The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-08
OLSON TO BENCH?
Robinson Must Strengthen
DOdger Infield This Season.
Even Then They Will Have a
Hard Time Repeating.
BY lack XEIOCK.

New York, March S.-Uncle Will
bert Robinson and his Brooklyn
Dodgers deserve a big share of con-
sideration in sizing up the coming
National league race.
They will continue as champions
until some team knocks the props
from under their claims, and it is
traditional to figure on champion
ship club, regardless of prospects.
The Dodgers started in at the head
of the column early last May, and
they stuck to the lead until the race
was decided in their favor, never
once being pulled from first place.
They will have stronger opposition
this year, if indications count for any
thing, because the Giants are heavy
favorites at the present writing. But
many things can happen in the course
of a baseball season, and there is no
telling what Your Uncle Wilbert and
his boys may accomplish.
Baseball folk who have followed
the doings of the Dodger outfit dur
ing the off season are inclined 10 be-
lieve that the wholesale cuts in sal
aries, which caused the mem berS of
the champions to balk at signing their
contracts, will depress the spirits of
the team. 1t isn't customary for the
owners of a champion club to slash
salaries right and left, and the play
ers may lose interest.
Another Argument.
But there is another argument to
be considered.
As champions of their league, the
members of the Dodgers are some
what proud of themselves, even tho
they failed to show much class in the
worlds series. And when the playing
season gets under way the individual
performers may be expected to look
after their laurels, for every ball
player has the future to consider, and
one bad season may be enough to rel
egate an athlete to the minors
Sizing it up from both angles, it
appears that the Dodgers will be be-
tween two fires. They will resent the
cuts they have received in salaries,
but they will also keep a weather eye
on their records. Much will depend
on the ability of Uncle Wilbert Rob-
inson to keep up the spirits of his men.
nized as a wizard in the business of
| holding a ball club together.
The Dodgers have come in for
good share of criticism during the off
season. Their infield com bination is
considered weak by most of the crit
les and it will be up to Robby to
patch up the hole in his defense. He
will have all of his regulars at the
! training camp in Hot Springs and he
hopes to bring out a couple of young
sters who will be able to step into the
shoes of the players who crack.
Fabrique Looks Good.
Fabrique, the young shortstopper
| secured from Providence, looks like
the best infield recruit of the bunch
and he is expected to make good. So
| Ivan Olson may find himself on the
| bench, or headed toward the minors.
Fitzsimmons and Malone are two in
field recruits and Smyth, O'Mara and
Getz will get their chances, or at least
| this was Robby's intention before he
started for Hot Springs.
If Jake Daubert gets away on the
right foot this season without injuries.
Merkle may be given a shot at one of
the other infield positions, second
base or shortstop, and Cutshaw and
Mowery will be in the fight for regular
| jobs.
Robby is looking for yeoman SER
vice from some of his pitchers who
did not show to their best advantage
! last season. and as a whole his Twill
ing staff is strong. There are few
| baseball men in the business today
who have anything on Uncle Wilbert
| in the business of handling pitchers.
| The staff includes Appleton, Galore,
| Cheney, Coombs. Dell, burning, Mails,
| Vanguard, Pfeffer and Sherrod Smith.
With Miller. Myers. Snyder and
Wheat in the catching department
| anu Z1dCn w neat, SlenSel, myers,
| Johnston and Hickman to fight it out
| for the garden spots, the Dodgers are
| pretty well fortified. Few of the
baseball scribes are willing to con-
| slider the Dodgers az two-time cham
| pions, but a majority agree that they
| can be counted upon to make a fight
if Robinson can keep their spirits up.
| Start Football Practice.
! Ann Arbor. Mich, March S.-Can-
didateS for the University of Michigan
| football eleven have been requested
to start training at once. Captain
| elect Smith has made arrangements
for the players to work out in the
| gymnasium. THE success or failure
of the 1917 team may depend on the