Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-23
TORONTO STAYS HERE
FOR TWO MORE GAMES
''rs' Homc Series Ends Early Next
"eek-Bcttcr Breaks OF Game
Will Boost Standing.
PLAYERS SHOW IMPROVEMENT
PITCHERS Regarded rs Best Located
Here In Years-Catciing staff Is
adequate = Inficld Shifts Give
Strength-Outfielde Must Hit.

richmond enters tho second week of
"a" schedule to-day in m,hh better
shape than that IN which it inaugu-
rated the race last Tuesday. The pitch
ing STAFF. believed 20 be ,onc Of the
nest that a local club has had In sew
"ral years. is rounding into shape. and
me mems arms are gaining sufficient
strength 10 permit them going the en-
IRE route. The tendency tn weakness
"ur'ng tho last frames which several
manifested last week is natural one
mat VIII he overcome as the hurlers
gain additional practice
Not only arc the pitchers doing bet
yer "nd more effective work. but the
'lelderS also are showing steady i'm
pr"Fcm"nt with each game. The shift
ing OF Mooers 10 shortStop while stein
brenners arm ts bad has given in
creased defensive powers. and it is not
Improbable but that the youngstcr viii
remain thor" for the time being. As
soon as "Stc!ncy's" arm improves Il is
possible that Billy Smith may try him
At second.
Hack Eihel is doing excellent field
ing thus far, and so. too. is Captain
t"d McDermott Several Of the cr-
f"rF credited against him. as well as
other infclders on both the Richmond
ana opposing teams. might have been
prevented had tho grounds been in bot
ter condition. or course. il viii re-
Guire some little time before tho dia-
nond Is in the best of shape bu, In
INC meantime many Of the Clouts that
result In errors on the part OF the
h"id"rs primarily arc tho fault Of the
ground. and not that ~ the ficidcra
bl1t"lfs appearance" in right field
"lso seems 10 have given strength 10
tn" club. Bruce has been doing c.-
c"l!crt folding. but since the league
"noniuc has not been hitting lie has
hcrn hanging back from the pan in
IN fs.it
~ lie appears 10 have considerable
ability. and 81 is the hope Of Billy
smith that he Will develop into real
"Ntcr-g ga rdncr. However he will have
10 improve in his hitting II he Is to
remain actively N the game.
In lIanford and Clemens. richmond
has pair Of corkin- folders. barring
Clemens inability I" handle ground
balls. hut neither OF these men is hit
Ting as he should The offensive
strength Of club rests primarily ia,
us outfeld. and unless those men hit
ana hit often. as we'll AZ hard. tho club
rs going to lose games no matter now
good tho defensive work Unoni .ial
"at,iug figures f,r tho team show that
'I'lnons X IN" only ou;iieidcr. playing
In majority OF the games. who Is hit
ing we'll. Hitting. however. Ike field.
Ing. requires practice. and Billy Smith
has the utmost confidence in his gard
nerS 10 come through.
The catching stan is in good hands
and Bill reynolds has aided greatly
In the offensive Of the team. kohler
playing In "a fcHv games. has not struck
a batting streak yet. but lie APP
pears to have ability as swat;cr
with the breaks all against them
during the first games. the .ocal club
was rather lucky 10 annex two Of the
nix played Several times il appeared
they had other contents s.w.d up.
hut crra,ic work on the part OF
hclder or pitcher. combined with mis-
takes on the part of the uIuprcS.
snatchcd the decision from them.
Toronto viii remain here for games
to-day and tomorrow after wly.h
Montreal appears for the remainder OF
tho week. The first home series viii
end May ! against buffalo. All OF
these teams. Judged from tho league
standing. arc about in tn. same class
as Richmond at the present time and
with slight Improvement in the
breaks of the game. the local clui,
should be able to boost their standing
considerably before taking the road