New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-23
SIGNING OF CHASE
SEEMS WISE MOVE
Pitching Staff Appears Strong
and Only Possible Weakness
Is at Second.

frfN a NfAlN MshNA a.
noint.. save. perhaps. AZ second base
and one which bids fair 20 make It's
pr.sence felt Competent Judges Of
baseball ability who have seen the
Reds IN action during the training
tam ard in the championship games
thus far declare that the speed and
rover displayed ere no mere fash IN
thc pan.
Cincinnati fans have waited thirty
three wears for the Reds 70 win Ma
,ional League flag They may be
fo-ced 70 wait still longer. but TINS
Looks like the year for the team 10
o4sert is old haunts and JON the
first division clubs
When Garry Hermann cast 70 one
see his preiudioes against teGerai
Ioneue PLAYERS and signed Hal Chase
10 ,fsv first base he took long STRIDE
IN The right direction. The former
ster Of the Yankees and White SoN
-,av bo the most temperHmental indi-
vidual IN baseball. but he IS a grea'
,isver lust the same. He has lost
fttlc. II any. o. his wizard-like skill
8, guarding first base. and has brain
that 70 swift as the hight.
\ Brainy Player.
lie has tried in the past many play
-hlch n led 20 90 through simply be-
cause his team mates failed to grasp
the situation as quickly as he. WORK
no with such men as Charley Herzoe
and Heinie Groh. two Of the smartest
bs.i PLAYERS IN the game to-day, Chase
should show al his best
Hal ALWAYS has been. and IS to-day, q
dangerous hitter. He takes free
healthy cut ~ the ball and drives II
bsrd. He is csncciallv EXPERT al hitting
behind the runner With man on hrst
base. Chase NAV be depended unon 70
knock the ball 90 right field. John j.
McC~av-. manager Of the Giants. de-
ciares the ability 20 perform just that
feat the greatest recommendation loE
any batter.
Another art which Chase has per
fected is that Of bunting. and he car
law the ball down within inches almost
of q given mark This ability IS most
essential when q squeeze play is IN or
de- Chase also j. a good base runner
Perhaps the greatest hazard WIN
Chase on team is his ambition 10
lead. he Is % a merry. aggressive ma
,ure. and is not the most diplomatic
man in fne world. There IS little dan
ger Of nm trying 10 undermine aefzos'
however. The Federal League has dis,
banded. he American League passed
him over. and he must remain qulet
where he Is or pass out Of major ieague
baseball.
one of the strongest reasons for the
ont,p,ism Of the Cincinnati fans IS
ne pitching staff Of the Reds. There
IL Fred Toney, who ranked second 70
Crove~ Cleveland Alexander last sea
son. allowing an average Of l.5l earned
rms 10 the game. Jean Dale IS an
other clever. resOurceful pitcher who
ranked high last year, and Bill Pheion
Is the authority for the statement NAV
Jean is Just beginning 10 md hlmseN /.
Pete Schneider and 7. q. MchenerV
are TWO young pitchers who are hlgnly
praised by ball players. They did wei
last wear with q seventh place cluo De
hind them and bid fair 20 fulhI tneI,
promise Of greatness this season. ksri
Moscley and Lefty Schulz. who saw
service in the American League belor :
they hoped 10 the Feds, should be Of
assistance too.
Nav Be Weak at Second.
Second base may be the weak spo;
in the Reds this year. Al present ~
Iouden e filling the post. and nlhng ll
in acceptable fashion. but Bill is
veteran OF long standing. and may
weaken under hard campaigning.
Charley HerZog, at shortstop, needs
neither introduction nor defence. lie
is real ball player, keen 70 ever
situation that may arise, and has the
knack Of doing the right thing at the
right time. He was second only 20 me
great Hans Wagner last year IN field
ing. and he hit .264
Heinie Groh was the actual leader
among the third basemen. and, better
than mere mechanical ability. ne IS
an intelligent player who rarely rs
guilty OF tactical blunders.
The outfeld Of the Reds. which has
been referred TO as weak, is not so
weak in reality. Wade killifer Tom
Griffith and Jack Bcall. who Is cavort-
ing around IN left field just now, make
up pretty fair sort OF combination
Griffith was tied with liinchman ior
.hird place in hitting last year, having
an average of .8O7 KHifer hit .272
Beall rs youngster, but ne is gong
along nicely thus far.
Tom Clarke. behind the bat, IS .
capable individual. and his average OF
osg in hitting IS not 20 be despised
Ivy Wingo is another catcher OF repu'
tation.
The Federal League has served one
worthy purpose, at least. IL has fur'
uiShed the men who viii make the
Giants contenders for the National
League pennant. If they are contenders
az all. Bonnie Kauf. Eddie Roush and
Bill Rariden are names which wall
doubtless ring from the lips OF Ne"
York fans many time before inc sea
son is over Already they have estsb-
shed themselves.
There Is no doubt in the minds OF
ne fans now that Bonnie Kauf IS a
real ball player. lie has shown that
mis- batting average in the Federal
League was not due 70 any inferiorty
OF the twirlers In that organization
lie has hit the pitching he has faced
and hit 10 hard. II not always safely
Moreover. he has shown his fielding
ability will carry him through. On the
bases. too. kauf is fast. and he Is a
daring, hard runner, with vicious
slide.
Eddie Rousch is. perhaps, the best
outhelder on the New York team. lie
is grace itself In going after ball. and
can travel back for a drive better than
any Of the present combination. lie
can hit the ball. too. as he has shown
In the games with the Phillies and Rob
ms. Bill Rardcn rounds out the trio
of Feds who will doubtless be in the
game regularly unless accidents pre-
vent Rariden is about the best catcher
No have had around here since Jacl
Warner and Roger Bresnahan were II
their prime. He attempts good many
plays which do not go through because
~ some trouble or other on the Other
end. He has an arm OF steel, and han
dies the pitcher well.