Evening star., 1916-03-15

He does nothing but praise Slssier,
and vows that he has the making of one
of the greatest ball players that ever
lived. Jones is going to change his
mind about several other players that
he has on his team. He was strong for
the Fed members of mis- squad at the
start. but he is just beginning to dis
cover that some of the players who
Rickey turned over to him when Inc
deal was made are of sood caliber. and
will be played regularly in preference TO
some of the men he brought over from
the Feds.
Poy Corhan the California shortstop
who is with the Cardinals, seems to be
showing remarkable class at san An
tonic. where he is training under Miller
that in his entire career he never played
second TO better shortstop than Cor
han. and that is some compliment. Tor
Huggins has been on several teams
which had star short heiders, os
Incidentally. Higgins has very good
opinion of his team. He says that 1t
is the strongest team he has had IN
st. Louis. and thai it will prove real
contender in the National League race
this year HusGins boasts of every de-
partnent of his Aggregation. and he
can't see how any of the other teams
of the old league stand a chance of beat
ing him out.
Hugh Jennings is rather severe in his
rulings in the training camp at WaXa- :
hachie. Tex. this spring His lat
est edict is against any ptaSer
He wants them to do all their
sleeping at night and he makes 1t
strong, saying that those who are
caught taking a snooze during business
hours will be sent to the minors, re-
Il nf w
nings told his athletes that he wants a
lot of live players who will not sleep
while there are other things to do
According TO a dispatch from St Pet
ersburg, where the Phillies are train
ing, Catcher Bill killifer is throwing
in much improved fashion this spring.
but it is noticeable that no one says
that his arm has recovered its old form.
1t is just better than it was. and 1t
may be far from good, for it was very
weak during the last part OF last sea-
son.
Whether Jim Thorpe will retain his
job with the Giants remains to be seen.
So long as the opposing pitchers are
not using curves the Indian is doing
some very impressive hitting, but un-
less he can convince McGraw that he
is not weak on curve pitching he VIII
probably sit on the bench again next
season. for it is understood that Thorpe
mas an lrOn-claU contract WHICH mas
another year to run.
OF course he may master the curve
ball. for there are many hitters weak
on this delivery who eventually learn
how to hit it because they get accus-
toned to seeing it.
Johnny Lavan, who played short for
the Browns for several years, is apt
to beat out Ernie Johnson, who went
to the Browns from the Feds and for a
time was Fielder Jones choice for the
short field. Lavan, however. seems to
have convinced Jones that he is not an
ordinary player, and as he has greatly
improved in his hitting he is now lead
ing Johnson for the position. Lavan
was slow to get wise to big league
pitching, but he solved his hitting
weakness when he discovered that he
could learn to hit into right field. He
hit very well last year, and is showing
marked improvement in this respect
this spring, getting five hits in as
many times up the other day in an ex-
hibition game.
Manager Lee Fohl is Worrying about
his pitching staff. He is satisfied with
his infield and his outfield and thinks
he has a good catching staff. but of all
the pitchers Guy Morton seems to be
the only one who is rounding into form.
Willie Mitchell is slow to show any
thing this spring. and Coumbe is said
not to be improving; Collamore is
questionable major Lacquer. and Hager-
man, Jones, Coveleskie, Cater and Gar
rett are, in the opinion of Fohl. rather
uncertain. He is afraid that he will
have to try and make some deals for