New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-02
Yankees Full
OF Fight, Says
Col. Rupert
Club President Is Greatly
Pleased With Team
Showing at Macon
By w. /. Macbetl,


the New York American League Club,
Is back in the city after a week spent
with his club in training at Macon.
Ga, and glad of it. Not that he was
disappointed either with the prospects
OF the team or in the groundwork for
success, which mas already been laid
by Manager Miller Higgins. But the
Macon sun was so severe on the zero
tempered constitution of the colonel
that he had to spend most of his Macon
sojourn in bed.
Il saw very little of the Yankees, un-
fortunately" said Colonel Rupert yes-
terday afternoon. "but that little was
most reassuring. What impressed me
most was the fine team spirit Higgins
has inculcated into the ranks. His
lighting. hustling spirit is imbued into
the entire cast.
Those of you who have followed the
fortunes OF the Yankees" continued
the colonel, would never believe me
II | described the change that has come
over the players in the matter of dash
and pepper. You will just have to wait
and see for yourselves. Can you i'm
agine fighting, roaring, adjusting
Pipp, or Pcckinpaugh, or Baker? That
IS what you will see, all right, when
the team gets back. And this was no
spring color unless l am badly mis-
taken. l am pretty sure | can guar
antee my patrons fighting club under
an accomplishment, every one will
agree"
Puzzles Over Marsans
The colonel is at a great loss tn
understand the apparent indifference
of Outfielder Armando Marsans, the
fleet Cuban. The islander has no APP
parent reason to be at odds with the
club. He was treated most royalty and
ilberaliy after he had sustained
broken ankle shortly following his
transfer from the Browns last summer
I'VE haven't heard line from Mar
sans since he went to Cuba" said the
colonel. ut is too bad he has not had
the benefits of spring training. Hug
gins had planned to utilize Marsans's
well known speed on the field and on
the paths, for he now has hitting
combination in which speed will count
appreciably
eve are hopeful that Marsans will
be with US soon. Doubtless he will
report in good condition from q winter
OF baseball in Cuba. But he will have
to displace one of +he kids who have
shown aptitude at gardening. His Job
is no sinecure, either, can tell you.
Except possibly the pitching staff
the team is wonderfully improved over
last season, all the scribes who have
followed closely the work in Macon
tell me. There is no occasion for
great worry over the hurting corps.
but the loss of Bob Shawkey, of course.
will be felt. We were very glad to
give him to his country. Still it left
us rather short of veteran pitching ma
terial."
May Get Seasoned Right-hander.
THE young pitchers are very prom
Using, but lack experience Maybe we
VIII be able to secure a seasoned right
handler before the season opens, two
weeks hence. The southpaw depart
ment will be we'll taken care of by
Mogridge and Thornahlen, never fear.
And if Eddie Plank decides to come in
Higgins will be fortified against all
the heavy hitting left-handed combi-
nations which infest the American
"My visit to Macon" concluded the
colonel, turned out to be anything but
the holiday | had planned But, from
what ! heard at first hand am salts
fed. l think | can guarantee my pa
irons the best team we have boosted
since Captain Huston and / bought the
Yankees"
The National Commission has lust
handed down a decision favoring the
claim of the Oakland (Pacific Coast
League) club to the services of in
fielder Willie Stumpf, over that of
Spokane.
Stumpf, who was one of the Yankee
failures with Frank Chauce some few
years back, was sold by Spokane to the
Pittsburgh National League club. Oak
land protested the transaction, present.
ing priority claim to Stumpf's services.
The commissions ruling, just handed
down, favors Oakland's claim. But
Stumpf will not be denied his chance
with Pittsburgh. Barney Dreyfus, of
the Pirates, has been instructed to paw
to Oakland rather than to Portland.
the purchase price of this former
Yankee.
to it for hitters now that Zach Wheat
and Larry Lajoie both refuse to re-
port to the Dodgers. Word from the
West has Uncle Robbie in negotiations
with the Little Rock club for the pur-
chase of Ham Hyatt former Pirate
slugger. Hyatt would be used for util-
ity and pinch hitting purposes.
1t becomes more evident each season
that Charlie Herzog is a pretty shrewd
business man, irrespective of his ability
as an infelder. He is about to force
the Braves to give him $4,000 bonus
for extending his $4,000 contract over
the season of 1919. If that isn't high
finance the term is a myth.
OLD Matty pulled pretty smart trade
when he sent Dave Shean, an infielder,
to the Red Sox for pitcher George Fos-
ter. Foster, who was disgruntled with
his Boston lot, is very likely to prove as
great a winning factor as did big Fred
Toney last year. Competent pitching
was Matty's chief source of worry He
could well afford to trade the light hit
ting Shean for such finished article
as the Red Sox star