Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-03
Judgments
F THE three members of the
Rourke clan who advance via
the purchase route to the big

n HE three members OF the
i Rourke clan who advance via
" the purchase route to the big
leagues, two of them at
least are expected to deliver the
goods. Earl Smith and Ernie Krue-
ger are the ones predictions say will
be equal to the superior play of fast
company. Smith is already a fin
ished outfelder. He is one of those
adept kind of outhelders who make
easy catches of everything. No mat
ter how far he may pursue ball or
what position he is in when making
the catch, he does it gracefully. And
he covers a world of territory. He
can go to the right or to the left, or
forward or backward, with equal ease
He also fields ground balls quickly
and surely. His throwing whip is Of
first-class caliber. Smiths only
chance to fail lies in lack of hitting.
And the wise boys believe he will be
able to hit big league pitching as
easily as Western league curving.
Ernie Kruger is granted an equal
chance to stick with the Giants. Err
ME is a mighty Woodworking, de-
pendable catcher He's a big fellow
with good arm, and he's far from
slow And he murders the ball A
young catcher doesn't need any 9TH
er qualifications to be classed as
promising It's about fifty-hfty bet
that Smith and Kruger will stick in
the National Kilduff may or may
not stick. Kewpie is still young
ster and his experience has been linn
tied 1t may be that he needs an
other year in the minors. But, again,
the kid may be so improved next
spring that McGraw will keep him.
For his sake we'll be pulling.
Who profits in the deal for the
great Heinie Tim, Chicago or New
York? That's problem to stump the
most exhaustive dope expert and if
he doesn't conclude it is case of
fifty-fifty his dope sheet is bad. Zim-
norman is probably one of the most
natural ball players and one of the
greatest ever born. But, liken unto
Rube Waddell, he has the brain of
child. His smuggling will probably
win games for McGraw, but unless
Muggsy can curb his irrepressive
spirit, his boneheads will probably
lose few. Larry Doyle, who with
Hunter and Jacobsen went to Chi
cago for Tim, is an old veteran and
has seen his best days. He should
Be good far another year or two,
though, at least. But it is thought
Tinker got good man in young
Hunter. This lad is still in his teens,
but he's played good ball at both
third and first and he hits well. East
ern critics say he is bound to make a
great player when he gets old enough
to vote. OF Jacobsen little is known
except that he's likely looking re-
cruit. If Hunter proves to be great
ball player, as anticipated or If Larry
SDoyie continues to retain his stride
few more years, Chicago will profit
BY the deal, but if both Hunter and
Doyle fail, the Giants will reap the
harvest.
The Boston Red Sox are likely to
encounter some rough going the re.
mainder of the season as result OF
the injury to Captain Jack Barry,
There is no escaping the truth, Barry
was the mainstay Of the Boston in
field. When Barry joined the Red
Sox q year ago Carrigan's men i'm
mediately took brace. 1t was not
until Barry was signed that Boston
became a pepnant winning combina-
ton. Barry has always possessed that
rare ability to put fight into team.
He certainly put itlinto Boston, This,
in addition to his wonderful ability as
player. Barry's services will be
sorely missed by the Red Sox and its
cinch bet Carrigan's men won't run
away with the American league pan
nant now. ..
The Giants Of 1916 will always be
mystery ball club McGraws .ag-
pregation is one OF the most puzzling
enigmas that base ball fans have had
to ponder over for several years.
First the Giants dropped thirteen out
of fifteen games Then the same club
won nineteen out OF twenty-one.
Then another slump, then a brief
rally and again slump. It's not a
poor ball club; poor ball club can't
win nineteen out OF twenty-one
games. Then what is the matter ?
You answer it; your guess is as good
as ours.
Hans Wagner, the veteran short
stopper, is staging something of a
comeback himself this year True,
Hans has never been away, but he's
having better year this season than
he has had since 1911, the last time
Wagner topped the National league in
hitting. Hans is riding in first posi-
ton now with mark around $3.50, and
ii he can continue his gait he'll lead
the field home once more. Last year
Wagner hit .274 and the year before
.254, so ii is something OF come
back.
A Lincoln scribe voices the opin-
ion that Omaha is weak in the in
field. which will blow up il sufficient
" agitated. and weak in one garden
Of the outiield That being the case,
may we ask where Lincoln is weak: