The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-01
GIANTS, 40 STRONG,
READY TO PRACTISE.
Old Players Fraternize With
New-WOrk Starts To-day
if Weather Permits.
MERKLE HAS THEORIES

MARLIN, Tex, Feb. 2S-Baseball
players overran Marlin to-day. The
party which John McGraw took out OF
New York last Thursday arrived this
morning. though McGraw left them en-
route. The manag dropped off some
where In Texas. Matty. Meyers. Merkle
and a whole host of old and young
Giants are here now and tomorrow
training will begin in reality. That is
training will begin in reality II the
weather changes. This has been a cold
and blustery day. and the weather will
have to reform for any work to be done
tomorrow.
The party which Eddie Brannick. as
slstant secretary of the Giants, brought
to Marlin to-day included the follow
ing players. Mathewson. Merkle. Mar
guard. Bescher. Murray. Fletcher. Piez.
Burns. Thorpe and Schupp OF the old
guard Ralph Reed, the former Prince
ton infleldcr Desmond Beatty. the
youngster who played a few games at
short last fall Al Williams, oxford
ham pitcher. who was here with the
club last spring George Chalmers, the
ex-twirler OF the Phillies. who is to get
a trial this year. Carl Scull and {.
' ANss y y hAAs -
new catcher. In addition Arthur Dew
lin and Cy Seymour, crack Giants in
their day, came along. When the whole
crowd gets here IL Will, including wives
and friends and newspaper men. number
over sixty. Late this afternoon Tes-
reau. S~nodgrass, Grant, Doyle and
L.obert arrived. making forty candidates
for the team present.
With the arrival OF Matty and Merkle
checkers began to rage in Marlin and
the season for that indoor sport Is now
on. These two also went to the ball
park in the afternoon and tried out
newly acquired theories in a high wind
golf theories. that is. Merkle has been
golflng in Florida all winter and Matty
part OF the time in Cuba.
As a matter of fact Merkle purpose
trying to make use of some OF his newly
acquired golf knowledge In baseball this
season. He thinks there are points of
the golf swing that can be applied 20
the baseball swing with good results.
He gave the matter "A good deal OF
thought this winter, has made a close
study OF what he calls the mechanical
details of the two swings and can give
YOU plausible reasons why the baseball
swing. and consequently the players
batting. can be benefited by bringing 10
bear IN the baseball stroke such tricks
IS the golf swing back, proper follow
through. and use OF the left arm in
handing the golf club.
IL was a healthy crew which came
TO port to-day. Fletcher. the Homo
lulu tourist. Is heavier than ever be-
fore and he has needed more weight
. Rube MarQuard denies that he is a
nervous wreck or anything Ike Il. II
weigh more than usual" declared the
Rube. "and my health H. better than
it has been for some time Marquard
explained that he had returned the ST.
500 advance that he got from tho Wards
when he signed with the Brookfeds.
Besides McGraw. those ye; to ar
rive are Fromme. Mclean, Robert
son and Palmcro. Here now are eigh-
teen pitchers. eleven inficlders, five
catrhers and six outne'ders. There s.
nothing new IN sigh, for the outiield,
nut If tho presence ~ a wealth OF
young blood is any assurance Of more
strength in the iatield, In the box and
behind the plate. then the Giants have
that assurance. Whatever MAJ be the
eventual case in the box and inield,
the form OF Smith and Marshall certainly
is promise OF greater strength In tho
catching department.
Nobod was any the worse FOR The
excitement attendant upon last night g
IRE. II was "a big blaze and close o.
the hotel. Some OF the players helped
fight the fire and others hustled At top
speed ning!ng their outfits into trunks
and handbags ready for a mad, drag
ging dash TO the street in case the
worst came TO the worst. II looked
parlous for the hotel for a time, hut
the flames were finally suodued.