The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-05
YANKEES APPEAR TO
Be IMPROVED TEAM
DOnovan's Team Starts North
in Good Condition for
Years Campaign.
PLAY FOUR TIMES ON WAY

SAVANNAH. O.. April THE train
Ing trip Of the 1915 Yankees Is con-
Guided. The team that has been primed
to open the season at Washington on
April II left for Rocky Mount ~ c.,
tonight for the first OF series OF ex.
hibitions on the way north. This tour
Ia limited but four one day stands will
be made on the way-at Rocky Mount.
". c.. Norfolk. Va Richmond. Va. and
Petersburg. Va Tho club Is TO arrive
In New York early next Friday morning.
In the afternoon the nrth game Of the
At Ebbets Field.
II the weather II propitious ON the
way home, Manager Donovan should
be able to lead his forces back in pretty
fair shape for the finai tuning UP proc
ess. Throughout the stay here--or at
least until the return from Daytona,
Fla. q couple Of days ago-the weather
was unusually good. even a. Southern
spring weather goes.
Barring the one game here with the
Cubs the team looked much stronger
than IL had appeared in ten years. Per-
haps Chicago simply caught the Gotham
ties on one OF their bad days. which
como 10 all clubs. big and small
Against Brooklyn Donovan's men used
every bit OF wit and skill TO place the
percentage OF the game to their credit
Facing the Cubs the team looked stale
and loggy. Spirit and life were lacking
Five weeks OF training here has led
the critics to believe that New York
IL much better prepared TO open the
campaign than was the case a year ago.
Both outfield and inheld have been
strengthened and the stan Of pitchers
has no, deteriorated. Leslie Nunarnaker
was not with the club twelve months
ago and he appears q very much i'm
proved backstop over any previous
season.
In his club Donovan has grca. many
natural attributes to success Hugh
High Is great defensive ou.ielder.
He has speed on the bases and has
shown great promise IN hitting With
High, Cree and Cook the garden IL as
suredly OF far greater strensth than
when Hartzell. Holden and cook graced
the pasture. The new combination has
q on the old IN every respc"t--offens've
and defensive ability. speed and brain
power.
Walter Pipp gives promise oc proving
BY far the best first baseman the club
has had. not even barring Chase He
has not the dash and snow OF Hal NOV
is ne 81 quick with his feet. But he Is
eVery' bit as accurate with his hands on
any kind Of ground or thrown ball and
IL possessed OF far greater reach. HIS
arm is far better and more accurate
than was Chases the last few years
l. looks as though he will give New
York a sure enough clean W hitter ~
last.
Granting that Pipr will live M to
spring form this years inneld should Ne
far more formidable than that which
closed tho season and watch helped win
mora games after the middle Of July
than i've other clubs IN the league won.
The apparent Improvement OF Lutte
Boone alone would guarantee that fact.
Boone, hitting as he has been. would
prove the sensation OF the season.
Maisel. too. who IL more or less FOR
midable as a spring hitter. seems {, DO
a young fellow who will hit thirty or
forty points better than lie ever did u
associated with "a hitting club.
II Is very doubtful II Roger Pecktn-
paugh will be able to play regularly by
the opening 81 the season The nail IS
coming Of Pccks injured finger, which
il bound 20 remain sore FOR two or three
weeks more. Donovan plans 70 give the
shortstop all the time 10 needs For
that reason Charlie Mullen has been
rroomed at second base play. Mullen
a. second and Boone AZ short have
teamed so well together that Pecldu-
pauEh Is likely TO have hard time
getting his place back II Mullen hits as
he has TO date,