Evening star., 1918-01-31
GRIFFTTHMAY TAKE TRIP SOUTH
TO ARRANGE FOR SPRING CAMP
MANAGER Anxious to Settle Question of
Training Place Boston Fans Err in
Picking McInnis for Second Base.

professional sport for the period of the
war, and Carrigan also is said to have
expressed a willingness to return as
manager to help the club 'in emer-
gency."
But while doubt exists regarding the
managership the question of who will
play second base in Barry's stead is all
sett1ed-in the minds of Boston fans
seconded and unanimously elected to
| the keystone sack position by the Fen
way Park bugs, who have it doped that
with Hoblitzell on first, the former
Mackman at second, Scott at short and
the veteran Larry Gardner playing
Athletics, the Red Hose will have a
well-balanced and experienced infield
for the 1918 campaign.
In wishing Barry's territory on Nc
lnnis Boston fans and critics cite the
fact that Stuffy broke in with the
Mackmen ten years ago as a shortstop,
and jump at the conclusion he will
make bang-up second baseman. They
seasons-190S, 1909 and 191O-he re-
ceived schooling with the Mackmen
as a shortstop. They apparently dis
regard the fact that since 1911 he has
played no other position than first
base, where he has few peers and prob
ably no superiors, and that in the one
trial he had at second basing Stuffy
proved a grand shine. This was in
1915. when Connie Mack sold Eddie
Collins collins to s the White sox and obtained
slowed up to marked degree and
could not cover the large amount of
territory necessary for a second base
man to guard. His ability to hit and
wide knowledge of the game made him
a valuable man for the club if the
right place in the lineup could be
found for him, however, and first base,
where he had had some experience and
where he would not have to cover so
much ground as at second. was de-
the veteran. In pursuance of this plan
McInnis was shifted to the keystone
sack for practice, and he appeared in
number of scrub games in the spring
practice three years ago, with the
result that Manager Mack and other
interested observers agreed that as q
second baSeman McInnis was one OF
the best first sackers that ever drew Oh
mitt. In the three years that have
elapsed since McInniS has become even
more convinced that the initial sack
is his natural position, and it is ex-
ceedingly doubtful if the new manager
of the Sox. regardless of who he may
be. will experiment with one of the
best first basemen the game ever de
| veloped in an effort to make him over
into a second sacker. 1t would seen
better judgment for Hoblitzell to try
to fill Barry's shoes than to remove
MCIHn1S from q pOS1IlOn III W uiCH HE
work leaves little room for improve
ment.
AS far as is known, none of the
| major league clubs will pay part OF
the salaries of players in the service OF
Uncle Sam. Recently a story was cir
culated to the effect that Owner Eb-
bets of the Brooklyn team had prom
| ised those of his men who enlisted or
were drafted that he would pay them
half of the amount they would have
received for performing in uniforms OF
the Dodgers. Yesterday Ebbets made
the announcement that he had given nc
| such promise and that the Brooklyn
| club was in no position financially to
consider such an arrangement. Last
season was none too prosperous for the
FlatbuSh organization, and instead OF
providing for absent players the stock
| holders are making every effort to
pare expenses.
Last season a scheme was devised by
Cutshaw, Coombs and Daubert whereby
the families of drafted players might
in case of necessity, be aided The
club gave $500 and the fans an equal
amount. this money now being in the
custody of Coombs. Ebbets wanted to
arrange for post-season series with
the Yankees for the benefit of the fund
but the players objected to any ar
rangement whereby they would not
share individually and Immediately in
| the proceeds of such a series, and in
disgust EbbetS gave up the scheme