The Detroit times., 1916-03-07
Burden 1916 Pitching Will Fall Upon Members OF Last
Years Team Predicts Times Baseball Writer At Camp
Newcomers Not Deemed Ready
to Displace Old
Fingers
BY HAROLD Y. WILCOX.

thelesS. IL NOulu DC luhPoSSioic "
spend week In camp without
forming some opinions regarding
the probable fate OF the young gen
tlemen who are striving for the
honor OF taking the hring line for
Detroit this summer.
The pitchers now in camp are
James. McTigue. Oldham. Smithson.
Cunningham. Loudermilk. Boehler,
Erickson. Pagan and Marshall With
James. Oldham, Loudermilk and
Boehler Detroit fans are more or
less familiar James is tremen-
dously big fellow who Was pur.
chased last fall from 81. Louis
in the heat OF the pennant race,
He has speed great strength and
an excellent knowledge OF pitch
Ing. To him also is credited
murderous crosshre. He should be
great Ginger II Is cinch that
he will remain on the team. and
probably he will be = regular He
pitched some very fine games for
Detroit last fall. although he did
not win many. II vas his misfor
tune 20 ascend the mound on days
when the Tigers were not hitting
His health Is improved this year,
and he is going 10 unusual lengths
20 attain superb condition. He
looks great.
LoudermiIk is another late sea
son purchase from 81. Louis. he
is shaped like fishpole. but he is
a powerful chap. and handles a
baseball like a marble. His speed
is wonderful and he has a very
fancy assortment OF stun. Louder.
milk's chief weakness has been
lack OF control. This weakness has
not been pronounced this spring
His dauntless courage and his
speed are attributes OF a very great
pitcher. and II Il certain that he
will be given a chance TO work
regularly His success probably
will depend upon a good starr. He
Is sure OF job.
George Boehler has all OF Louder
milk's characteristics TO a slightly
less degree. with the lessness not
so pronounced in regard to wild
ness. A lot OF schemes have been
tried TO bring him around In the
past three years, including various
styles Of delivery. II Is now be-
lieved that side-arm cannonadin4
Is his natural style. Boehler has
been throwing no other way since
the FIRST two days In camp. and his
control is improving II IL con-
tinues TO do 40. he viii be kept for
another chance in the big show.
Always he has seemed too good TO
let get away. and that idea Ii more
prevalent this spring than at other
recent times.
Oldham is known as slow start
er, and IL is dificult 10 tell where
ne heads-in az, at present After a
series OF misfortunes last summer.
the southpaw was sent 10 Buffalo,
in the International league. for
couple OF weeks OF regular work.
He did we'll, and won the only
game he pitched in the American
league after his return TO Detroit.
Probably he will be kept.
All this indicates that the burden
OF Detroit's pitching will rest upon
members OF the club last year, for
Dauss and Coveleskie, and perhaps
Dubuc and Bolsnd will draw their
share OF regular assignments. The
inference IL justified upon what has
been shown in training camp TO
date. II must be understood that
none OF the pitchers really have cut
loose for more than two days yet.
We have prophesied that George
Cunningham was ready for the big
show. There IL no reason TO re-
gret that hunch yet He looked
promising last spring, and did
splendidly in his season at Chat.
tanooga. His work this spring has
indicated that he learned the things
which he was farmed ont 20 learn.
The stocky spithall artist is In
great condition. and is working like
horse II IL probable that he win
start the season with the club and
be given chance 20 make good
under big league FIRE. II Will be
necessary 20 weed out some OF
these boys later in the season, and
the wedding out may drop heavily
upon the noodles OF some OF the
hurlsrs who are deemed veterans.
Smithson Il a medium-sized
southpaw who was at camp last
tpring and who showed enough 20
start the season with the club. He.
too. was farmed out for more ex-
peiience. Last year he had a
pretty delivery, and quite q lot OF
stun, but lacked both seasoning
ant pep. His experience has done
h'm good. and he has more ginger
and confidence than ever before.
Whether OF not he makes the grade.
lie Is an improved HEAVIER. Lefty"
may not be retained, but II is a
cinch that he will not be the FIRST
10 90 unless he fzzles in the show
down, which win come when the
exhibition games are played. De
troit fans are likely 20 see him In