New-York tribune., 1918-03-30
Y Yankee Manager
lnGreat Need
OF Pitchers
New York Americans Trying
to Develop Dependable
Box Talent
By Charles A. Taylor

MACON, Ga, March 29.-Languid
Lank Love, of the Yankee pitching
staff. was the centre of attraction at
the bail park this afternoon, and most
appropriately he occupied the centre of
the diamond. The present weakened
condition of the twirlng aggregation
has forced Manager Higgins to try ex-
IRENE measures with Love, who has
shown every qualification of winner
save for his general Indifference and
all-round loose -jointedness.
Thoroughness being one of the
watchwords of Hug, he mustered a
squad of four men besides himself to
put the slim one" through his PAGES.
Miller placed Ray Caldwell at Loves
right in the vicinity Of No. 4, while
the manager took up his station at the
left of Languid Lank. Pat O'Connor
was instructed to guard the plate and
receive the slants Of Slim. Znn Beck,
armed with q bat, stood at the rubber
facing Love and his right and left
bowers.
"Now." says Huggins to Slim, "show
US your fast one" Slim obeycd by
seven-ifoot, stretch and sprawl and then
shot the ball to O'Connor. "Ray, get
in there commanded Huggins. "and
illustrate your method of speeding one
up to the plate" Ray, the personiica
tion of ease and grace, did as bid.
Large Doses Of Advice
Then Huggins and Caldwell started
Love was subjected to a general maui
ing to get all his kinks frightened up,
while large doses of advice and in
struction were poured into his ears.
After Slim had made about fifty throws
to the plate a faint imitation of Cald-
wells style could be dscerned. pro-
vided the observing eye was of the
keenest. 1t is understood that this
was only the beginning of long
course in the art of pitching mapped
out for Slim. 1t is going to cut into
his mornings and afternoons fearfuly,
as Love delights IN playing second base
or leaning up against the right field
fence and reaching up to stop the ball
hit there from going over On the rail
road track whenever the men are hav-
ing batting practice. He will in the
future have to put in all his spare time
IN some corner of the field, trying to
attain the perfection and poise of a
Caldwell. A tough assignment.
The leading citizens of Macon. having
heard that Huggins was dissatisfied
with their town as g training camp,
sent delegation to the Yankee man
ager to-day informing him that the
city and state were going to spend
100000 to improve the ball park. The
plan is to have the clubhouses under
the grandstand instead of, as at pres
ent, located some distance from the
playing field. The grounds will also be
enlarged and, in fact, everything done
TO make the Yankees more comfortable
OF course, the Yankee management will
make no decision as to next year at
this time. 1t can be said in favor of
Macon that the best of weather has
prevailed since the Yankees have been
here, and the diamond, as it is, is
probably the best in the South, east of
the Mississippi
The six-inning practice game was
again called off as result of Slim
Loves long lesson and the fact that
Huggins wished to give his pitchers
another day of rest. Tomorrow the
Yankees will play the final game with
Camp Wheeler on the Macon grounds.
The easy victories scored by the big
leaguers against the two soldier mines
camp athletic authorities, and they
have picked a team from the entire
camp to face the Yanks tomorrow
Several former minor league stars will
be in the visitors lineup.
Colonel Rupert. after being confined
to his room for two days with cold
walked to the park this afternoon and
watched the drill. He is planning to
return to New York tomorrow morn
ing.
Whereas the brilliant Unfolding dis
played by Baker. Peck, Pratt and Pipp
was the feature of yesterdays practice
to-day's work was marked BY clean.
heavy hitting. The regulars all had
their eyes on the ball, and as rule
drove it on a line to the outer gardens.
OF the new men Znn Beck and Lamar
showed up particularly we'll with the
stick.
Higgins is paying considerable at
tention to Lamar's style at the plate
and Is endeavoring to develop still fur
ther his batting talent.