension because OF last years
hard luck. wished to have Fridays
game called off. but Mr.. Ebbets would not
listen to reason. We got by all right in
all three games in spite OF the bad
weather. But l do not see why that
should incline me toward unnecessary
risks to-day"
Chance was In very happy state OF
mind over the condition OF his ball club
His legion INDUCED In almost an hours
SIN workout before the shower broke.
His big bevy of pitchers circlcd the
fences half a dozen times before they went
to the showers
THE team will start the season IN the
pink OF condition" said Chance. 1.-THE
boys are In much better shape than I be-
lievod them to be. They have proved this
to my entire satisfaction In the Brooklyn
games. ] thought the four days layoff
prior to the first game AT Ebbets Field
would have been disastrous. Usually a
ball club would go to pieces through such
a long spell of loaiing IN the preliminary
season. But evidently my club needed
all that rest.
MY only worry now Is 20 keep the
pitchers In shape. II the weather i'm
proves AS Il should any one OF half a
mighty good account OF himself In the
inaugural series with Connie Mack's
worlds champion Athletics. ] am salts
fed that every pitcher on my staff can go
the full nine innings with the least din
Guilty. I would have sent them tho full
route against Brooklyn II the weather had
been fine"
Chance has arranged for the use OF the
armory at Sixty-e!ghth street and Column
bus avenue In case the weather proves
unfavorable for outdoor exercising be-
tween now and April IA This has dirt
floor. which the Peerless Leader claims IS
Ideal for training purposes.
There Is plenty Of room for everything
hut fungo hitting" said Chance In re-
ferring to the armory. THE Hight and air
are almost as fine as out OF doors. We
may have the use OF the showers too,
With such great convenience as this
there is no danger OF my club going stale
on my hands"
Chance refused yesterday TO discuss his
probable pitching selection for the OPEN
ing game with the Athletics. He admitted
however. that he had been captivated by
the work of Heating In Saturdays game
II would not be surprising II tho younsster
who proved the only winning pitcher a
year ago were honored with the FIRST
assignment
mo one has to ten you what ! think
OF I'D Walsh" said the leader OF the New
Yorks, II ought to appreciate his value.
saw him enough In the worlds serie.
OF 1906 and later in the city champion
ships We played with tho White Sox out
In Chicago. But Just listen to this
Walsh never In his life had such fine
spitball as Heating showed Saturday
yoes-should have heard Sweeney growing
Why Eds hand was pufYed up from
catching IT, There Is no reason why
Heating should not be second Walsh
II he behaves himself. He certainly has
the physique"
Chance has done nothing as yet toward
arranging for spring training camp
for 1915 He u well pleased with Hous-
ton. Tex. but there Is some question OF
his welcome back by the owners OF the
Texas League club OF that city. The
Lone Star State magnates sided with an
umpire against Chance and the Peerless
Leader took no pains TO conceal his dis
owners ne didn't give a rap whether or not
he went back next year. and absolutely
refused to be held up for any ball players
as salvage for the use OF the grounds
If Houston makes no overtures for the
return of the Yankees II Is quite likely
the club will try Its luck In Florida next
spring Towns down there are so en-
thusiast,c as to guarantee hotel and medi-
cal expenses In return for a list Of ex-
hh,tion games. The Athletics. Cubs and
several other teams this spring found this
arrangement completely satisfactory Few
clubs In the Southland make enough to