Evening star., 1914-03-01
By UMPIRE EVANS.

These are busy days for the major; and
minor league managers. The big task OF
the year confronts them-the wedding out
of the recruit material. The acid test IS
soon to be applied to the much-touted
phenoms of the winter. Soon the man
ager must decide what recruits seem 10
have a chance and what fellows are to
be sent back to the minors. 1t is task
few managers relish. II they keep play
ers who develop into stars they are SIM
ply turning the trick expected OF them.
If they happen to let some younsster CO.
and said younsster makes good with some
other team, then the manager draws crit
icism galore for his failure to note the
possibilities Of the recruit.
1t is a pretty hard task to pass 1udS-
ment on a player with only spring tram
ing form to go by. Often pitchers VINO
look like the one best bet in the Worid IN
practice are rank outsiders Wnen men usturai useu ~
ability that easily asserts itsen IN prac
tice. but other assets aside from natorai
ability must be brought into play IN =
championship game. Many DOUBTS nasn
PARTICULARLY promising pitcher warm up:
can he 20 the route? Will he blow in
pinch? How will he act when men are on
the bases? Is he. game to the core OF
has he a streak Of yellow: eIhese as Wen
as MANY other problems confront man
arer when looking over his new men III
the spring Every manager oreatheS
sieh Of relief when the spring training
trim is over and he appears successiuiiy
to have sifted out his recruits.
Dope Often Goes Wrong.
1t is really remarkable the reversal
of form some players show when theS
hit the majors. Stars in the league from
which they were secured. they 1aii 70
show any Of the class expected ~heh
pitted with and against the stars OF the
big show. Other players. regarded as
only mediocre in the e. ousafe, ,ase,s ihS With q
display of ability that definitely chcHes
the question as to whether or not t9ey
viii be retained for thorough triai. !
have seen dozens Of such cases edcn
saving PLAYERS who, were counted upon
10 add strength >and develop into stars
were early turned back to the minors,
while other athletes hardly regarded ae
having a chance were either noioths
down regular berths or acting as hrst
No Young pitcher who has broken into
the American League in years had a
more sensational first season than did
Reo russell of the Chicago White son
/ am told that on the & spring gu ua,nsttt s,inht
consideration. Perhaps half dozen otner
twirjers were regarded more highly. Sc
ordinary did Russell look tnat ne Was
sent with the second team on the eAnioi.
tion tour Not until II became evloent
that a number of tho htShiy touteo re-
cruits wouldn't do did Russell get MS
real chance to show whether or not ne
nossessed the ability that entitled him TO
a chance in the majors.
A. the close OF the 1913 season Rus
sell was a finished pitcher. True, pitch-
er can always learn something new aDout
tho game, but Russell wore a pretty FAIR
hIp League polish. When Russell made
his debut in the spring Of 1918 don't
| believe I ever saw a pitcher with sc
| much TO learn about the finer details OF
rig LEAGUE twirling. II there ever was
diamond in the rough, Russell was tina,
inNiyidual Practically every time ne
| threw 10 first base he made balk
when they started bunting 1t made him
dizzy.
First Meeting With Cobb.
I shall never forget the first time Cobb
reached hrst base with Russell doing the
pitching. ryrus took a big lead. and
danced up and down the line, as Is his
custom. to worry the pitcher. Evidently
Manager Callahan had warned Russell
about allowing Cobb to get too big lead,
To all Appearances Russell started his de-
flfvefy, but instead he snapped the ball tc
first and caught Cobb mapping so far that
Tyrus made a dash for second. knowing
fit would be foolish to try to get back to