Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-18
HAVE
A POOR SEASON.
Few of Them Showing Up in Top
Notch Form.

very poor season so far this year.
Those who were stars in their respec-
tive leagues last season have not been
showing their old-time form thus far.
Nearly all the big run totals and the
hitting records Of the year in the two
big leagues have been made against
lett-handers, to say nothing of long
strings of bases on balls interspersed
with wild pitches and hit batsmen. It
is possible, OF course, that the port
wings will lose some OF their kinks
after a protracted spell of good old
fashioned hot weather. But il Mr.
Left-hander as a whole is to break
even with his normal sided brethren
during the season he will have to get
move on him pretty soon.
Several teams with pennant aSpira-
tons based much of their hopes when
the campaign began on expected SEN
sational work on the part of their lead
ing left-handers. The most notable
case of this kind is the Boston Red
Sox. Picked all over the circuit as the
probable pennant winners, some ad-
mirers even laying odds on them
against the field, the Red Sox counted
on Sensational pitching on the part Of
Dutch Leonard, who led the American
Vean Gregg. Cleveland star Of a few
years back, who appeared due for an
| other first rate year
Gregg has been an utter failure thus
I IdT- ldIldS6I Dill mas DOL
even given him a regular turn in the
| box. Leonard's case has cooked up
| the scandal Of the season According
| to the manager and President Joe
Lannin owner Of the club. Leonard
/ has refused to obey training rules and
/ keep in condition His recent suspen-
sion brought forth charges of internal
dissension in the team. Regardless of
| the dissension, suspension and disobe-
| dience of training rules, however, it is
/ sufficient TO say that Leonard has been
| practically worthless so far, whereas
| he was counted on to win probably
more games than any other man on the
| staff Babe Ruth, still another Red
SOx left-hander, found IL impossible to
| strike winning gait, until his return
| from the first western trip Collins
has also been useless.
! The enc big disappointment Of the
| champion Boston Braves is George
| Tyler. the leet-hander, who ranked
| right with Dick Rudolph mad Bill
James when the big trio swept through
/ the National league last season He
/ has been worse than Indifferent in his
/ showing this year.
The Brooklyn Dodgers, a team of
! great potential strength. will go no
/ leading left-handers come through The
/ comeback of Jack Coombs, veteran
discard of the Athletics, has been a
/ windfall for the team, as also has been
| the uncovering of sensation in
| Wheeler Dell. Both these fellows have
] jeff Pfeffer, the leading slabman OF
the team last year, has begun to exhib-
] il his former effectiveness
Rucker, the greatest left-hander OF
| them all a few seasons back, has lost
all of his old speed. Even the average
| high school pitcher can zip the ball
| across faster than he can But Nap
has considerable head on his Shout
| ders. also considerable curve ball and
considerable control. Using the slow
est kind of a foater, he made the
1 Giants look sick in the afternoon game
| of the Decoration day double header
| However it showed he had it in him
| and some more Of that same stripe
would mean much for the team.
Slim Sallee and Hank Robinson OF
the Cardinals are two more failures
| to date Wilbur Cooper of the Pitts
| burgh Pirates and Earl Hamilton Of
the Browns have been Indispensable
too. Hamilton was suspended fol
| breaking training rules just as Leon
| ard OF the Red Sox was He Is rein
ton to return to his capable winning
/ ways, but thus far his figures are by
no means impressive. Connie Mack's
Athletics had a dismal enough outlook
as II was without counting on any
breakdown of his most promising
pitcher. Rube Bressler, big boy whC
resembles Eddie Plank in motion, has
done absolutely nothing thus far tC
justify the confidence reposed in him
RUDE Marquard, one of the queeres
mixtures of good and bad to be found
anywhere, began his year with a no-hi
game and then Immediately sank int
mediocrity or worse. He has won &
couple Of games during the last few
| weeks in which the opposition got
nearly ten runs OF him, simply being
lucky enough to have the assignment
on the days when the Giants hit harder
and got still more runs for him
Only a few left-handers have beer
delivering the goods as they should
Rebel Russell of the White Sox will
be quite a factor in his clubs success.
If he can keep on as at present and
may even mean the difference be
tween just a fair team and a flag win.
ner- George Pierce and Jim Vaughn
of the Cubs have gone along in fine
shape. and Manager Roger BresnahaI
can congratulate himself on beinl
about the only man in the world tina
has two really good left-handers thii
! year. RUDE Benton has pitched a gooC
game here and there for Cincinnati
Harry Coveleskie has been the bis
noise for the Detroit Tigers. 10,
Boeh1ing's work for the Washington
4