South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-21
NATIONAL CAN
USE SOME SUBS
Lack of Good Utility Men
Keenly Felt in Big Show.
Only Few There.
BY Jack VeiOck,
INTERNATIONAL News Service:

international News service.
NEW YORK. May p. - Utility
players are worth their weight in
gold in the National league this
year
Though the utility man may be
forced 10 decorate the long timber
all season. his presence there means
much 10 the manager, for with the
player limit cut to % men the Ma
tional leaguers are forced TO get
along with as few utility men as pos
sible. and when injuries invade a
baseball club, capable substitutes
must be shot into the vacant shoes
of the injured men.
Injuries are just as much part
of baseball as anything else CON
nected with the game. Many a clubs
chances have been wrecked through
injuries to. star players. and the club
without utility reserve strength is up
against a serious proposition.
Though the New York Giants
were looked upon. and are still fig
ured. as pennant winners in the old
league. a series OF injuries TO the
members Of McGraw's squad of reg
ulars may wreck the chances Of the
Polo Grounders at any time. With
the lineup intact McGraw has a
wonderful machine. But early In
the season. when Zimmerman and
Herzog were both out Of the game,
the McGrawian machine failed TO
hit or all cylinders. Kilduff and
Hans Lobert had to fill in the gaps,
and though the former is a promis-
ing youngster he is not Herzog, while
Lobert is again fast and his leg is
giving him trouble.
Tough Luck For Cubs.
Mgr. Mitchell, of the Cubs, suffered
the worst sort Of luck right off the
reel. Saier's broken leg and Wort
mans busted finger were the big
handicaps Doyles ankle. still weak
and indispensable. has given him
trouble. and at any time injuries
may beset the Cubs again and spoil
what chances they have for strong
finish. The acquisition of Fred
Merkle was a blessing to the Cubs,
| but they were lucky 20 get him, and
/ that bit of luck helped to offset the
handicap Of Saier's injury.
/ In McGafingan the Phillies have
one good bet as a utility man. The
/ Dodgers have Olson or Mowrey and
/ the Braves have Massey. who has
done a good ffiob Of filling Evers
shoes. The Reds. with McKechnie
and the Cubs with Hunter and lei
der. one of whom will likely he in
\ the game or alternate on the infield
/ throughout the season, are prac-
/ ticallv held down TO the limit. Mil
/ Ter Hugginss subs cannot compare
favorably with his regulars. and
here you are.
Soft For American.
/ In the American league, where the
clubs are permitted TO carry % men
/ two extra outfelders and two extra
/ infelders can he carried throughout
the season and the managers can
also keep three additional players
prefera bly, young pitchers or catch
/ ers who can he taught much on the
\ bench. In the National figuring
that a club carries eight pitchers
three catcherS. four regular infeld-
ers. and three regular outfielders, the
addition Of four utility men fills W
the roster to the limit. The man
ayers have practically no chance 70
hold onto young players Of promise
and if they have such players and
refuse 10 let them 90. they are
handicapped for utility talent. So
il is a gay life for National league
managers this year when the old
injury link comes around