The sun., 1919-04-20
PENNANT PUNCH Is
CARRIED BY BROWNS
So Says Jimmy Burke IN
Speaking Of Teams Chances
In Flag Race.
SISLER THE TEAMS STAR
Gedeon and Austin Show Con-
siderable "Pep"-Pitchers
Promising.
sISLER THE TEAMS STAR

ST. LOUIS, Mo. April 1.-the St Louis
any in the American League to carry
of the honors this year. Jimmy
Burke. the manager, is very entnu-
slastic over the teams outlook and
FEELS convinced that the team VIII
give it's rivals clubs a mighty hard
fight for the flag He does not base
his contention upon mere guesswork,
but upon IA cts CLEANED from close
observation of his charges In their
Spring training Comparison Of per-
formances already accomplished is what
counts in determining the merits OF any
organization, and to the writer, who has
seen the Browns in all their practice,
comparatively the team does not suffer
In the slightest alongside OF the seven
other clubs.
While 1t may not ne generally known,
there is not a player on the Brown ros-
ter but has trained and worked as II
his life depended on he outcome. The
players seem to have been brought 10
understand that there is purpose behind
the hard work they have been called
upon to perform, and there has been
little fooling In getting at 1t in a sincere
spirit.
Davenport Works Hard.
Take the case of Dave Davenport, the
elongated twrler as an example. lie
came here with the reputation of being
n half season pitcher. 1t seems TO have
been the belief OF managers who
preceded Burke that Big Dave could
not get himself in shape to do good
and efficient slab work until the first
of July. From the very first day he
he la orls tn
city he peeled off his sweater and went
| TO work and Is in condition for a great
| season on the hill, and he Is always in
sistinR that he Is ready to work.
While the immediate question OF the
| Brown pitchers is up It may be well to
make a forecast of the rest of the staff
| The others who have reached their
| working form are Weilman. Gallia, Rog-
ers, Sothoron and Bennett. Koob is not
| yet right. because he is struggling to
overcome the weakness of back that
has caused him trouble for many
months. Leifield is not in shape, because
he must take his time to recover from
| the serious operation which kept him in
| the hospital for so long. Lowdermilk
| Is still having trouble with his arm that
won't straighten out just right. Well
man has also been having trouble, but
cut loose Friday But eight out of the
nine are expected to round into fine
playing form by the middle of June.
The manager OF the Browns has II
figured that Josh Billings will be
started as the first string catcher. with
Hank SEVERED held in reserve until he
be ready to play. which may be a month
or two yet.
TObfn Is Promising.
In the outfeld the situation among the
Browns is interesting. because az one
might say. one bright star is fast devel-
opiug, in the person of the diminutive
entry. Johnny Tobin. During the past
few days he has been in the limelight
against the performances of Earl
Smith in left field. and II might as well
he said that Johnny has suffered none
by the comparison. He covers ground
like a toy cyclone. and he is hitting the
tall consistently. Manager Burke has
reached no decision regarding the man
who will actually start in left. but one
draws the conclusion that Tobin is
the logical man. There is every reason
In the LEFT garden. with Smith holding
down the bench in reserve
There is also opposition IN right field
between jacobson AMI Demmit, but
/ BURG has about decided that Jake is
the man 10 start
With every other position on the dia
mond and in the field practically as
Tured. that interesting situation remains
at third base. with Jimmy Austin and
Herman Bronkie fighting for the honor
ofstartinS.
Austin is sure To start the season AT
third Bronke will he retained on the
team and actively coached to perform
in any emergency. His position is trl-
angular. II accident or sickness should
happen TO Austin Bronkie would he or
the job. IT Gerber should be temporar-
lily indisposed Herman would be the
player to 1T the place, IL George Sisler
should be laid out Of the game Eronkif
Is the man who would be hailed to the
rescue a first base.
Joe Gedeon at second base looks like
a player who will rank with the best
In his practice workouts he has beer
very fast and accurate and he hits the
ball hard. There is one characteristic
about this player which looks good
the successful fielding Of ground balls
Too many second hasemeu Ike To play
well back for liners. short flies and
easy hounders-not so with Geleon. III
plays fast for all the hard chances hi
can reach. and he does reach and feld
| tho most OF them.