The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-03-11
BASEBALL CHAT
By "Ten Spot.

Although the starting bell will not ring
for six weeks, the players of various Clubs
have been Aocking southwark to the differ
ent training camps for the past week or so.
Florida is popular with the players and per-
haps halt dozen Clubs, including the
Cubs, Phillies, Athletics, Brooklyn, and
Browns give it the preference. Texas
probably ranks second in the number of
baseball training camps and such Clubs as
Giants, Cardinals and others GO there reg
ularily for their spring tryout, Georgia,
Louisiana, California and Arkansas, on &C
count of their climate, are also suitable and
have number of devotees among the big
league Clubs. Hot Springs, Ark. which
not so long ago, was the Mecca for the
baseball players every spring, is now almost
deserted and but one Club, believe, trains
there this year. Charlie Comiskey always
gives his White Sox royal training trip
out to Paso Fables. CAL, but we do not
find that it has any particular effect on the
Sox standing in the percentage table, where
as they should present the Old Roman with
a pennant out of gratitude.
Athletic Annotations-With the fence
busting ]. Franklin Baker in voluntary
retirement the chance of the Athletics do
not appear SO bright. Bakers smuggling
was one feature of their daily play which
cannot well be spared. 1t would not, per-
haps, be very difficult 70 find his equal as
fielding third baseman, but some search
will be necessary to uncover one who can
meet them as hard and as often as Baker did
Great things are expected of Napolean Laj
ole this year by his admirers in Philadel-
phia and elsewhere. He will simply have
to do these things to fill the shoes of Eddie
Collins around the Keystone Sack. In one
of the spring practice games the other day
he busted the first one across right on the
nose and cleared the bases, enough runs to
win the game resulting. We believe the
great Frenchman will have an excellent
year at the bat, but do not think his field
ing will be up to Collins standard. At any
rate with his $500, 900 inheld all shot to
pieces, it is up to the astute and willy Connie
Mack to produce more ball playing marvels
and past performances indicate that he will
do it.
Pills ersistent-Running true to form
the PhilS once more 60 south with their
regular lineup full of holes. The familiar
faces of Magee, Doain, and Lobert will no
more be seen with the Quakers. 1t has
always been a mystery to me why they
scatter their smuggling units and retain the
pitchers. Of course Tom Sea.on did leave
for the Feds year ago, but, had the team
played up to its recognized capabilities, his
absence would not have been so noticeable.
The Pills for years past have been divided
into factions, each hateing the other, and
first class team work was not to be had for
this reason. Grover Cleveland Alexander,
premier pitcher, is now about the only
veteran left, and is in fact the whole team.
Grover won twenty six or more games last
year (some record) and upon him the task
of holding them up will again devolve.
Manager Pat Moran has signed year con-
tract and in that time faces the hard job of
building up new team, with youth as one
of the main features. Itcan scarcely be said
that any one envies Pat and his job. The
one crumb of comfort to fall into his lap of
late is that George Whitfield, late of the
Browns, has signed contract and reported
for training. In place of Magel, Doain
and Lobert he has secured Whitfield, and
Dugey from Boston; Stock, Adams and
Demaree from the Giants; .Niehof from
Cincinnati. A fair list but nothing to cause
Manager Pat to dream of remnants.
White Sox Wailings-Owner Comiskey
never fails to provide plenty of fan food for
the Windy City bugs. This year he has
pulled a lot of new stuff. He needed
another manager and, disregarding prec-
edents, brings in Clarence Rowland from
the bushes; but this was not such an hap
hazard selection as it may seem. Commy
has had his eye on this Rowland Teller for a