Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-27
WITH THE MAJORS.
Braves Start North-StalIings Worry
 ing Over OutfieId.

Though the Braves left Miami, Fla,
 Sunday for Macon, Ga, where to-
 Yankees, the outfield problem which
 has been worrying Manager George
 StaIlings all along has not yet been
 settled. It is expected. however, that
 CTS is over that the outfeld will have
 been temporarily lined up at least.
 The question which is worrying the
 Braves boss is what combination of
 players he should use in the outer gar
 den- In his staff of seven outfielders
 there are three right handlers and four
 left hand hitters. Whether he should
 use all three right handlers in the out
 field or three eft-handers or mix them
 up is the matter which the Braves
 boss hopes to settle this week. The inability of left-handers to hit south
 paw pitching and the absolute nece5- sity for offensive strength in the out
 field is the reason for deliberation.
 Of the squad. Sherwood Magee, Joe Kelly and George TwombIy are the right-hand hitters. The left-handers are Bailey, Collins, Wilhoit and Cha belle. The first mentioned three play spectively, will probably Se the line
 up of tn outer garden against left
 hand pitching. Then if these men show that they can field and hit well enough they probably will stay right along even against right-handers. But the other outer gardeners shape up well at times. Bailey. a left-hand hitter. is showinw promise of becom- ing a real big leaguer with the wood. He has not been hitting very often this spring. but his drives are hard and he is expected to connect more often with a little more drilling. All players will probably be given chance in the series with the Yankees, but the first mentioned three will probably start the series. Their show ing in the campaign will to a great extent show Boss Stallings just what he has to do to make his outfield good both extensively and defensively.
 The rest of the team is not worry ing the miracle man very much. The staff of utility inf1elders is the strong est that Stallings has had since he has been with the Braves. Fitzpatrick is going better thu ever. Massey is giving promise of being a crack sec keystone guardian and Rawlings shapes up like substitute boss and other close followers of the team put it. He is in the class of in- 7elders just below the exclusive class of the wonderful Rabbit. The battery ager Stallings and this season prom l ises to be as good as in the past. The l only reason that Crum has been picked | up Is because of his great showing last l fall in an exhibition game against the | Braves in Terre Haute. Ind. last sum | ner. He probably will rot stick, how ever. as the Braves staff of Rudolph. 1 Tyler, Hughes. Barnes. Allen. Nehf | and Davis is a very capable one.
 Everything is not rosy for the | Braves, for they are not yet in the | pink of condition. though they have | already started on the way north. | Manager Stallings says that he would | rather not have the men in tip-top | form at the start of the season as last | year. but would rather see that fine condition in the middle of the cam oaign. He is not satisfied with the outlook of the team, for he is worried about the outfield, but he hopes that oy the time the season starts he will | nave settled that problem.