New-York tribune., 1919-04-20

O-N- ~ Is tHe pllcnlng stan. And
smart students, as we'll as leaders, have
estimated box strength at about 60 per
cent. of team efficiency. If McGraw
were but sure of such pitching prof
cheney as held sway at the Polo
Grounds back in 1905. to be backed
by such driving power and defensive
sklil as should prevail there this sum-
mer* then, indeed, the Polo Grounds
enthusiasts might sit back and pre-
pare to watch the Polo Grounders tow
rope the National League field Equal
~ rosy would be the prospect if the
little Napoleon had nt his command
such wealth of proven talent as Fred
Mltchell can muster to the rescue OF
his champion Cubs.
McGraw will have at his command
for the opening Of the pennant race
later this week only three pitchers who
may be considered dependable veteran
material. These are Jess Barnes. Rube
Benton and Bob Steele The last men
toned cannot be considered in a class
with the other two. He has yet to
display championship greatness, though
ripe enough in experience to travel al
ms best with the supporting cast at
DOEEREEHH
the stuff of which winning pitchers are
made.
Schupp Improving Slowly
We are not forgetting Ferdie Schunp
This southpaw sensation of the Giants
championship campaign of 1917 an
pears TO be improving from day to
day. There Is reason to believe he
may be himself within a short time.
But certain 1t IS he can scarcely ex-
pect to do himself full justice at the
present time. He has been nursed
along too carefully for that, and has
taken less liberties with his pitching
arm than any other member of the
staff
For the moment, then. McGraw is
quite likely to have to depend great
deal more than has been. customary for
hlm TO do upon young pitchers. He
has wealth of these who have shown
earmarks of future greatness in the
spring exhibition games. And it may
De whispered IN passing that the eXhi-
bltian games in question NAV be taken
more seriously than usual. as the
GIANTS have met in the Red Sox and
Washington teams as well prepared
and conditioned as any they are likely
to encounter in their first Eastern cam
paign.
Cecil Algernon Causey, Jess Win
ters and John Paul Jones are three
young right-handers who have shown
quite as much as, if not more than
might reasonably be expected of them.
George Smith, who has been up and on
and around more than any Of the other.
three mentioned, seems ripe for steady
work IN his regular turn. He can
scarcely qualify as veteran But he
mas more than served his apprentice
SNIP. IT he is not up to n good year
now 1t Is very doubtful if he ever viii
be.
Providing he gets pitching of aver
age major league class McGraw's Will
be a tough team for the champion
Cubs or any other National League
outfit Barring batteries the 1919
Giant aggregation seems better ball
anced than any team McGraw ever be-
fore commanded, not excepting the
world champions Of 1905.
The outfeld needs no indorsement
here. kauff, away in the army almost
a year, has not yet got back his bat
ting eye. But he is a natural born
hitter and viii strike his stri6e sooner
or later. 1t Is expected that his switch
TO fifth position IN the batting order
will take a lot of worry off Bennys
mind, for he has been worrying greatly
over his protracted slump. Benny can
go get 'em with the best
AS to Burns, well, he is the same
fine, reliable little Georgia in every
imaginable line. Young was a sensa-
ton as q probationer last season. He
is starting right in where he left Off
last fall. He is better than year
ago by one years experience. A phe-
nom then, he should prove leading
sensation now.
Infield Thing of Beauty
McGraw's infeld is a thing Of beauty.
Chase has furnished the finishing
touch of almost perfect perfection. il
Is simply uncanny the way this freak
Of physical fitness carries his thirty
six years. His presence has peppered
up the other three infeld veterans,
who hesitate at no desperate chance,
serene in the knowledge that Hal can
convert the craziest chucks into outs.
poyle's game has stiffened percept-
IDLY from his near associations with
the wizard OF the lnfeld Zimmerman
IS fast rounding into the great Zim
of 1917. Fletcher is the Fletcher o.
the last ten years, and that is enough.
And TINS, too, despite the fact that the
ln1leld has not as yet developed into
the greatest defensive power, because
aging veterans must have plenty of hot
weather TO show at their best. The
cooles weather of the North has not
been conducive to speed afeld as ap-
plies to the inner line.
There remains, then, but the catch
ing staff to be discussed. Of this Lew
McCarty is the anchor. His under
studies are Earl Smith and Polan, the
army recruit recommended by Benny
kauf. McCarty is of the iron man
type, and so long as he is fit there
should be no occasion for great worry.
II is true he has slowed sup, and hs
never was fast at his best. But he
packs wicked punch that makes up
for his lack OF speed. while the team
has speed to spare at the top end of
the order. Pitchers and catchers as a
rule are eliminated by popular consent
when the subject of base running is
discussed.
While he viii not discuss the sub
Ject, there is reason TO believe McGraw
will soon fortify his catching depart-
ment against chance i'll that may de-
velop through the inexperience of
Smith and Polan. Bovil these young
hackstops are too inexperienced at
present for regular duty. Smith should
become really high class catcher. but
even at his best now he seems at least
year away. Gonzales or SNYDER. OF
the Cardinals, would put McGraw's
catching department on a plane with
the inheld sAd outield. which is as
close to 100 per cent efficiency as anv
manager could dream
Extensively McGraw's team is awav
the best of the last ten years. 1t may
not boast the sheer speed of the three
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