The Washington herald., 1917-07-20
YANKS PRACTICALLY
OUT OF flag fight
Donovan's Club Is in Demoralized
Condition at This Time.

New York. July 1s.-But for the fact
that the so-called fortunes of war in
baseball shift so suddenly and from
such unexpected causes, the Yankees
might be eliminated right now from
any further consideration as pennant
possibilities this season.
For that matter, they are pretty
well eliminated as II is. Just now they
are in demoralized condition. They
act like an army that has been routed
and put to flight, and they do not seem
to have chance against such clubs as
Chicago, Boston, and even the De-
troit Tigers, who are again becoming
a factor.
But the uncertain Yankees are like
ly to come right out OF their present
slump and go into a squirt which woula
upset all calculations. At just about
, this time last year the Red Sox were
in a slump. They occupied about the
same position that the Yankees do
now. Their outfield was not hitting
above 30 and the players themselves
were giving up hope. But when Oc-
tober rolled around they were in the
worlds series.
IONtNtTs can ndTulg
entertain hope of such a favorable
reversal OF form. They have been
losing recently through bad base run
ming, errors at critical times and the
failure TO hit with men on the bases.
These seem to be sufficient reasons
for any slump.
The Yankees are not going to be a
serious factor as long as they have
to depend on their present outfield.
Nor does the outfield figure to sud
denly come through as did the one for
Boston last year. The Yankee outer
defense simply lacks the material.
Attention has been called to this de-
! feet before. but the series with Bos-
ton has served to emphasize IL. Hem
dryx is hitting .26s; Me see. .242, a big
| Improvement in a single series; High,
.1I5. and Miller about $50. The aver
age for the outfieId as a whole is
about .2lS, which is not good enough
for a club not otherwise strong in
hitters
But the outfieId is almost as weak
on defense as offense. Right now
Paddy Baumann is filling one of the
positions, and while a good hitter. he
Is n slow fielder. HendTyx is no streak
of lightning, and only Miller seems to
be able to make good throws.
Manager Donovan and his pitchers
complain that the outfield cannot shut
off runners from scoring from second
on a base hit. while it is almost sui
cidal for a Yankee runner to try to
score from second on a base hit against
such an outfield as Boston has. for
instance.
1t seems to be up to the manage
- kA 80 n1
get some outfielders IL they want to
have a chance this year. Probably
one high-class outfieIder would turn
the tide for them. They expect to
have Frank Gihooley TO play in the
spotlight in the near future. With
Hendryx and Gilhooley the Yankees
need but one other good man to build
up a fairly strong outfleld.
Manager Donovan has three scouts
looking for an outfelder, but such. a
man as the Yankees need does not
seem to be hiding out in the minor
leagues. What they seem to need is
not a man who promises to develop.
but some tried veteran who can de-
liver. The need is for the present sea-
! son, and the promising youngsters
can be carried along for another year.
The recent outbreak by Ray Cald-
well seems to offer good opportunity
for the Yanks to make a trade that
will bring them an outfielder II they
are willing to consider Caldwell in
such a deal. He is a great pitcher,
and, while unlucky with the Yanks,
might be good winner with some
other club. The Yankees have enough
pitchers, so they could spare him.
1t is said Connie Mack refused to
consider a trade OF Strunk for Cald-
well, but it is reported that Hughey
Jennings would like to get Caldwell.
He might be persuaded to make
deal for Bob Veach. Among baseball
men such a deal is thought to have
attractions for JENNINGS. Both clubs
might profit by it. Veach would GER
tainly help the Yanks, and Caldwell
ought to help Detroit, where pitching
has long been a weak point of the
club.