The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-03-23
Condition of Players Is More important
Than Winning Practice Games, Says Chance

tween the members of his own team.
lie says that he wants to get the
players In good physical condition
before worrying about curve balls
and things like that.
Chance trains his team by q sys-
tenn that II very different from that
or McGraw and Connie Mack and
Jimmy Callahan. The Highlanders
nave but one practice a day and that
from 10 to /. On the other hand,
McGraw, Mack and Callahan give the
players two hours work In the morn
ing ana then have a regular practice
game between well chosen sides In
the afternoon.
And. by the way. the Highlander
manager has some views on training
that are doubly interesting because
OF their wide variance from those of
other leaders. He does not attempt
to teach his players to slide. nor does
he correct other ANAL faults In
youngsters.
When q man comes to this club
he IL supposed to know how to play
ball" says Chance, land II he knows
how to play ball he knows how to
slide. II he doesn't know how. then
don't want him. A training camp,
In my opinion. IL q place for getting
men In condition and not a baseball
school"
There 10 no sliding pit here and no
sliding drills. And during the time
saw them work there was no bunting
drill. The men simply come to tho
bat and hit In turn while the different
pitchers serve them balls.
30 far Tom DAILY. the veteran
catcher and assistant coach to Chance.
has not done much work with the
pitchers. but, strangely enough. they
all appear to be In good condition.
Chance thinks that his twirlers have
advanced further in their training
than the players in any other depart
mcnt. Caldwell Is in good shape. AZ
/ are Fisher, Cole and Shulz. Heating
has u bad foot. but Warhop says the
kink is gone from his arm. He told
me to-day that no felt better than he
ever felt before In the spring. Chance
has q big pitcher here by the name
of Pieh pronounced Pie) who has
much promise. He Is a big. strapptng
fellow, with q good curve ana excel
lent control. King Cole Is mt TO 90
in right now and do midseason work.
TEAM SEEMS TO BE LACKING IN
SPEED.
Tho ono thing lacking In the New
York team and one that has been U
constant thorn In the side OF Chance
in speed. Maisel, Walsh and Gilho0-
lev are the only men who are really
fast, and the last named IL handi'
capped by a bad throwing arm. Peck-
limbaugh is above the average IN speed
hut he could not be included In a iis'
Of sprinters. . A..
In the catching department the
Highlanders are pretty wen hxeo
with sweeney back on the Job. Cos,
sett and Reynolds will be retained
FOR ,,s. In case OF emergency. Gosset1
IN really a better thrower thar
sweeney, but as a hitter he is lament.
ably weak. In fact. Gossett does not
hit any better than the average
pitcher. Reynolds 10 very promis-
Ing youngster and has the promise oil
developing into a star.
The weather here has been idea
for training. To-day 1t IL like mid
summer in New York. The whole
team il rapidly rounding into shape
ana n the natural ability comes 4
the surface there Ia no reason VIII,
the Highlanders should not get away
10 good start. Right now theil
nbvsical condition 10 30 per cent. bet.
Tar than when the team came homt
from Bermuda to open the season
last spring.
n chance of finishing In the first divi.
s,on. Az yet he hasn't a team of thu
collective strength required Of pen.