New-York tribune., 1918-03-10

first game of which will be played or
By the end of the present week every
one of the sixteen major league clubs
will be in training for the 1918 cham
pionship races. The Yankees and
Washington clubs of the American
League, or, rather, their advance guard,
have already established bases in Geor-
eia The New York Giants will set out
tomorrow morning for Marlin, Tex.
The baseball season of 1918, therefore,
NAV now be considered as officially
under way.
The teams. for the most part, are
we'll prepared for preliminary work.
Certainly there is no fault to find with
local conditions. David Robertson will
probably be the only Giant missing at
the Marlin training table. He is pass
ing up the game because of no dis
satisfaction with his employers, but be-
cause he has found way to be more
useful to the government.
Plank Expected in South
Miller Higgins, manager Of the
Yankees, who added batting strength
to his team through the acquisition of
Del Pratt and Ping Rodic, establishes
himself at Macon with practically every
veteran assured for 1918. The veteran
southpaw Eddie Plank has not yet &C
cepted terms, but it is believed he will
go South before the end of the week.
Wibert Robinson has practically his
full strength aligned. The veterans
left over from last season almost with
out exception have come to bat, as well
as most of the players Uncle Robbie
secured from other clubs during the
winter.
Burleigh Grimes. husky pitcher, of
whom much is expected by Robbie, and
who was secured in a trade from Pitts
burgh, signed his 1918 contract yester-
day.
The Giants, of course. will carry New
fork's best pennant hopes in the pros
pective campaign. for the team figures
quite as strongly as q year ago, and
that was strong enough to make show
of the field OF course, rival clubs
have strengthened, notably the Chicago
Cubs. Fred Mitchell has wonderful
pitching staff in Alexander, Vaughn
and Tyler, which will be greatly i'm
proved so soon as Phil Douglas is
ready to take his regular turn
This club has been further strength
ened by killfer and Paskert. If by
any chance Mitchell is able to land
Rogers Hornsbv he will have a team
10 command the utmost respect of the
Giants.
Unfortunately for McGraw a new
angle has developed which may direct
" affect his pcnnant calculations.
charlie Herzog. last years captain,
oalks at going to Boston. If he does
not report to the Braves by March Is
then the recent deal between these
clubs may be abrogated.
Herzog Demanded Shift
Doubtless the New York club might
stand on its rights and insist upon
herzog fulfilling contract which was
sod TO the Hub magnates. 1t was
herzog, himself, who insisted upon be-
ing traded, and he named Boston as
enc or the three clubs agreeable to
MN. This stand, however, would leave
boston without 4 much desired in
lelder for a time, at least, as Stall
ihgs could not play a contract at short
held And under the terms Of the
ted
Whether or not an abrogaton of the
lfade IN question would seriously af-
iect the Giants chances, the fact re-
.Ralns that II would leave McGraw in
a somewhat awkward position. True,
vac would get back Jimmy Smith, a
ia'her handy sort Of second baseman,
1ut then ne would have to give back
Jess Barnes, fine right-handed pros
pect, and Laughing Larry Doyle, who
expected 70 do some of his oldtime
clubbing. Doubtless, too, cancella-
non Of the trade would affect the
morale Of the two teams involved.
President Harry NJ Hampstead, of
me Giants, declares he will not put
any pressure on Uerzog to have him
''seport to Boston. But McGraw says
asa, II Herzog insists upon returning
. aew York he viii be allowed TO cool
ms heels on the bench until his CON
1sct expires next fall McGraw de-
cares very bluntly that Herzog will
ssi"ays be persona non grata; that if
ae .. comes back he will be treated with
me Indifference accorded Charlie
1aast after the hare Drained mascot
ss!used TO recognize dismissal. In the
ggpinlon even Of his stanchest friends,
nnsfzog Is playing a rather mean part.
DeYsiopments Of the case will be
NaNned with great interest this week.