The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-10
.LOOKOUTS POSSESS
 ELEVEN HURLERS
 AND FOUR CATCHERS
Finn's Batterymen Present Most Formidable Offense Yet Seen in 'Nooga.
 Brown After a Job

Chattanooga, March 9.-(Special.) Notwithstanding that the army draft has kept Manager Mike Finn on the anxious seat all winter and the Look out chieftain Is not sure yet just who will be able to start the season from among his regulars, Sir Mike appears to be certain of getting a presenta- ble squad out of the material in hand. Eleven pitchers, whose names are shown herewith, and four catchers are now lined up for the local squad and will report March 21. Manager Finn states that his infield and outfie1d are not yet strengthened out and that he does not feel Justified in announcing the remainder of his lineup for a week or 10 days yet.
 The II pitchers form the most formidable looking aggregation of box men that ever reported in Chattanooga for spring training. At times, the Lookouts have reported as many as nine pitchers but seldom more than six or seven who were conceded to have a chance to make the team This year. practically every one of the II men on the staff-and Finn states that one more from a major league club Is to be added soon-is a possibility for a regular job.
 Finn Is not counting strongly on Ba- con and Marshall; Bacon has g. close up number In the draft, Marshall high one. He Is counting, however on Howard Merritt. the southpaw who x1s4 4oI.1 ,,.zl- ,1. l. ter part of last season. For the re- mainder of the staff, Verbout who won 27 and lost six for Wilkesbarre appears to be the most formidable con- tender, with the possible exception of Ring, the Cincinnati cast-off, who "dopes' to be a winner In this com pany and to whom a string is re- tained by Mathewson. Lehman is also an unusually good man. a consistent winner in the International league The rest of the crop contains much of prospect on the whole, the Lookout pitching staff should be in great con trast to the hopeless quintet which were on the pay roll at the start of last season.
 Bob Higgins will do the bulk of the receiving and that means satisfaction Finn believes the old timer has several more good years in his system. The second Jop Will De contested by Chuck McDaniels, younster. who finished the season with the club last year, and Larry Brown, the former Mo bile catcher. who has managed a club in the Central association for the past three seasons. Finn has a high opinion of Brown. who he says Is a brainy performer. but will watch closely for signs of development on the part of McDaniels. as Brown probably has passed his zenith Young Taylor is brought on as a prospect.
 Lookout battery candidates; who they are, whence they came,
 Pitchers: Marshall. Chattanooga In 1917 Subject to draft).
 Merritt. Chattanooga in 1917, ex- empt
 Bacon, Chattanooga in 1917 (subject to draft).
 Verbout, Wilkesbarre, leading pitch or of New York State league.
 Lehman, Rochester. winner in Inter- national league.
 Tomlin, veteran pitcher
 Bruck, former American association pitcher, with Columbus in 1916. o,f. last year.
 Watkins, left handler, Central asso- ciation.
 Boehler. Detroit Rock, Texas league.
 Ring. Cincinnatti
 (All new men exempt from draft
 Catchers: Higgins, with New Or leans last year.
 McDaniels. last years team,
 Larry Brown, formerly with Mobile. last year in Central association.
 iaylor' youngster from Dixie league.