Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-22
FORSYTHE'S LEAP
CRIPPLES ROURKES
May Get Away to Bad Start
Owing to Hole in the
Right Garden,
REST OF TEAM LOOKS GOOD
By FRED S. HUNTER.

by rHED D. HUN Elk.
Cy Forsythe's unexpected and
unannounced brodie to the Arizona
copper league may so seriously handi-
cap the Rourkes that Pas hopefuls
will get away to bad start on the
1917 flight for the we'll known PEN
nant.
The absence of the eccentric Cy
makes bad hole in the outer garden.
Forsythe had been playing the sun
aeld in the Western league for half
\ dozen years and he knew how to
cattle old Sol to fare-you-well. As
a result he made pretty fair right
fielder even though he could not be
placed in the sensational class and he
occasionally committed mental mis-
cues which cost dearly.
1t is the offensive strength, how
ever, which has been weakened by
Cy's desertion. John McGraw once
said of Forsythe that he could hit
800 in any league. And John was
right During his long career i'll the
Zehrung loop Cy never failed to land
below the coveted mark.
If Forsythe had chosen to leap two
weeks ago Rourke would not have
even been annoyed. 1t would have
been comparatively simple matter
to procure new man. He probably
could have landed an athlete who can
hit as well as Cy, field better and is
possessed of more active noodle
that could be depended upon at criti-
cal times.
Cannot Wait.
Now, however, Rourke will have to
take what he can get. He needs
man at once and can't wait to make
selection. Unless he is extremely for
tunate the Omaha magnate will be
unable to find at first the man he
wants with the consequence that it
may be several more weeks before he
will have his pennant machine in
working order.
The absence of Forsythe lost Fri
days game in Denver. Four of the
Denver runs can be chalked up to
Cyrus. Young Pete Lyck tried to
play right field, but he wasn't equal
to the task. Lyck is catcher, but he
was the only man that could be used.
Johnny Watkins, the utility man,
has an infected finger. He couldn't
play in Denver. He occupied the gar
den yesterday despite the wounded
digit.
Watkins cannot fill the position
though. Johnny is in inhelder. He's
a good inhelder, but he falls short as
an outfelder and, again, he's very
weak hitter.
Until a new men is obtained the
Rourkes are likely to encounter trou-
bic and even then until just the right
man is procured, they will not be up
to the desired strength.
May Get First Sacker.
II is believed Rotrke will try to
get first baseman. Brokaw, who is
holding down the initial cushion, is
an outhelder of considerable class.
He is as good fielder as either
Smith or Thompson, which means
the league boasts no better, and he
hits hard and consistently. He's fast
on the bases, too, and smart ball
player.
He is not a wonder at first, not
now, at least. The infeld seems to
confuse him occasionally. Brokaw,
with more experience, no doubt will
become an A No. 1 first sacker, but
he has already delivered the goods
as an outfelder, so it is believed Pa
will endeavor to get first sacker and
switch Hal into the outheld.
Except for the fatal weak spot in
right, the Rourkes looked pretty
sweet in their two games against
Denver. Their mental work was
little slow in each game, but that is
expected the first games of the sea-
son when the rockies and other new
men have not yet become accustomed
to the style of their new mates.
Shag Goes Good.
Shag Thompson played great ball
both games. He staged some fine
catches. hit the ball hard apd ran
bases like second edition of Ty
Cobb. He swiped four bases all told,
but the Denver official scorers over
looked one of them and he only got
credit for three.
Earl Smith seems to be better than
ever, while Burg and Krug are play
ing the same consistent game that
characterized their work last year.
Harold lrelan is playing great ball at
second, fielding sensationally and
smuggling the grenade at all times.
Omaha fans are likely to forget
Ernie Kreugcr after they watch Tony
Brottcm a while He certainly is
sweet catcher He is like a machine
behind TIE bat and he has the harnr
faculty of learning opposition batter5'
weaknesses. Few bases will be stolen
on Tony this year. And he hits 'cm
lust as hard as Ernie did. He poled
home run over the left field fence
in Denver and that left field wall in
the Mile High city is long way out.
Tho h,riers aDpear IN he ip ooo1.