Evening journal., 1918-03-28

league ball clubs as they appear in the
southern training camps. The clubs
training in Louisiana and Texas WIN
be discussed lrst.l
BY PAUL PURMAN.
In looking over the roster Of the 81.
Louis Browns this year, the student Of
baseball will End one Of the most puz-
cling situations any major league club
has presented for years.
The reason for this Is a number 0f
winter trades which makes the Browns
very different club from that which
finished the season last year.
Containing several stars OF the frst
magnitude. the Browns also present
some very weak features and Il remains
to be seen what the management OF
Fielder Jones can do to patch up these
weaknesses.
At the start Of the 1917 season the
Browns figured a very strong club.
Early IN the season several injuries
caused the loss OF many games and
later on the clubs morale was shattered
by internal dissenslon which Jones rem
edled during the winter by getting rid
OF the dissatisfied players.
do not attempt 10 say that the best
OF feeling has been restored on the
Browns. Il apparently has. but only
the stress Of a month or two OF cam
paigning will show whether or not
Jones and his men are on really good
terms.
Al the Shreveport training camp
there was no question from the nrst
OF the mems early efforts 10 make good
They worked out with plenty Of pep
and there was little or no loafns
II Is likely Jones will start the season
with Urban Shooker, Allen Sothoron,
Dave Davenport, Bert Gallla. Nick Cul-
lop and Grover Lowde-milk az his frst
string pitchers, and Byron Houck.
George Claim Rogers and Lefty Leineld
as relief men.
II Is a good pitching stan II Jones
can get the best out Of 70. Lowdermllk
should be one Of the great pitchers
OF the game. His one fault has been
that he lacked control. Bill Evans, the
American League umpire, and a great
Judge Of pitchers, told NE once that
Lowdermiik had more stun on the ball
than most OF the pitchers he had work
ed behind. Il Is said that Lowdermilk
learned control while working for Joe
Tinker at Columbus last wear.
Two years ago Nick Cullop was one
OF the best sOuthp8ws In the American
League. Last year he was not so sue
cessful, but he Is young and may come
around. Allen Sothoron started 1911
more promising than any recruit in the
league, but as the team went 10 pieces
he gradually lost his effectiveness Dav-
export Is a great pitcher when he Is
right. Shocker looked very promising
with the Yankees last year and Is
very fair prospect He declares his arm
this year Is In the best shape OF his
career.
Jones has a strong catching stan.
There are few catchers In the league
who have anything on SEVERED, either
mechanically or as a handler OF pitch
ers. He was handicapped last year by
having 20 do practically all the catch
Ing himself, but this year Will have the
able support OF Leslie Nunamaker.
Fielder Jones big problem comes IN
/ his infeld. He must develop a second
base combination out Of pair Of fail
ures or from recruits.
Joe Gedeon VIII probably be called
upon to play second base Gedeon is
a fast, clever infelder, but his battins
average usually Is a scandal. Fritz
Maisei, who has failed miserably since
[ he was Injured a couple OF seasons ago,
probably VIII start at short. II he can
not produce the proper punch. Ernie
Johnson. who played good ball with
/ the Browns last season, probably will
/ be called on.
At third the veteran Jimmie Austin
will be seen again. Austin Is a crack
| innelder. but is weak with the stick.
The inlmitable George Slsler, OF
/ course, Will play FIRST. Other inneld
possibilities are Pete Johns and Walter
Gerber.
The outneld presents another prob
/ lem. Jones picked up a good hitting
outnclder In Tim Hendrix and probably
viii play him with Kenneth Williams
/ and Earl Smith. Roy Demmitt is an
| other possibility. Demmltt has been up
before, but has always seemed 20 lack
something.
Altogether the Browns present the
big puzzle OF the league There's a
/ lot OF Ifs" connected with how they
will finish. II Jones pitchers pan out
anything like they dope out now and
] 10 hn naAnh srr IA 1nnnuH hoe, r.-f-