Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04
BARRY FEARS VETS
MAY Be SLIPPING
Black Jack is Not So Sure that
He Inherited Made-to-
Order Champions.
LOOKING FOR YOUNGSTERS

Jack Barry, congratulated Tor IN
heriting a made-to- order pennant win
ner, is not so sure OF it. 1t is said
Barry has radical notions that his
team needs new blood-that the old
men are so much in the majority that
the Red Sox are likely to break any
day and, being ambitious, Jack doesn't
want that to happen under his regime.
Therefore he is willing to consider
deals for fresh material and he will
give great attention to such young
blood as he has-men like Shorten for
instance. ...
Particularly does Manager Barry
want a new outheld, and couple Of
years ago it was considered the Won
der of the world. The Red Sox out
field doesn't hit like Barry thinks an
outfeld should; it isn't as fast on the
paths as it might be; with all the OPP
portunities for making assists that
broad playing field gave it the per-
centage OF retiring base runners was
low.
The hint Is that both Duffy Lewis
and lilly Walker would be swapped
ii good deals could be made. Two
clubs already in the American league
have tried Walker who is willing to
try Lewis in exchange for hustling,
hard-hitting young outhelder not so
obscssed with coin that he has lost
ambitionf
Barry spills good dope. Outside his
pitching staff his team has passed its
prime and only good pitching pulled
It through last season. Hooper, Gard
ner, Lewis, Hoblitzel and Barry him
self, who plans to continue at second,
all have been In the big show from
seven to eight years and II they don't
soon begin 10 slow down they will
enjoy longer base ball life than the
big percentage OF players,
Next season will be Harry Hoop
er's eighth with the Red Sox, he hay-
ing joined them from Sacramento in
the spring of 1909. II was at the same
time that Gardner Joined the team
after having been farmed out to Lynn.
Gardner had been given trial by
Boston In 1903 and was sent along to
Lynn to finish the season. Duffy
Lewis was secured by the Red Sox
from the Oakland club at the close of
the 1909 season and has been playing
with them since his big league debut
at Cincinnati after starring for Wheel
ing in the Central league and he has
been In the big show since 1909. He
was sold to Boston in the middle Of
the 1914 season.
Started in 1908,
Jack Barry was taken on by the
Athletics in the spring of 1908 and
starred with them at short until the
middle of the 1915 season, when he
vas sold to Boston. Barry stepped
n to play second base for the Red
sox after several years at short and
,as played as brilliant a game at the
middle sack as he yer played at
short.
Whether or not any OF these vet
.ran Red Sox players will slow up
next season remains to be seen. 1t
will be more than remarkable il some
II them don't, At any rate the prob
EN- of preparing for the time that
lpproches when they will have to be
replaced by younger men will be one
II the first Of Barry's new duties, No
,ne doubts that Barry, one OF the
,rainiest men in the business, will be
equal to his new work.
And now hat Barry has given the
,int Of his hopes and intentions, don't
Be surprised II men like Lewis and
Gardner, who undoubtedly are slow
ng up, are slated for the discard If
he new manager really thinks he can
,upplant them with younger talent
hat offers strong hopes OF progress.
Manager Barry has q half dozen
recruits or so and he will look them
over carefully. 1t is their grand OPP
oortunity, Barry has ideas, no en-
angling alliances, he wants to rid
MS team Of cliques, he wants no dis
oyal players. One OF the big sur
,rises OF the year may be Jack Barry
rebuilding the champions" he in
lcrited from Bill Carrigan. And the
new owners OF the club, having no
respect for traditions, are with him
N the game,