Evening star., 1915-04-03

Johnson has some object in wanting
to meet McNey at this time Iheie 10
no doubt of that, though no one seems
able to guess what it may De. NOT - ~
a certain thing that the champion Is
in good shape. Bat Masterson, most
competent pugilistic authority, is down
in Havana and after looking johnson
over gives it as his opinion that he Is
far from being in good shape and that
if Willard is anything like prime
fighter he stands a good chance of
landing the title BY Monday evening
the guessing as to what the outcome of
the mill will be. and as to whether the
fight was on the level, will have been
answered.
Manager Bill Carrigan of the Red
Sox expects to depend largely upon his
left-handed pitchers during the nrst
months of the season. He has Leonard.
Collins and Ruth ready to do their
share of the work and Foster, Shore
and Mays to help them. Joe Wood and
Nean Gregg are a couple of lame ducks
who cannot be depended upon for some
time. Carrigan will carry eight twirlers
this season, he announces.
Oscar Stanage is not finding it an
easy matter this spring to retain the
place of the Tigers first catcher.
There others who are looming up
as having rare ability. John Peters
has shown so well that Stanage real
ICES that he will have TO hustle to
hang on to the title as boss of the
backstopS.
Oscar has been working like trojan
all spring. He is doin" more than ever
improved condition for the season.
Stanage admits that he is not yet
right, but he expects to reach his best
form by the time the season opens.
1t depends entirely on the physique
of a ball player whether it is harmful
for him TO keep in action after the reg
ular season closes. In many instances
the player is benefited, and John Henry
of the Nationals appears to he one of
these After the close of last season
Henry joined the ail-star team which
stayed III action until February, and
Henry never was as good catcher in
his career he has proved himself
this spring, being developed by the in
ccssant work lie did during the winter.
Not only is he smoother working
backstop. but his hitting has improved
and he has never been in more perfect
condition than he is right now.
Judged on the experiences that all
teams have had this spring, In striking
miserable weather during their train
ing period there will be no rule neces-
sary next year to prevent the clubs
from spending lot of money on long
training trips.
The seasons seem to have changed to
such an extent that it Will be wise to
cut down the length of the training
season. The average ball team can get
itself ready in three weeks during good
weather and that will be about the
time allotted to the players in the fu-
ture to prepare themselves for the
opening game.
The plan to force the players to get
themselves ready to play before re-
porting to their clubs is not apt to go
through. for in many instances the
players could not do this, because they
would have no one to work with.
Griffith already has announced that
his regulars are to train only one
month next season, which should prove
sufficient.
Much will depend, so far as what is
expected from the Athletics in the
coming race is concerned. on whether
Frank Baker will report when time for
opening the season rolls around, or
whether he Is determined to get out of
the game for good. The latter is not
likely, for Baker is known to think a
| whole lot of the mighty dollar. and he
would not cut off his nose to spite his
face. But without Baker the Athletics
would not be very dangerous team,
/ ana might nave HdTu sei usEie u ~
well enough to keep within hailing dis
tance of the first division. But with
| Baker back IN the lineup .here might
! be occasi to reckon with the Mack
men-a team which. though 1t has lost
Collins, its greatest star, may still be
| formidable.
! 1t would be the irony of fate il Jack
Coombs should have recovered his cum
ming and were able to pitch winning
| ball for Brooklyn the coming season.
| On what Coombs has shown in the
| practice games, 1t Is believed that he
! will again be winning twirler, which