The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-21
JONES WILL GUST
FEDERAL PLAYERS
Brownies Manager Finds Pace
Too Fast in American
League for Them.

News comes from Et. Louis that
Grover Hartley. Babe Borton and Ernie
Johnson may be sent to the minors
prior to the departure Of the Browns
for the training camp In Texas.
All three were members Of the Sou
Feds who were retained when Phil Ball
bought his way into the American
League. Otis CrandalI. Charley Deal
and Johnny Tobin, other former Feds
used by Fielder Jones in 1916. already
have been sent on their way and Jones
may have only Pitchers Groom and
Davenport and Outfeiders Marsans and
Miller left when the campaign opens.
II Is Not OfaelaI.
The announcement that Hartley, Bor-
ton and johnson are to go Is not Of
fetal Should 1t be made so, it is sure
indication that Jones has come to real
ize that the Federal League was not
as strong as he tried to have US be-
lieve.
When Fielder resumed his American
League campaign a year ago. he plan
ned to use Borton on first. Johnson at
short and Deal at third, with Hartley
the big noise behind the bat and
Tobin playing in the outfeld. The
only leftover Browns he intended using
regularly were Pratt at second. Sister
and Shotton in the outfeld and Well
man in the box.
Then ThIngs Happened.
Then things began to happen. He
soon saw that Sisler, while lacking
experience in the outfield was con-
siderable OF q first sacker. Conse-
quently. when the campaign was for
mally inaugurated, he made that
change.
The Browns looked fairly good the
first week or two. Then, they began
to slip and likely would have landed
in about seventh place had not Jones
discovered his Federal Leaguers were
finding the pace a. trifle too warm.
Out They All went.
Otis CrandalI, whom he had named
as his right-handea pinch hitter when
he let Boston have Tilly Walker. was
sent to the coast, Charley Deal was
sent to Kansas City, and Jimmy Aus
tin reinstated at third. DR.. John
Lavan was sent back to the short
field and johnson went to the bench.
So did Johnny Tobin. another Fed.
Ward Miller took his place in right
field. Hartley gave way behind. the
bat to Hack SEVERED, and the Browns
started on a remarkable winning
streak that aroused the st. Louis fans
almost to frenzy and caused the turn
stiles, which were becoming rusty
through lack OF use, to click merrily
each day.
SEVERED fielded nine points and
batted thirty-eight points better than
Hartley Lavan fielded fourteen
points and hit seven points better
than johnson. Deal had 1t on Jimmy
Austin in fielding. but the Clevelander
batted seventy-two points in excess
of the ex-Fed. Borton batted some
forty points less than Tilly Walker,
while Tobin hit but .213 and stole
only seven bases although he was one
of the fastest men in the league.
should BE Dangerous.
With his former outlaws now we'll
weeded out, Jones should make the
Browns more dangerous than they
were in 1916, provided his pitchers are
as effective as a year ago. He has q
splendid bunch OF recruits. and II
would be no surprise il he developed
two or three regulars from them.
For instance, he has Pitcher Soth'
oron, who won fifteen games in a
row for Portland last fall: Pitcher
Rodgers, who won twenty-four and
lost twelve for Nashville; Pitcher
Kerr, who won twenty-four and lost
twelve for Memphis; Outfielder Sloan,
who batted 800 for Rochester; Out
fielder Jacobson, who led the South
ern League in batting; First Base
man Paulette, OF Memphis; Rumler, .
catcher. who batted over 800 in the
Southern, and in the American as
well. and Hale, a well-touted catcher
from Rochester