The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-06
FABER MAKES GOOD

pitcher.
 FABER MAKES GOOD
 l Last fall when Cicotte attempted to carry the entire burden of the world s series and weakened when the strain thrown upon him through the failure of Russell proved too great, Faber bad his chance The lack of ambition dlsap- peared. The big red-head looked like a different man. He was determined, confi- dent. cool and his ambition was aroused. I He pitched magnifcently, won, and those who watched him predicted that the worlds series had naue a great pitcher 1 of a good one. That was the gen. | eral opinion of baseball men-that the series had caused Faber to find himself and this year he would be the mainstay of the club, would relieve the veteran Cl- cotte of part of the heavy burden he has been carrying and enable him to pitch more effectively and less frequentiy Now the problem Faber is in the first call and may be summoned to the colors at any minute. If Faper IS called, the White Sox king row IS broken, and the pitching staff will De doubly hit. because Cicotte will eaten the great share of the burden ana ms winning percentage will be cut. Rowland has faith in some or ms youngsters, but no championship team
  pennant. Williams is improving, IS getting stronger and larger and will help.
 When we reach the figure dope. we can, in all probability, tell how long Faber will be with the team this sea son. If he can stay even half the year, the White Sox likely will figure as favorites in the race. The other problem is rather an ugly n T I,Axa a Weaver is a great ball player. Unless YOU watched him closely last year, you scarcely will realize what an improved player he is. He changed from the good to the great class. He can play either short or third. and he wants to play third Almost all shortstops want to play third base. It is the sofest job on the field and the most spectac- ular, and besides it is great arm saver. Weaver is in love With the third base job Rowland has Risberg and McMullin. McMullin got his chance last fall when Weaver was laid up with a broken bone, and he made so good at third base that, when Weaver re- covered McMullin was kept at third and Weaver sent to short, vice Rls- berg, and the team immediately start ed it's pennant winning rush.
 RISBERG SHOWS PROMISE Last spring, in the dope, figured that Rowland would be compelled to play McMullin at third and Weaver at short. Instead he sent Risberg to short, and Risberg, to be plain. blew up at the critical stage Of the year He started fighting himself, worrying and the strain hurt his playing. It was his first year as major leaguer ana he proved that he is comer and that. \ t- I fv-na fpn nervousness. he we'll be a, wonderful shortstop. Mechanically, he>,i is one of the best shortstops in the country now, despite a few technical faults Rowland's problem now is whether to play McMullin at third and Weaver at short. or listen to Weaver's desire and play him at third with Risberg at short.
 It is a vital problem. The question is whether McMullin is as good a ball player as he seemed to be last fall The boy has nerve, courage. and he is a fighting. aggressive player. He made a bad break, a Done" play dur inc his early career with the Sox that came near sending him back to the minors. He ldid not hit when he got h;s first chance. Then he came back, hit well. played we'll Cover a compara- l lively short period), and the fans are wild about him. Yet in that famous l game in the worlds series, Tn which Chicago came from pehind' peat the l Giants and practically won the series. McMuIlin made one of the worst plays ever saw in championship contest La play that practically put cicotte 1 out of the series, and which deserves i in my opinion, to rank with Zimmer-
 mans play in New York, or Faber's
 stal of third.
 The Giants were leading, Cicotte ], had come to the rescue of Russeh and was pitching his heart out try l ing to stop the Giants before they piled up commanding lead. The Giants had runners on first and third
 bases and one out-with no runs