The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-17
GIANTS CLAIM BEST TWIRLING
 STAFF OF YEAR

San Antonio, Mar. 1Z--Regardless of other factors, John McGraW's Giants will enter the first stages of the big drive in April fortified with g. pitching staff that should be able to compete with any in the National League. With the addition of one or two men who are now under obser- vation, the twir1ers who he reformed under the. McGraw tent in 1919 will bear the burden of the work this sea- son.
 On paper. these men-that, is the regulars, to have behind them sufficient ability to withstand the seize of most any club in the cir cult It is upon the assumption that he will be able to throw into every fray a first-elass boxman that Mo Graw is entering the final stages of his training operations here, confi- dent that he has excellent chance of romping out in front when the Oc- tober skies cheer the 1920 season on its way into historical pages. Some will not agree that he has a ) really first-class pitching staff, but there are enough who will stand with McGraw in relying upon a corps which consists of two left-handers and three l right-handers. Of course, in tight race where pitching is forced, as it 1 sometimes is, to carry on under ex- ceptiona1 circumstances, such a staff would be hard put to stand up under l the gaff unless there were held in reserve other pitchers of the second | line who could step in and do a turn | now and then and allow the regular | twirlers some rest.
 l Lack of reserve pitchers has driven
 more than one big league manager to l frenzy in the middle of a hot cam l paign when just one fairly good heav- 1 CT could have plugged up a gap thai spelled defeat if left alone.
 Therefore, it is in regard to reserve
 staff and not to his regulars that Nc. l Graw is now looking with the great
 est care and figuring out the possi l bilities.
 Benton has pitched in some of tn, | practice games and is as effective a! ever he was, which is saying a grea- 1 deal. These two men are hardy souls
 who can work their full share O.
 games and stand up under the strain | Furthermore, Douglass and Barnei
 do not have to take their hats of
 to any other right-hander in the Ma | tona1 League Tony, when he i | right, is capable of pitching branc 1 of ball that compares with any il l either league. It is true that he ha | his faults. Against some teams h | is not effective. But on the who'll
 he can be relied upon to hold tn
 the enemy back in from ten to ffftee,
 games in which he should emerg | victorious.
 Phil Douglass is spftban pitcher
 but though his wet ball may disappea
 from the pastinne next year, it is i
 full working order at present, an
 that statement requires no qualified 1 tions.
 While the spitban is in mind,
 might be well to give Phirs opinio
 Of the rule to bar out spitbaIlers i
 the future, and after this season elim
 mate those old timers who have de
 pended upon the saliva ball.
 Dauglass declares to bar him froI
 using the spit ball after this seaso
 is like the bread and butter out C his mouth and the mouths or h, wife and children. As he expIaine : it, he worked for many years pe1 fectfng this peculiar method of dc livery, and is not able to dispens with it entirely and secure results h , does with it.