The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-03
10 Good PITCHERS
Savages Boast Good Twirling
Staff to Start Season.
Team viii Play Exhibition
~ Games in Kansas City.

Although it is not possible to tlglre
ont a full team of 800 hitters lot 10
neka as has been figured out lot SIOUX
Citv John Savage believes that ms
1ocai cIub will excel in another ue-
Dartment of the national pastlne ina
ia equally as important as hllIlns. -
beHeves he will have the best pltchlhs
staff in the league. e,..,,.s
Two of the most important factors
in anv remnant race are the pitching
and hitting strength of the teams; II
he ,r1nossible to win games without
hittsrs who are able to bat their way
to the bases and bat IN runs. t1oM
aver oven a team of an-.3OO hltters
who are able to drive in a large aver
age of runs per game is not hKely 70
become a pennant contender unless II
possesses pitchers who can Keep I.s
opponents from collecting more runs
Three hundred hitters always are oe.nr
gerous opponents. But SUI hltteI
facing a good pitcher is no more dan
aerous than a dub of the 200 class
batting the offerings of sloo tWlrlef'
In fact, the latter, under these condi-
tious. will probably drive in more
scores in the course Of a season.
Ten TwirIers.
And with the average sprinkling or
good hitters he knows he VIII nave,
Savage is basing his principal hopes
on his mound staff. He expects 10
1.axe a slab CORDS that will be able to
centage of runs per game, and II ne
accomplishes this it will be an easier
matter to get men who can produce
the average number of runs.
when the players report mere the
21st of this month there will be ten
good twirlers to start with and If the
requisite number of these do not stand
the acid test, others will be brought
on But Savage prides h1msel1 on
being a pretty good Judge Of pitchers
thing from
the pnony-and he believes the talent
he already possesses is sufficient with
out being embellished.
OF course Bugs Grover and Ami
maj Dashner will be expected TO leao
the staff with Mick Lakaff playing
the part of first lieutenant. However,
il is entirely within the range of pos
sibilities-and Savage believes within
the range of probabilities-that one of
the youngsters, or one of the newly &C
uuired artists. will rise to leadership
and become the hero of the Kaws.
sanders the Best.
of the youngsters Sanders, of Pitts
burg is the one best bet If he can
keep his stuff under control. But
Squire Higgins also looked pretty luS-
cious last fall and he should begin to
get ripe and ready this summer if he
is ever going to.
So confident is Savage in the ability
of the pitchers he already has that
when he was in Kansas City the first
Of the week he refused to grab a
youngster of proven ability, offered to
him by the management of the Blues.
81 didn't know whether or not 1 could
use him." the Topeka owner said, land
while I didn't exactly turn down the
offer. I didn't feel justified in taking
it until l saw further into the future"
While in Kansas City this week Saw
age made arrangements to play two
exhibition games with the Blues there
on the 18th and 18th of next month.
Kfter these games it is probable that
the Topeka club will make a tour of
the larger towns of the new CONT
mental league before going to st. Jo-
seph for the opening of the season.
20 Governor Gives Cup.
In order to help arouse interest in
the league and to make the matter of
attendance more of a local pride to
the cities in the loop, Governor Cap
per has offered a silver cup, to be
given to the city in the league that
has the greatest attendance at its at
rome opening. The first team that
shows the largest at home opening at
tendance two seasons in succession will
be given permanent possession of the
cup.
The signing of another first baseman
by Manager baltimore was announced
this morning from the office of Owner
Savage. The new man answers to the
name Of Joe Agler and is an ex-Fed-
eral Lacquer. Last season with two
Federal league clubs he hit for a per-
eentage of POS and fielded a bit bet
ter, making only p errors in 59 games.
baltimore predicts that he will be a
better man for the club than Fisher
was last season.
Normal 80: lola Y. NJ. c. \. Is.
Emporia, Kan, March S.-The bas-
lSetball team of the Kansas Normal
defeated the lola Y. NJ. c. A here
Thursday night. 80 to 13.