Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-17
MUST WATCH ROBINSON
TITLE AND PLAYERS GIVE
HIM A SLIGHT ADVAN TAGE
nut Wholesale SnInry Cuts Probably
VIII DcnrrSs Spirits of Nrm-Others
Center Fight on Dodgers.

NEW YORK, March ls-Uucia Will
bert Robinson and his Brooklyn p6d-
gers deserve "a big share % cous;dora-
ton IN string up the coming National
League race
They viii continue as champions un.
I'll some team knocks tho props from
under their claims. and j. IL tradi-
tlon"l 10 inquire on = championship club.
c.ardlcss OF prospects
The dodgers started in at the head
OF tho column carly Las, May. and the"
stuck 10 ,lt' lead until tic race was
decided IN their favor. never once be-
my pulled from first place. They viii
have stronger opposition this "car II
indications count f0r anything. because
III" Giants ar" heavy fnyoritcs "a, tho
present writing. Eu; many Things can
happen in tho course Of 81 baseball sea-
son. and there is n" telling what Your
Uncle Wilbcrt ANA his boys may &C
c"mplish
baseball folk who nave follow cd Who
'i"inSs Of the DodEcr outn, during tho
of scason arc inclined 10 believe that
tho wholesale cuts in salaries, which
caused the members 81 tho champions
10 nhik at signing their contracts wil!
d"prcss the spirits of tho team I,
isn't customary fur tho owners If :,
champion club /" ~. III SALARIES ri..h,
and LETT, ana tho players may lose in
t"rcs,.
Iiut thor" is another arsumcn, 10
be considered.
AS champions OF thor league. tn.
members OF tho podgcrs arc some
what proud Of themselves even though
they failed to show much ,lasa in the
WORLDS series. And when the PLAYING
season gets under way the individual
performers may be expected to look
after their laurcls. for every ball PLAYER
has the future to consider. and ono bad
season may he enough 10 rclcsatc an
athlete 10 the minors.
Sizing il up from both angles. !, an
pears that tho Dodgers will hc between
I two fires. 'rhcy VIII resent tho cuts
, 'hcy have received in salarics bur
they Will also keep 4 weather eye on
! their records. Much rili depend on
the ability OF Uncle Wilbcrt Robinson
|" Keep up the spirits of his / On. Ana
/ Uncle Wilhert is generally recognized
/ ~ wizard in tho business Of holding
( a ball club together.
INC dodgers have como in for
GOOD share Of criticism during tho off
season Their iuiicld combination is
ronsih"rcd weak by most Of the critics
ana II Will he up TO Hobby to patch
; up tho hole i'll his defense lie rIlI
nave all ~ his regulars at the train
l"E camp IN Hot Springs. and he hopes
l." bring out couple Of Youngsters
! Who VIII he able to stop into tho shoes
/ "t IN" players who crack. Fabriuuc
/ me young shortstopper secured from,
I Providence. looks like the best :nncId
/ recruit Of the bunch. and he il cy
, pccted To make good. SO Ivan olso,
/ may fnd himself on tho bench nr
| headed toward the minors Fitzsin,
. mons and Malone arc two infjeld 70
"ruits and Smyth. O'Mara and C;etz u.iI,
gel their chances. or At least this u,.
ltobhys intention before he started for
Hot Springs 'or
/ II Jake Daubcrt gets away on ,bo
/ right foot this season witbo,,, g.,
1uries. Mcrlilc may be given n sim,
| at one OF the Other iniicld positions
second base or shortsiop. and tut
sha" and Mowcry will he in The first
. Tor regular jobs.
Fobhy is looking for yeoman service
| from some OF his pitchers who did moi,
show to their best ADVANTAGE last sea,
son, and as whole his twirline sta r.
Is strong. There arc few baseball men
in tho business to-day who have ANY,
| thing on Uncle Wilbcrt in the business
! OF handling pitchers. The staff in.
! cludes Appleton. Cadore. Cheney,
Coomb.. Dell burning. Mails. Mar
| guard. Pfcffcr and Sherrod Smith
With Miller. Meyers snyder ana
| Wheat in tho catching department and
| Zach Wheat StcnGel, Myers. Johnston
| and Hickman to fight ii out for the
garden spots the Dodgers arc pretty
J we'll fortified. Few OF the bascball
scribes arc willing 10 consider the
majority agree. that they can be
counted upon to make fight II Robin.
son can keep heir spirits up.