Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-13

nut all have worked more than Is good Tor
them so early i'm the season and showed
signs OF lameness today.
OF those who arrived late. Morrisetto
apparently is in the best condition. The
Richmond recruit has been living outdoors
In the Blue Ridge Mountains throughout
the winter and came down to Baltimore to
work out for two weeks before reporting.
Although the seXtet who came to Jack
sonville by rail have the advantage OF nine
or ten days of real work. Morrisette Is like
ly to be the first hurler to start curving
the ball, as his arm is better able to stand
the strain.
Cy Perkins, Mack's ls-year-old catcher.
reported for practice this morning. Perkins
was taken i'll on the Comanche and IT was
feared that he had typhoid fever, but a
blood test taken Saturday night revealed
that the youngster was suffering from
slight breakdown brought on by an at
tack of seasCkness. The youngster is
still weak and ut least 10 pounds under
weight but the physician believes that
plenty of outdoor exercise is the best
thing for him.
Manager Mack was greatly relieved at
the sudden Improvement in Perkins con-
dtion, as it would have been n great blow
to his plans for the future II the young
ster was victim of typhoid fever.
Perkins is one of the most promising
baCkstops Mack has ever picked up,
Connie is confident that he will develop
into one of the best receivers in the game
At the present time he is banking on
Perkins for second catcher, although later
developments may make II necessary for
him to send the lad to a minor league
for another years seasoning. Mack
would much rather school Perkins at
Shibe Park, but 1t is possible that he will
decide that tho lad needs more work In
actual competition, as he caught over 100
I9a1a atfr1N Ing n n1
TO thrive under hard work. picking up
10 pounds in weight during the course of
the summer.
Perkins duties this morning were con-
fined to warming up Ralph Myers, his bat
tery-mate at Raleigh last year, and Ray,
the Greensboro southpaw. After n work.
out lasting about 25 minutes, Mack sent
him back to the hotel with instructions not
to practice In the afternoon,
Perkins illness will affect his work for
some time and 1t is hardly likely he will
be in first-class shape until after the reg
ulars have reported.
Manager Mack intends to watch Bill
Murphy, the Binghamton recruit, and
Walter Meyers. the Davenport youngster,
closely within the next few days in order
TO size up their possibilities. Off-hand we
would say that this Meyers is about the
cleverest looking receiver we have seen in
many day.
1t Is barely possible that he may not be
able TO hit his weight, but II he can handle |
a pitcher in the game as well as he handles
them in practice, he is going to be heard !
from later. Many of the games greatest
catchers have been weak hitters, but were |
famous because of their receiving and |
handling of pitchers
MelIinger. young pitcher picked up |
by lGaEGgtr Mack at the last minute, is |
a southpaw, much to the surprise of |
Connie. Ira Thomas, who recommended |
Mellnger forgot to mention this fact to |
Mack and he did not know the youngster |
was port-sider until he saw him hurting |
the ball in practice yesterday. Connie |
was much pleased when he learned that |
Mellinger was southpaw. as he now has |
three left-handers TO battle ror two posi- |
tons as no more than this number of |
port-siders Will be carried.
The yOungster made wonderful record |
at Cedar Rapids. winning 10 games and /
losing 9 for a team which finished in |
fifth place, This is indeed an unusual |
mark. and he would easily have led the |
league with first-class team behind him. |
Rube Bressler is disappointed because
he win not be permitted to eat lunch this |
season. The youthful southpaw, who |
was the sensation of the American League