Omaha daily bee., 1918-03-25

declared he never had said word to
a player that season and. inside OF 20
minutes, he stopped a player coming
from the club house and told him
what he should have done in the
game. He was honest. He merely
didn't understand. Nor did the play
ers understand,
Last year Mitchell took bunch
OF tripe and make it look like char
lotte rousse for some time, proving
himself capable and brainy manager
by his ability to keep a weak team
hustling. Tie Cubs had weak and
spotty ball club working under a
handicap. yet they played a brainy,
resourceful game OF ball.
Has Better Club.
This season Mitchell has a much
better club. His chief weakness last
year was in catching, and his pitching
staff, fairly strong even then. worked
under a handicap all year. This sea-
son Killifer, who is perhaps the best
catcher in the National. stops the gap
through which many games escaped.
His pitching staff will be the best
in the league provided it is not broken
by the draft OF course II Alexander
is taken into the army its strength is
much cut
The outheld will be good enough
for a championship team and we'll
fortified against accidents. But the
inheld presents big problem. 1t
looks as il Mitchell will open with
Merkle 1T first, Kilduff as second,
Hollacher at short and Deal at third.
Merkle is no longer a satisfactory first
baseman because he is wearing under
strain and cannot go the entire route.
He is all right il given rest intervals.
Rollie Zeider, one Of the best utility
men in the business, can understudy
at first very, successfully and, al
though it is not generally known,
George Tyler, the pitcher, would be
one OF the best first basemen in the
country il he could be spared as a
pitcher. As a first baseman he prob
ably would hit we'll He always has
been a dangerous hitting pitcher
As to Kilduff.
Kilduff Is gritty, hustling, h9sing
little fellow with lots OF pep art he
is dangerous as a hitter, although he
has not shown consistency. Ee is
young, and New York blundeted
when it let him 60. Hollacher con- es
from the coast as the highest tor'ed
shortstop ever sent east. If he can
hit (and they vow he CAM Mitthelps
| shortstop position is filed. Ho'lacher
was touted even when playing .Hmi
pro ball around st. Louis as A Zig
league prospect and his play in the
minors was wonderful.
Besides these there are Zeider who
can play any inheld position, Pechous
Lear and Workman. formidabl" ar
raw of reserve talent. Workman = a
wonderful fielder, but never has
shown more than symptoms OF hit
ting.
| The success or failure of the team
is largely up to the owners and to
Mitchell. 1t is stated that President
| Weegman intends that Mitchell shall
have entire control and that any .rtcr-
ference with the players by others
will be stopped.
/ Mitchell's big job will be RICH: al
i the start to smooth over the ill-fecHne
existing among a large number o1
players. on the salary cutting ques'
ton. From what | can learn among
the players there appears to be more
resentment against the mannr' II
which things were done than in tht
actual cutting. Also some one vii
have to explain why $250,000 is avail
able to buy players and non" fo'
; salaries. One player writes sarcasti
cally saying:
"He wants me to contribute atou
$l,500 of that $250,000 to hire some
one to try to take my job--and min'
, isn't stage money
Il However, the players genei all,
. realize that cut is necessary and atte
: the season starts the importance o
: these things dwindles.
: The Cubs, briefly. are team will
i attacking power enough to averag
: about three runs a game, whereas tn
|, league average is close to four II
other words Mitchell must develop
h defense almost a run game bette
: than the average to win. His inhel
: does not appear strong enough to d
r that, so it is up to the pitchers II
). has chosen his pitching staff espe
a cially to beat New York and CMc,n
b nati the teams that will outhi+ an
n outscore his club by the heaviest ~ al
IS gins, and, if he can stop them n
d handicap will not be so great
:. | (Copyright 1918, by the Bell Syndicate, he