New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-29
CALDWELL'S SLUMP
FATAL TO YANKEES
Higgins Not Cheeeergeed As Big Eel
low Fails to C>ne Through

New York, April 29.-Whether the
Yankees will amount to anything
TINS season hinges almost entirely on
whether Slim Caldwell's arm will
come back and show any of its old
cunning. With one strong pitcher to
build a staff around two fair men in
Russell and Mogridge, and Love and
Thormahlen in reserve, the Yankee
sluggers should knock out enough
runs TO keep the clubs head above
the 500 mark and fighting some
where in tbs first division. But if
Caldwell is through as 9, topnotcher,
leaving Russell and Mogridge to car
ry the staff along, the clubs seems
doomed for another second division
campaign, despite it's terrific offense-
1t seems o sad travesty of fate that
Caldwell, who at his best could lose
more to 1 and to games than
any three men in the league, should
be off his gear when his club is aver
aging six runs a game for him. Cald-
weld has started three games but has
not finished one of them. All these
games were lost, the scores being
to g. to and to 5. a few years
ago the Yankees would score five
runs for Caldwell in a month, and
them in himself. With scoring, like
the Yanks have done for Ray this
sp~5a" lie would have stood II the
very apex of American League pitch
ers. Now that he gets the runs Rays
arm is in poor condition.
Whether Caldwell is suffering only
from spring sore arm or Is nearing
the end of his useful career IL one OF
Huggins leading perplexit!es. Cald-
we'll Is now so years OF age and
should still be In his prime, but his
rather surreptitious career was hard
ly conducive of pitching longevity.
Yanlxs' Defence Erratic.
Much has been written of the
Yankee pitching weakness, but II
must be admitted that the entire
teams defence has been far from
smooth Pratt especially is a big dis
appointment as a fielder at second
base Statistics show that during
Pratt's career in the American
League he has averaged more chanc-
es at second base than any other
second baseman in his league, even
having a higher percentage of 2hanc-
les than Eddie Collins. But so FAR
Pratt's infield work has reminoed ore
of Doc Cooks outfelding-he never
seems 10 10 SuIO VI iiio oAOoiANN' ~
it is with Pratt, you hope he fields the
ball clearly, but expect him to boot
it or throw it wildly.
The Boston Red Sox are having an
easv time in the American League
But to date the Sox have picked en-
tireIy on the tai1end Athletics of last
wear and the Yankee opponents OF
pitching frightfu1ness. A club with
four strong, reliable boxmen like
Bush. Ruth Leonard and Mays has
tremendous advantage over clu5
with pitchers like the Yankees. The
Boston infield, with several expert
ments, is doing nicely. Strunk Is
PLAYING in Boston like a Speaker. Nc
Tnnis is doing real we'll at third and
shean's all around play at second has
been surprisingly good.
DESPITE the fact that almost the
entire Cleveland club was i'll last
week, the Indians continue to show
the best form in the West, though
the White Sox are beginning to find
themselves. Claude Williams, the
Young left handler, has been doing
some great work. Days of idleness,
due to bad weather, has stalled the
Detroit club, and it's pitching staff
seems no stronger than before. IL
also has suffered from the absence of
The Browns, after making an impress
siva start in their opening game at
chicago again are behaving like the
nIain garden variety Of st. Louis
Browns.
Phillies' Work Features.
The sensation Of the National
league is the Philadelphia club. me
Giants are quite a bit of a sensation
themselves and their feat In winning
nine straight games before Brooklyn
stopped them last Saturday was not
| to be despised. But that was expected
of the Giants. They were the one best
bet in the National league, team
of veterans, who had not lost a sin
gle valuable player in the draft,
with the pitching staff strengthened
and the rejuvenated Doyle playing
the game of his life at second base.
But the Phillies were expected to
he the fall guys of the National league
this year Deprived Of their best
pitchers of last year, Alexander,
Rixev and Bender their former star
catcher. Killefer, and the speedy CEN
for fielder Paskert, also among the
missing. nothing but gloom, thick
Gloom. could be seen for the PhilHes.
Their pitching staff was expected to
he a Joke, but instead their minor
league acquisitions, Hogg and Main,
are performing in wonderful style,
md Mayer and Oeschger are pitch
Ing better than ever before Whether
rifching against the Brooklyns and
I1ostons have made these pitchers look
20 good remains to be seen.
THE Brooklyns presented a sad
rneetac1e last week. Nothing seemed