New-York tribune., 1918-03-06

Ii would be in no wise astonishing if
Of Colonel Rupert before Huggins
players Friday morning.
Higgins is very hopeful of pressing
Plank into line. He believes this dean
of the pitching fraternity will win his
share of games in the approaching
campaign. lie believes. further, that
Plank viii be invaluable as coach Of
southpaw pitchers, a variety Of tosser
which is absolutely indispensable in
the American League against clubs
which present such deadly left-hand-
ed sluggcrs as Chicago, Detroit, Cleve-
land and BOSTON can show. When the
Collinscs, Jacksons, Cobbs and Speak
ers are stopped short their teams, as
a rule. stop short with them.
1uggins fell heir to some pretty
he changed his address from St Louis
to New York. Indeed, it was the gen.
eral impression that his predecessor,
Bill Donovan, had been cursed with
too much twirling talent. In order to
j land Derrill Pratt. greatly needed to
assure an iniield OF major pretensions,
Hug sacrificed Nick Cullop and Urban
Shocker. He also dispensed with sew
eral youngsters, such as Piercy, Brady.
Tlpple and Markle, in the interests of
economy.
Nine Yankee Pitchers
Presuming that Plank recants on his
announced retirement, as now. seems
most likely, Huggns will have avail
of nine pitchers. Ordinarily this would
strike one as a rather meagrc band.
Teams have been in the habit annually
of taking practically double that num-
Der to the Southland. Managers gam
blcd heavily on the possibility of one
or two of the excess assortment COM
ing through 1t was an easy matter,
with many minor leagues operating, to
dispose of surplus pitchers who had
had the benefit of spring training with
a major league outfit.
This season Huggins has very wisely
trimmed his corps to a minimum be-
fore setting out for the South Blu.
he has minimzed. likewise. the specu-
lative end of the proposition. Of the
probable nine pitchers to be seen at
the Macon training camp only three
arc rockies These are Herb Thormah
len, Ed Monroe and Bob McGraw.
Monroe and McGraw have had the
benefit of one spring trip with the
Yankees.
Thormahlen, Slim Love and George
Mogrldgc will be the southpaw de-
tachment Of the Yankees. in any event.
until we'll toward midsummer. r.
Plank reports he will not be called
upon until hot weather sets in. Thor
mahlen. who pitched wonderful ball
for Baltimore of the international
League last season. showed rare prom
Use as a member of the Yankees late
last fall. He lacks in experience only
Huggins is of the opinion that a man
of Plank's experience could easily
knock all the rough edges off this
youngstcr. Love and Mogridge arc
more experienced than Thormahlen.
Each is possessed of wonderful natu-
that steadiness which marks the mas
ter. course of instruction under
Professor Plank should fit Mogridgc,
Love and Thormahlen for all the early
thanded pitching the Yankees will
require, in tho opinion of Manager
Miller Huggins.
No Cause for Worry
The Yankee leader is not worrying
a whit over the right handed division
of his box corps. From what he has
learned of their work in the Inter
national League last season, Huggins
believes the giants Monroe and Nc
upon to assist the oldtimers, Caldwell,
Shawkey and Russell.
One thing is certain. Higgins is
going to stand pat on his present
pitching corps. He is still negotiating
for Tillic Walker. But even for this
much sought outtielder he would not
part company with any of the pitchers
now at his command.
bulletin issued last night by Jo-
scph McCready. secretary Of the Base
ball Writer'S Association of America,
conveys the intelligence that active
members Of this association will be
exempt from war tax this year. In
which connection tho following copy
of an official letter is submittcd:
'Traasury Department
coffee Of
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL
"Mr: Joseph NJ. McCready, Sec
Baseball Writer'S Association of
America.
"4O4 Keith's Theatre Building,
philadelphia, Penn.
''In further reply to your letters
Of January 10. is and February 20,
you are advised the department.
u 'u "" ~! uoi 10 ,haI no TAX ap-
plies to admissions to the space re-
served in baseball parks for the use
OF members of the Baseball Writers
Association of America and tcle-
graph writer's reporting the baseball
game, admission to which is gained
by cards issued by the association
and not on passes issued by the
league or club.
Respectfully
"DANIEL c. ROPER;
'('Omn1i iOporv