The evening world., 1917-04-23

A LII the casualties are not in
~ Europe. Look at my Reds.
Heinie Groh is playing with a
sore hand-so sore he can hardly grip
a bat or hold a thrown ball. but he is
gamely sticking In the first trench.
BIZ McKechnie has broken hand and
will be a net loss for somo time.
1t looked like a good year for Bill,
too. He had been working hard in
the spring training and had gotten
away TO a strong start until disabled.
Tom Griffith has a bad arm which II
will probably take some warm
weather to smooth out
When my infield began to look as
IL It had matched itself against the
Hlndenburg line, l started seeking
any man who might occupy Job with
any promise OF satisfaction. Brooklyn
asked for waivers on Gus Getz, and
we grabbed him. This young fellow
played IN only forty games with the
Dodgers last season, and he hit .2ls'
hut believe he has possibilities.
BECAUSE another big league club
masses up a player does not convince
me ne is no good. Many a star mas
been turned back only to come up
again and make good. Jimmy Archer
was once discarded By Detroit ana
even Willie Keeler was turned down
,u,,ce before he was taken on by Bal
timore. | have instructed my scouts
10 give every man with possibilities
Inhablting the bushes good, strong
nm and down sCrutinizing. even II ne
bas hecn M before George Stallings
has picked up and used many a star
that no one else could see.
The Reds have not monopollzed the
hard luck 50 far. Fred MltcheiI
steamed right into mess OF II when
safer broke his leg--not TO menuon
the uncertain and weakened condition
of Larry Doyle's underpinning.
VIC SAFER has had tough luck IN
baseball. lie should be to-day one
of the best first basemen playing the
game but he made serious mis-
take. II most players injure their
/ phys;cal shape, II Is by not taking
care OF themselves and running
around-bad actors they are called In
Big Lengue lingo, and they are few
! IA the game to-day.
Saler has always lived quietly and
]
he was a constant reader In bad lights
until he strained his eyes and this af-
tected his batting. He took good care
OF his lamps all winter and expected
to come up to his capabilities this
spring, for he Is an earnest worker.
Now he has cracked a bone and will
probably be out OF the game most OF
the season.
During the Federal League war
when Murphy was still the owner of
! the Cubs and John Evers was their
manager, Murphy decided TO prune
some OF the prices Off his payroll and
selected Safer as a victim. He desig-
mated John Evers TO do the dirty
work. 80 John told me, and he didn't
! like the job. However, the little
manager made the trip TO see Safer
at his home.
"Saier had a big offer from the
Feds" declared Evers, land | had a
swell time trying TO cut his salary. |
finally arranged for a compromise and
saved for Murphy, in my opinion, the
best first baseman in the National
| League"
Then as soon as Johnny got back,
Murphy fired him.
! The Giants are busting along
/ through the league like n first class
/ battleship fleet through the Mexican
Navy. Al their present speed they
| will have dissolved the league by
/ the Fourth Of July, but they will have
/ their bad spells.
Word comes TO me they looked 10
| be trained little too fine. thinner
! man and HerzoE are pitched up FOR
concert work-goinE as well as they
would in tho middle Of the season
There may still he some blood on the
moon before the finish, although II is
a rugged club-wth the exception OF
the pitching STAFF. In way. the
team looks too mclSy-like fellow
who finds lots OF four-leat clovers
completely surrounded by poison ivy
/ McGrnW L. nrOhnblY WORRYING