The Washington herald., 1917-02-25
PUTS PEP
in CINCINNATI CLUB.
Team Works with Different Spin. with
christy on Players Bench.

New York, Feb Alt the well wishes
OF fandom count for anything Christy
Mathewson should start the season OF
1917 at Cincinnati with the cards stack
ed In his favor.
Idoiized for years by baseball fans all
over the country, from the smallest urch-
In to the busiest of business men, Christy
Mathewson stepped down and out as a
National League pitcher and then leaped
into the band wagon with the managers
while fandom rooted for him. The base
ball fans want to see Matty make good
and they win watch his fortunes at Red
Vile with genuine interest.
Last fall. when Mathewson took the
reins at Cincinnati, he injecsed new spirit
into the Reds. He took hold OF o team
that was playing Indifferent basebail-a
team that was following in the foot
steps OF Cincinnati teams of other years.
But Matty's presence on the bench as
manager instilled new life into those
much abused Red Stockings. and they got
out on the greensward and tried their
best to win for him.
But Mathewson has not been thorough
ly tried out as pilot. His experience
late last season only served to give him
an insight into what he has to work with.
The real test will come with the OPEN
ing OF the playing season this year. Will
Matty succeed in making good, as soma
other great ball players have done? Or
viii he prove failure as q manager
During the years that Matty played
with the Giants-ths years in which he
was classed by baseball men and writers
throughout the country as McGraw's
right hand bower-he had the opportunity
to learn all that McGraw can teach to
any player about the art of bossing in
a ball club. Matty was often given q
share OF the credit for successes scored
by the Giants. Did he deserve this
credit7
OF course. the fact that the Giants OF
the past few years have been a much bet
ter looking ball club than Cincinnati has
had may be pointed to as one of the
reasons for their successes and for
Matty's share in them. But Matty per-
sonally believes that he has a good club
at Cincinnati and that he will be able to
spring some big surprises with his Red
Vile team this year.
The Reds, in so far as can be learned,
expect little or no trouble from anything
the Baseball Players Fraternity may dc
in regard to a strike. Fact is, the Reds
have already announced the names of the
Players who are to go to the training
camp. and the list includes all of the vet
Grams.
Up to the time the season opens Mathew.
son will keep his eyes open for several
trades. He Is after a right-handed out
fielder and a left-handed pitcher. II he
can secure two such players who are
capable Of holding their own in the Ma
tional League he will be satisfied with his
prospects and the chances of the Reds
to slip one over.
In Emil HUM. his youngest catcher,
Matty believes that he has a player OF
great value. HUM did not look like a
world-beater last summer, and often he
was caught mapping while other clubs ran
the bases on him. But Matty likes his
looks and believes in him. Another play
er who could not be pried loose from the
young outielder who went TO the Reds n
the deal with Mathewson. Rousch Is one
of the speediest players in the National
League. He has natural batting talent
and with a regular berth, which will give
him a chance to show what he can do. he
should give the best fielders in Governor
Tener's circuit a run for their money.
In Chase, Groh. McKechnie. Kopf, Es-
mond. Louden and Hobbs. Mathewson has
q nifty looking bunch of felders, and II
he gets one more good pitcher and the
outfielder he is after he will bear watch
ing.
Regardless of what the Reds accomplish
this year, Mathewson will start the Ma
tional League season with fandom boost
ing fo- him, and If he Is permitted to 10
as he sees fit he may give Cincinnati ifans
the first all-season winner they have had
In many wears