The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20
BRAVES LOOK FOR
BIG IMPROVEMENT
Maranville's Return Puts New
Life in Infield-Outfield-
erS Are Mediocre.
HOLkE Is HITTING WE'LL

Boston, April ls.-The return OF
Rabbit" Maranville. the crack Boston
shortstop, Is all that was needed to
give the Braves the fighting spirit to
take part In another pennant fight. Tho
Rabbit IL the motor OF tho Boston
National inheld. and without him the
team is lacking in speed. generalship
and cooperation.
George Stallings, manager OF the
team, is not making any claims as to
what his club will do In the National
League race. THE Braves. however, are
in for 4 brand new deal, even though
there are no radical changes In the play
ing personnel. With Il change in club
ownership and = resultant shift in club
leadership on the executive side. some
changes in policy and the conduct OF af-
fairs are assured.
III the person Of George Washington
Grant the Braves have. TO all appear
ances, been placed under a man who can
accomplish things. He has no easy
task on his hands 10 provide a winner
consistency and stay up in tho race
But he has satisfied the men following
the Braves that he Is of the type TO
overcome obstacles.
The Boston team. as II now stands
viii make any club in the league extend
itself TO the limit. Holke has injected
much life into the inner section and he
Is hitting well. too. His coming to
the Braves is regarded by Stallnss as
one of the most important deals Of the
winter
In Rudolph, Nehf, Fiilingim, Northrup
Heating, Scott. Raglan. Demaree, George
and McQuillan Stallings has a likely
bunch OF pitchers to start with. Bill
James Is of course still an uncertainty
He is better than he has been since he
helped the Braves win the worlds cham
pionship In 1914, and has shown further
Improvement since reporting to the club
but II will be necessary To put him
through the acid test before a proper
line may be obtained on hin.
With Catchers Gowdy. Wilson, Henry
and Tragresser TO select from. the Bos-
ton manager Will have competent
catching corps. Gowdy is expected back
with the club in few weeks
1t has not been definitely settled who
viii play second base for the Braves.
Buck Herzog's breakdown complicated
the problem. He left the club at Flor
ence, S. G., and came North 10 consult
specialist in regard TO the injury to
his spine, He has worked this spring
IS never before with view of compel.
ling Grant. his employer, TO retain him
and go through with the sl06O0 con-
tract. lie Is not any too hopeful over
the prospects. JOHNNY Rawlings and
Lena Blackburne now are In a contest
for the second base position. and IL still
IL a question which player will win.
They both want to play regular and
Stall'ngs wants to keep them Both are
brilliant felders and there IL little 10
choose between them In the way OF
batting
Red Smith Is fixture at third base.
His hitting makes him a valuable asset
to the team. BY having him play a
deeper position Stallings hopes to i'm
prove his fielding.
There Is q chSnee for q good hitting
outielder, who can hold his own IN other
respects, to land a job with the Braves
Wickland has not yet reported. Kelly.
Riggert. Powell and King are now on
the job. and with the exception OF King
are veterans The first three players
mentioned have the speed. but they are
not hitting, and King lacks experience.
Stallings. therefore, seems to have his
old problem to combat, weakness In the
outheld.
Grant. who has been hustling 10 i'm
prove the team ever since he bought u
last summer. still Is on the lookout for
new material, and he may be able 10
make a deal before the next fortnight
which materially will strengthen the
poA'on outhAld,