The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-11
BROOKLYN (.DoDGERsrl

V Brooklyn.-Brooklyn's chances in the National league this year would seem to depend more upon the changed con- ditions in the other clubs that upon an estimate of the Superbas own strength. They will start the season with practi- cally the same lineup with which they won the championship last year. They
 still have the same powerful pitching staff and 1t is possible that Galore and one or two others of the pitchers may
 be even better than in 1920.
 The infield situation is uncertain be- cause of the ageing of Ivan Olson and
 the failure to find new man to take his place in case he should slip seriously Buster Caton, formerly of the Pirates
 was expected to act as reliable substi tute for Olson but has developed bad arm and has been sent home by Man
 ager Wiibert Robinson Ed Konetchy
 the oldest first baseman in the league
 batted over 300 last year. but whether he will be able to repeat in this. his if
 teenth season, is a question.
 Pete Kilduff will again be at second and Jimmy Johnston at third. Both were getting better every day last season and their improvement in form is expected to
 be strong point in favor of this year J
 team.
 Behind the bat the prospects are un-
 certain. Otto Miller, who has been with
 the club Ii years. and last year was ex-
 pected to do little playing, unexpectedly
 went back to his early form and became
 a star again. Whether he can repeat
 thiss year is another question like that
 concerning Konetchy. Ernest krueger
 was an cratic thrower last season, and
 will probably be second-string catcher
 this season, but will have rival in
 Zach Taylor, a youngster who sat on
 the bench all last season, but showed
 considerable merit in his few opportuni-
 ties. Brooklyn recently bought Meyer.
 formerly with the Athletics, but he was
 slow in reporting.
 The old outfield of zack Wheat, Hi
 Myers and Tommy Griffith have all re-
 ported, but Wheat and Griffith are get
 tins along in years, and whether they will be able to repeat their excellent performances of 1920 is uncertain. Bill Lamar and Bernie Neis are giving all of the veterans hard run and the club , is well supplied in outfeld material, while the reserve strength of the infieid |. is decidedly light at this stage.
 On the whole, the chances of the club 1. will depend on the number of veterans
 batting up to their 1920 form, and the pitching staff coming through even bet
 ter than it did last year. A slipping by l the veterans and any series of accidents l to the pitching staff would probably } mean now champions in the National league this year.
 BOSTON ("BRAvES")
 Boston-Gone are the Braves of yester- } year. This city will scarcely know its own team when it comes back from the
 south Designations trades and dis
 agreements have so changed the person. : nel that it is only reminiscent of the team of year or two ago. The change
 in the Braves is almost revolutionary.
 With the passing of George T. Stallings, , the Miracle Man of 1914, to the Rochester Internationals, Fred Mitchell. his right ! eye'' of that year, and subsequently,
 manager of the Chicago Cubs. stepped ; into the managerial role. The Indian ? Head Is gone from the uniforms, Rab- i bitt' Maranville is gone from the in : ieldi only Gowdy and Rudolph remain of the 1914 champions and Rudolph s ) comeback is doubtful
 3 It will be team top heavy In out
 field strength, with the former Pirates 5 southworth and Nicholson fairly certain } of regular places, and last years quar- tet. Powell. Sullivan. Cruise and Eayrs. ? contending for the odd place with two likely looking youngsters, Nixon and !, Archdeacon. tho latter described as a flash on his feet.
 Barbare will be inserted at short in place of Maranville. with Holke nOloMS OoWu HISt aBalus foAA S'As A.S o regularly at second and Boeckel prob
 ably at third.
 . Young blood probably will constitute !, the bulk of the Braves pitching staff.
 Rudolph and Filllngim have aillnS arms , that need the summer sun for treatment. the cold and damp of Galveston's train
 ing camp having failed to work out the l kinks. Joe Oeschger. Scott and Wptson
 will be available early, but the shoots of : young John Cooney. of Lefty Leo T0wn- l Isend and his right-handed naznesake, Ira 2 Townsend. are expected to supplement ' the veteran arms in the early campaign, ' Old Hank Gowdy will head the catch : ing corps assisted by George O'Neill of ] last years team, and Frank c. Gibson. ? Texas leaguer of q year age.
 $ ST. LOUIS (~CARDINALS"9 :. St. 14ouis.-With added strength on the
 mound Manager Branch Hickey expects
 to enhance the chances of the Cardinals
 in this years pennant race. Having led the National league in batting with .2Ss
 and being we'll up with the leadefs in scoring runs last season, Manager
 Hickey assumes that the ''punchl will continue in evidence and that his team