The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-04-06
SAN FRANCISCO TEAM
HAS BEEN IMPROVED

Last winter, when Hen Berry con
ceived the idea of erecting new ball
park for San Francisco fans, some kind
friend reminded the magnate that it
would be good plan to gather to-
gether real team to play on il. AL.
though the Seals do not look like the
strongest team in the circuit, Berry
apparently has done what was asked Of
him.
He ordered Manager Wolverton to.
purchase players from the big league
to I'll the weak spots and, as the re.
suit, first-string catcher, a new first
bascman and big league third sacker
have been added.
From Detroit came Del Baker, a
catcher. NsG &
Needed o Catcher sy5 <.
1 Last year the Seals were handicapped
BY lack Of good catching, both from an
| offensive and q defensive standpoint.
Brooks caught good ball at times, and
so did Sepulveda. But no contending
club ever worried along with good
| catching some of the time. II has to
be there from gun to tape.
i
year, and Sepulvcda never was. Baker
win hit around ,270 in this league,
a mark that Johnny Bassier, Of the
Angels, win probably top.
They Have Improved
The question Of Bakers assistant
has not been decided Wolverton will
carry but two ,eatchers. Sepulveda,
with the good example set by Baker,
may catch better than he did last
season. Hall, youngster, is green,
and in his practise games has shown
no signs of being able to throw ac-
curately to the bases. Halls advan-
tage over Sepulveda lies in his wal
lop, and his pep Besides, Hi can
outrun Louie.
i All things considered, no matter
who grabs the second catcher's job,
the Seals will be stronger in that de-
partment than last year.
At first base is Phil Koerner. Phil
can hit. And hitting covers multi
tude of sins, Koerner is steady
fielder, though not brilliant. He Is NO
speed merchant, but the combination
Of speed and long smuggling ability
rarely 60 together. At first base the
Seals will be far stronger than they
u were at any time last year, and this
! huge gap is stopped up.
Jerry Is Jerry
: Third base will be guarded by Char
: ley Pick, late of the Athletics, Pick
is no experiment He is one OF those
peculiar individuals who are - bears
in the class IA leagues, hut who never
! seem 10 get started in the bigher.nps,
Pick, on his preliminary game display,
: looks to be an erratie sort of fielder,
, but then he has been handicapped by
I a sore arm.
i Pick can hit any sort of pitching.
| He hunts well, is good hit-and-run
man and is fast. He looks to be as
7, acceptable third baseman as Ducky
/ Jones ever was. as ii
\ Roy Corhan At Short s
Roy Corhan will play short. Roy has
5 adopted new style Of training this
, spring and he believes that he is In for
I a great year. At all events the short
field viii be taken care of from the
: opening day Hollywood is an ideal un
r derstudy for Roy.
Wolverton's outfeld, whether il il
0 Schaller, Ellis and Fitzgerald, Schaller
{ MaiseI and Fitzgerald, Schakler, Calv,
> and Fitzgerald, Calvo, Ellis and F'itz
Igerald, or the other possible combina
2 tions, win be we'll taken care Of. Any
Of the above trios'WflI hitS IA "a Vinit ri
! well or better than any other outfieit
= In the league. With the single excep
= tion OF Calyo, each of the Seal quinte
! is an experienced class "A ball player
! Caivo is known in baseball circles as
! PLAYER who is "base,hit crazy" ia
: cinto will get over this in time, but !
3 may help to keep him ON the bepcl
when the Seals start the season.
q OF the Seal pitchers, Steen an,
d Baum are known quantities Oldham
3 Erickson and Kallio are problems. Old
/. ham ond Erickson have the Ustuff
and should help the team this season
L Kallio finished strong in the few game
}. he pitched last year. To an outsider, !
+ looks as though the pitching stan
the weakest point Of the team,