Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
PIRATE OWNER BELIEVES
q MEN ARE ENOUGH
Refers to Days When Team Won
remnants With Less Number Than
Now Allowed by Nationals.
sTALLrNGs AS AN EXAMPLE,
Braves Leader Depended On Three
Twirlers, and Could Have Gone
Through Season With Small Squad.
Babe Adams Near Perfect Fielder.

Better baseball will be the result of
the National League cutting down tho
number of players club may carry
during the playing season to twenty.
ono men, declares President Barney
Dreyfuss. of the Pittsburgh Nationals.
who is in favor Of this rctrcnchmcnt,
not only for the sake OF economy. which
in these days of the high cost of liv
Ing and warfare, is something to be
considered. but who believes that SUI
pcrnumcraries arc q handicap TO a ball
club. rather than Il help.
The Pittsburgh Pirates won three
successive pennants when their mum
bers were far less than the new limit
the National League has set. and they
played better ball than either they or
any other club has played since" de-
clared the Corsair chieftain in defense
of his theory
"In 1901, 90 and 'n3. when -Clarke's
men captured their three straight flags
our club never numbered more than
sixteen men during the playing season.
Then the Pirates were at their best
with men working often enough to
keep in condition. OF late years it
has Lecome the fad to carry so many
men that less than half of them have
chance 10 work regularly. consc-
quently majority OF them are not in
good condition to play when called
upon.
work and plenty of it, whether he lee
inhclder. outiieldcr. pitcher or back
stop. Is the man who delivers the goods
Cf course, Il club must be fortified with
utility men, to use in case CT Injuries
or disablements, but regulars should
not he taken out of the game unless
really crippled. Mere scratches should
not keep II ball player otherwise in
good condition from performing his
regular duties.
-Four pitchers. possibly Ave, are al
most enough for any club. With four
twi.lers working regularly. n club
stands its best chance of getting out in
front. The Braves did it with three
last season. -Four pitchers working in
rotation with relief twirlcr or two
are ample, for If there are any more
they do not have enough opportunities
OF working TO keep them In good con-
dition. They cannot be at their best.
Three catchcrs are plenty for any
club. and two or three utility men for
tnield and outfield duties should be suf-
ficient.
1t has become the fad to carry two
sets OF inhelders and outhclders for
use on alternate days or according to
whether they bat from the right or left
side OF the plate. Lcft-hand batters
are sent In to face rig ht-hnnd twirlers
and right handlers go against south
paws. This Is unnecessary, rs that SUI
peISblion tDoui lelt-nanuerS not being
able to hit southpaw's deliveries Is
mostly bosh.
Il know that StallinEs carried two
outfelders last year and changed them
often. but he didn't win his pennnnt by
It, He captured his pennant by making
his men believe that they could
II remember how Clarke Crossed
Stallings once last summer in Boston.
Just for the sake OF making his right
hand batting outfeld bat against n
right-han pitcher" continued tho
Pirate magnate. Adams warmed up in
the ball park. and Cooper warmed up
in the street. Stallings put his left
hand outfield into the game.
Adams pitched to the first batter
then left the mound and Cooper took
his place. Cooper twirlcd the rest of
the inning, and the Boston right hand
ontheld at once replaced the port side
hlttcrs.
Then Clarke shifted again McOuil-
len, who had started to warm up when
the game started. went to the mound
and there We're StallinEs' right handlers
facing him, with no chance for him 10
make shift; he had used up all his
men.
}'Stallines 'bawlcd out Clarke for II
In rather strong language. hut Fred
laughed mt him and told him that he
had done IL just to spoil Stallings's net
theory. And he did. too. for the right
hand hittcrs did several things to Me
CULLEN"
Just what a difference ii would have.
made in the standing OF the Detroit
team last season had IL. Cobb been in
the game during the. ehi!re Campaign
IL interesting to consider. The chances
are that Tyrus, who has promised TO
be on his good behavior in the future.
WILL barring accident. play in many
more games in 1915 than he did last
season, and. in that event. 1T is need
TESS 10 say that the Tig.rs chances will
be decidedly strengthened
mere rs no getting away from Cohb's
value TO team. He stands out when
1t comes TO accomplishing Ind!viaual