The Washington times., 1915-04-06
PhiIIies Have No Legal Claim,
ButWashington Club Wishes
to BE Fair to All Concerned.
in, Matter.
Cuban Looks to Have Much
Latent Ability. But viii Not
Be Ready for Majors for
Two Years.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

rivals for the services of Ramirio
Sieglie, the Cuban infelder, expect
to come to some agreement today'a
to what shall be done with the
youngster. Before nightfall Sieg-
lies case will be settled.
eve want to do only what Isl
right" said the Old Fox today.
"Moran says that Siegiie accepted
terms from him. Sieglie' says he
didn't. Of course, Moran has no legal
claim on Sieglie under baseball law,
but the Washington club is willing
to waive that, if it can be shown that
the Phillies have a moral claim to
him.
"No, neither Moran nor can do
much with, Sieglie now, but he may
develop into a real big Lacquer in a
year or so and then his value will be.
worth while. Therefore, we shall
reach some agreement about him to-
day before Moran returns to Phila-
delphia."
1t is probable that the Washington
club will pay the Philadelphia club all
the travelling expenses of the Cuban
player. and then farm him out to some
minor league club for more experience.
This mornings work at the ball yard
consisted largely of batting and fielding
drill, followed by signal practice.
Wally Smith is at his home in st.
Louis and steadfastly declines to accept
Joe Cantillon's terms to join the Min
neapolis club, of the American Aksocia-
ton. He wants to return to Atlanta.
He says he will stay home till Clark
Griffith sells him to Atlanta.
Before joining the Washington club
last year. Smith was a member of the
Atlanta team. He is very popular in
Atlanta and hundreds of his acquaint
ances in the Southern city have urged
him by mail and telegraph to- balk
Griffith's plan to ship him to AIinncapo-
lis.
The American Association is u class
AA league, while the Southern circuit Is
class A organization.
Smith, however, likes Atlanta SO well
that he is willing to accept the lower
classification. Atlanta was formerly
farm" for the Nationals, but since
Griffith's misunderstanding with the At
lanta club owners last year, Mime
apolis has received the Washington dis
cards.
Clarence Walker. former National and
now a Brownie. is to play centerfield for
St Louis this season. Bert Shotten go
ing to left. Walker led the league in
assists last year. despite the fact that
Gin" Hickey has decided TO place him
in center now so that he may have
chances at even more assists
1t is generally understood that CEN
hot- nl,n at q iGfC
than either left or right fielders. iris
Speaker earns the applause of thousands
yearly. largely because he has the
chances. Almost every big league club
in the country has the same tale While
Shotten Is known to be Il wonder on
a fly ball. his whip isn't the greatest in
major league circles On the other
hand, "Tillie" Walker possesses real
whip. He started in as pitcher, and
can still peg on line, no matter how
great the distance may be.
Already National League managers
are complaining about the rule forcing
them to cut their teams to twenty-one
men. 1t is possible that n mail vote
may be taken by the magnates, rescind-
ing the rule passed last winter in New
York.
With the new rule In effect it is said
that several National League teams will
start upon the 1915 campaign less eftici-
ent than they should be. They have
their limited number of players hooked
UP to long term contracts and have no
room for better looking youngsters.
The fans are sure to come. out with
hammers If good looking rockies are
dropped. only to make good with some
other big league club. The public does
not care rap about the league rule.
The public wants a winner and If John
Jones is dropped by Mike Mccarthy be-
cause of the twenty-one player limit
cnY to come forward with the Marines
in the same league, Mike Mccarthy is
going to get his clase TO his collar. Sc
Is his boss. So is the league. Ban
Johnson pulled something across on the
Tener tribe when he declined to follow
suit and limit clubs in his league to
twenty-one men. The National League
clubs must reduce to twCnty-one men by
May /. There is sure to be weeping
and gnashin3 of teeth about that time.
After taking a slant at the Detroit
Tigers, Memphis sports are willing II
wager II to against tlur landing the
Anne lean LeaiuC pcnnant. Tire Tigers
are hitting like fiCnds. l'Ct tl.e pitchers
ste said TO Re in g. Or CoEd'tioI..
Babe Ruth. who created such a furort
with the Baltimore Orioles last year. 1;
coming to the front with the Red SoS
this season and Bill Carrigan says ht
Will be one of the leading southpaws OF
the circuit. Furthermore, Ruth ia a good
all around ball player in addition tc
his pitching ability.
Joe Connolly is up to his old tricks
again, slamming the ball best When men
game this spring Joe hit a homer over