The Washington times., 1918-02-16

The basis Tor the New lork-DeirOlt
chAtter Is the overabundance OF pitch
ing talent with the Yankees and Its
corresponding absence in the City Of
Straits Hughey Jennings must have
pitchers II his team is to make a stab
for the flag. Miller Higgins must
have at least one smuggling outfieid"r
If his team il TO be in the hunt at all.
And right there you have the basis
for the trade talk now occupying the
minds Of New York fans.
Ty Cobb will hardly he used in any
deal. His drawing powers are too
great in these troublous times. Fur
thermore, his contract Is still running
on, with no complaints from him or
Frank Savin.
II Heilmsn goes TO New York. II is
predicted that Dick Hoblitzel will be
taken from Boston and either play
with New York or with Detroit. De
Iroit will be given its choice Of Hobby
or wally Pipp. With a first baseman
will go pitchers and a large bundle
OF kale.
Eddie Ainsmith, Walter JoLnson's
battery partner ever since Mr..
''GsBby' Street, now training in an
engineer company at Fort Mycr for
SEINlEF IN ANTI AAAA AAiF ~ h-l4ilAb
ton club back in 1912. is likely TO give
nll other bsCkstOps in the American
League a hot race for the honor Of
catching the most games next sum
mer. Last year he took part in llg
contests behind the bat, giving him
fourth place for consistent endeavors.
Hank SEVERED and Ray Schalk each
took part in 139 games. with Steve
O'NPilI, OF the Indians, running third,
with & total OF 127 games. Then
comes Ainsmith, tho fiute-tenOred ter
ror of the diamond. with a lead q,
twenty-four games over Oscar
Stansge. his nearest competitor.
John Henry, now with the Boston
Braves. took part in ffty-nine games
behind the bat for the Grihmcn in
1917. with Ed Charity playing fewer
than fifteen and. therefore. failing to
get into the official records. Allow
ing sixty games for Henry and
Charity together in 1917, Ainsmith
is sure to catch hal! ~ them this
season, which will easily place him
in the front OF the leagues ca:chers
fAinsmith will nrnd only good
health and good luck in escaping in
juries TO be known as the Wash
angton clubs catching stan" He
thr!veS on hard work and il his man
aEer is right, should hit well when
he knows that he is in there all the
time
May Take YOunEEter.
II is quite within the realms OF
possibility that Manager Griffith will
pick up a young catcher to train for
work in the big show. Ed Charity
IS not a Mercury on the bases. nor
IS his arm as good as Title Walkers
He does Eeem able TO kill southpaw
pitching and hold his own fairly well
with the righthanders, so he stands
little chance OF being shunted off the
team. unless he figures in a deal, and
there Is none in sight involving him.
Charity will be the handy man on
the team, the ''Rippy Williams OF
1918"
The Cleveland Indians now stand q
good chance OF losing Bill Wambs-
EGnss, their crack second baseman.
Though married last June, the ex-
emption board at Fort Wayne declin-
ed to let him escape the draft. and he
has been placed in class IA. Wsmby's
father Is a Lutheran minister at Fort
Wayne.
Here's Some Bad News.
It's going TO cost the big league
clubs more to train this spring. Bar
ney Dreyfuss took a trip into Dixie
land and came back with the sad in
formation that the Southern landlords
are all riding high. charging the
highest rates and getting away with
It Every ball club will be charged
greatly increased rates" is what
Barney told his brother magnates in
New York.
It Is true that the San Francisco
club has offered 4 contract to Silent"
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