Evening star., 1915-02-19

The claim that Baker and Mack are
not at odds over salary propositions is
reiterated, but the chances are If Mack
would offer to increase Bakers stipend
the slugger would lend a willing ear
to his proposition.
1t is but natural that Baker should
be discouraged If he signed a three
year contratt for $4,000 per season
while his former teammate, Eddie Col
Inns, is now getting more than twice
that much from the White Sox. Baker
may be ready to quit. but the fact that
he made a poor bargain in signing
with Mack no doubt has had some in
fiuence on him.
Bill Donovan seems assured of one
of the best pitching STATS in the
league next season. Caldwell is just
about as good a pitcher as any team
can boast of, and he will have a lot of
able assistance in Fisher Keating,
Warhop and McHale:
Caldwell is a twirler who always is
effective against the stronger teams.
He will no doubt be used mostly
against the contenders- in the race. and
it is a safe prediction that he will win
a majority of these games if he shows
the form he displayed when formerly
with the Yankees. However, a team
needs something besides pitching to as
sure it's success. and it remains to be
seen If the rest of Donovan'S team will
come up to the proper standard.
With Collins and Baker off that
one hundred thousand dollar infield.
there is sure to be decided decrease
in the value of this combination. Nc
Innis and Barry are the only two mem
bers of the great infield that graced
Mack's team last season. Lajoie will
be played at second. while a substitute
infielder named kopf is slated for
Bakers shoes at third. This may not
be the worst infield in the league, but
il does not compare with the one which
made Nack's team famous for the past
few years.
Granting that. Mack is q wonderful
manager, the loss of Collins and Baker
is sure to have its effect. He might
have made amends for the parting Of
Plank and Bender, his veteran tWirl-
ers, but where can he pick up inhelders
of the Collins Baker type?
Granting that the present system Of
rating the pitchers is fair one, there
should nevertheless be kept record
of the number of games pitcher wins
and loses, something which neither or
the major leagues now is doing.
1t Is of much interest to the rams TO
know how many victories are credited
to the various twirlers. and while thls
portion of the record does not figure In
the pitchers standing, 1t ADDS to the
interest of his records, and IS more I'M
portant than the number of men that
we're famed or the number of wild
pitches he may have made. neither OF
which has the slightest effect on his
rating.
tate to say it has given up the scheme
to but minor league in new england
to take care of the surplus players.
Such being the case. what VIII become
n II.
the invaders? How will they be taken
care of? Where can they go! only
few days ago a flock of athletes got the
blue envelope from the CGtGfago feas.
nounced. would be placed with minor
league teams. Where.
Under such circumstances it might
seem to man on the renee as II al
spective of what Judge Landis' deci-
sion may be, is TO sit still and hold the
Ieins in "A firm, unfolding grip. AS
long as the Federals cannot coax any
minors to Join them, as long as they
decline to frame any minor leagues out
of their own capital, and as long as
athletes are well aware that their base
ball career lasts but few short years,
what is the handwriting on the wall?
The best player is likely to be sick,
injured OF slowed up suddenly With an
eyer-present chance of losing his Fed
eral job and no place to continue his
activities on a smaller scale, what will
the average player do?
Lajoie is given credit for having re-
newed ambition since he got away
from Cleveland. He figures ne has
something worth while te work for
the coming season. Philadelphia crit
les say he looks like a mere youth,
though he is near forty. The big
Frenchman is quoted as giving vent TO
the following: .-s. i.
IT can hardly wait for the time to so