El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-02

he deserves the lead.
Cubs and Giants Tied
II is odd to find New York and CHI
cago practically tied in value as 70
secondbasemen- The Cubs. however.
have all the advantage. as Doyle cer-
tainly viii not improve He has slowed
up great deal from what he was ia
MS best days The operation 20 which
he submitted last year came out well
and reduced his flesh considerably.
but he has regained some o. it. sad
as Il may seem, Larry is aging and IS
prone 70 fat. which does not add 10
tbs value OF an athlete.
The Cubs have a big chance to
show an increase in their figure val
ues- This Pick is a very promising
youth coming into his own after sew
eral rather disappointing tryouts- he
OF speed and pep. which latter ele-
ment never showed In his work during
his earlier tryouts- he looks as III he
has more confidence in himself and he
knows better now how 20 utilize mis-
speed
am figuring that BIZ Wambsganss
e in for big year. His army eZ-
perience certainly helped him q .ot
and. before starting south for the
spring training. he was fit and hard as
nails Besides that. his job as a
lieutenant did him good He has poise
leadership than he had before
The Boston Red sox viii have
more strength around second than
they had last year, with two ca
pable men 10 relieve each other in
ease Of need.
Frankly. Pratt IS a big dIsappolnt-
ment 70 me since he Joined the New
York Yankees. When he was with s.
Louis he seemed TO have all the con
fidence and pep in the world and was
hustlng all the time Last year he
looked, especially In the field. as II
he was over anxious and he did nos
GOT az plays the way he did IN the
old care free days Maybe IL was
overauxiety 10 make good after being
traded 70 the big town and ovsrad-
Vertised- The seasons work may have
accustomed him to new surroundings,
but II he is TO hold UP his end OF the
tight with a team which claims PEN
nant possibilities. he will have 70 put
more dash and pep into his work
Pratts figures show him a bit more
valuable man for his club than Joe
Gedeon shows for the Browns. but
with me the figures raised a big
doubt II they were not based upon
indisputable statistics, / would not
believe them. / am an admirer Of
GedeOn- He isn't a snowy baseball
player nor does he loom high in av-
doesn't do anything superlatively well.
but he does everything pretty well
His general rating on hitting, waiting.
bunting. fielding. throwing. touching
runners and in every other department
OF the pastime is above average and
he is corking team player.
The Athletics. Of course. are COM
mencing TO attract attention again as
q coming championship prospect and
a team which this season is liable TO
displace some first division club. The
second base problem with Mack ls
seemingly serious one, and roping
second for the Athletics is almost as
serious one Duggan looks TO be a
corking player and a conner. but his
flareup last year makes him a hard
man 10 dope. II his trouble is all
over and he is satisfied again. the
lesson may have been the thing need
ed 10 steady him down. II his nerves
viii not stand the strain of baseball.
then II is hard 70 figure him seriously
at all He returned TO his team, made
peace and worked better after his
runout than he did before. 50 perhaps
he viii be better and steadier player
for the unpleasant experience Hope
SO, because he is a fine fellow.
Service Helps Players.
The American league secondbase-
men, with the exception OF Collins
who stands out far ahead OF his near
est rival rank close together all down
the line I cannot see any reason to
think that those who were Ia service
with the colOrs suffered at all, and it
looks as II the military and naval ex-
perience helped rather than harmed
them.
Barry may return to second regu- [
larry for the Red SoX. although 10 Is
probable he viii play only a part Of
the games.
BroOElvn IN ratbar q, +ba air az IN
second, as well as to pitchers, be- I
cause 50 many OF the Dodgers we're Z
in service and some have not yet Sc
cured their releases. Besides that. l
there may be s switch on the infield /
that would compel US 20 figure I
Schmandt at second. very nervous at !
bat and in the field, but with a sur
prising kick in his movements
There are several National
league teams which could improve
the fnfields cOnsfderably By
switching men 10 other positions .