New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-24
"Yanks AreDue
AT Last Says
CrantIand Rice
Donovan's Men Now Face
Best Pennant Chances They
Have Ever Had
Ry GRANTLAND RICE

Macon, Ca, March 23.-If it were not
for the fact that this is spring train
ing camp. where one is inclined to be-
come over-iubilant and superoptimlstic.
we would say right here and now that
Mandarin William Donovan will leave
Macon on Monday with as fine chance
to 60 out and bag himself pennant
as any man ever had.
The Yankee lineup, intact, to-day
is stouter machine than any club
happened to be last year up and down
the Pennant highway. 1t is better
machine than last years Yanks for a
variety of reasons.
J. IL has drawn much better training
weather and the entire squad is IN bet
ter physical shape.
.. Where the catching staff last year
was a decided uncertainty, to-day 1t IS
one Of the strongest features OF the
SQUAD. with Nunamaker leading the
club at bat and Al Walters registered
as one of the great young receivers
of the game.
8. Where last season Donovan was
hoping that one or two of his young
pitchers might come through, to-day ne
knows that he has at least five reg
ulars who can go the route at WIN
ming pace, and that among his young
sters Allen Russell and Urban Shocker
have all the ammunition needed for
success.
Only Need Even Break
All the Yanks need as they begin TO
break camp is decree from fate that
will Give them a chance The greatest
hall players in the world can't repose
in a hospital and win games out on the
field. Given a fair deal from fate or
fortune. we indulge in no hesitancy by
wav of remarking that the Yanks face
the best remnant chance they have ever
known. Their first line is not COM
posed of remnant stuff, but their re-
serves. for every department, are
strong enough TO carry on the war
With aides around him like Paddy
Baumann, Joe Gedeon, Hendryx ana
Miller, injuries imposed upon the reg
ulars would bring no disaster
There are two other features TO De
observed. Last year Ray Caldwell won
but five games. This was Caldwell at
his worst. We believe that Ray has
profted by his hard 1916 lesson, where
both fame and fortune were torn from
him through his escapade. Last year
Johp Franklin Baker batted under
90. This spring Baker is hitting the
ball as he did with Mack on the spring
training trips of 1912 and 1913. HIS
mark 10 date is around $50, against
first class pitching.
One thing which makes the YANKEES
case assume such a resplendent hue Is
the combination of favorable omens.
IL is no longer case OF uncertain
offs" strung out in dizzy row. 1t is a
csse Of speed and power already IN evil
dence. a rugged-looking attack, backed
up by pitching that will hold its own
with any in the land not even barring
Ruth. shore. Leonard and Mays.
Oppressed Last Season
Last season the Yanks, oppressed by
so many bad seasons, doubted tneiT
own powers. This spring they recall
the fact that they were leading the
league S1s games last July when the
big defamation took place. lhey pc
lieve now they can win, where last
March they were merely hoping 10
make a good showing. e,
II may be the approach of April. the
green that has come into the trees
and grass down here, the warmth OF
the sun and the general touch oil
spring which is painting the situation
so bright a color, but whatever 1T -
we feel in a far more optimistic mood
regarding the success OF the club than
we felt a year ago. After watching
the men work and after alking over
the dope in detail, you get the feeling
that after more than dozen barren
wears the Yanks at last are due.
A wet. heavy field killed morning
practice. but an afternoon sun gave the
squad a good workout and as much play
as il needed in its present physical
shape. One more good workout Satur,
day' and then Smiling william or Wild
Riil. as you will have it, will be quite
ready to exchange wallops and wild
throws with George Stallings's Braves
on Monday.