The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-09
TO
Be STRONG
CONTENDER
They Look Likely on Paper
Heavier Hitting Is the
Hope for This Season

New York. March 8. Consistent
pitching and steady fielding enabled
the Boston Braves to keep in the PEN
nant hunt in the National league last
season.
They were in the race from start to
finish and they never fell below
fourth place. Finishing a good third,
only one and one-half games behind
the Phillies, in second place, the
Braves made themselves felt, and their
chances this year look as good or bet
ter than most rival clubs. with the ex-
ception Of the Giants.
Stronger hitting is what George
Stallings' boys need to put them very
much in the fight for the Tenor gon-
Talon this summer. II they can brush
up their batting strength they will be
dangerous rivals OF the Giants, or at
least it appears so from this early
angle.
While figures don't tell anything.
they come as close as 1t is possible to
come in showing the strong points or
weaknesses of a ball club. and the Ma
tional league pitching records show
that Stallings' hurlerS generally had
something on the ball.
Pitchers Turned Trick.
The regulars of the Braves stan
ranked between eight and twenty
third places in the column which re-
cords the effectiveness Of pitchers.
Nehf, Tyler, Allen, Ragan and Rudolph
hold down the eighth, ninth, tenth,
eleventh and twelfth places in the
pitching records, while the remaining
hurlers are strung out to twenty third
place, which is held by Ed. Reulbach.
And the Stallings sharpshooting staff
remains intact, with the prospects OF
another good year. '..
In fielding the Braves OF 1915 head
the column with a team percentage Of
1857. They were charged with 212
misplays in 158 games. But their base
running was very ordinary and in
batting they were last with a team
average of .233.
So the weakness Of the Braves APP
parently lies in their attack with the
bludgeons, and it is in this department
that George Stallings will spend the
NOSE time drilling his warriors during
the spring training grind. Better bat
ting will be certain to make the
Braves a very dangerous outfit.
Evers Coming Back.
Johnny EverS' determination to get
back into the game and do everything
in his power to stick there day in and
day out has already been announced.
The little Trojan has improved in
health during the winter and If he is
successful in keeping his health he will
be wonderful help to Boston. Count
ing EverS in the game, and he will be
in there when the season opens, the
infield may be much the same at that
with which Stallings finished the 1916
season. Konetchy will hold down the
initial sack. with Evers on second,
Meanwhile at short and Smith at
third, Several recruit inflelders will
rraf frxy M trio
OF last years team. will be in uniform
again. Stallings drafted Johnny
Rawlings, a shortstop, from Toledo,
and Bill Massey, who played both
second and short last season for the
Mobile club Of the Southern associa-
ton. Neither player appears to have
the makings Of a heavy hitter in the
big show. but both are fiashy fielders.
Has Good Pitchers.
With Blackburne, Gowdy and Trag-
esser forming the regular windpad
fighting for places the Braves are
pretty well fixed in catching talent. |
hit well and showed real
class in handling the pitchers and
pegging to the bases during the latter |
part of last season and will probably |
be first catcher with the Braves this |
year.
Davis and Crum are the only new
pitching recruits listed on the roster |
Of the Braves. which was sent out re- |
Gently by the MANAGEMENT, and it is |
apparent that Stallings is pretty well |
with his hurting staff.
The outfield candidates promise to |
put up the liveliest scrap for positions |
that a team of Boston Braves has wit |
messed for years. Stallings has nine |
and this will mean that |
1t least five Of them will have to be |
weeded out by the time for trimming |
player rosters to twenty-five men. The |
outfield candidates are Sherwood |
Magee, Ed. Collins, Joe Connolly, Larry |
Chappelle, Fred Bailey, Joe Without, |
Fred Snodgrass, Joe Kelly and George |
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