The Washington times., 1921-02-10

:
spring activities of the club The |
fact that Robbie does not intend TO
return TO thd city until few days
previous 10 the start South would
seem to bear out the opinion that
the Robins intend 20 start "as Is"
ROBBIE THE REAL ASSET.
! 1t was we'll along in the season
last year before the fans began 10
/ take seriously the team from Brook
| lyn that. had been humping along
close TO the crest all the way.
who have they?" was the ques-
ton banded about and the invaria-
BILE answer was Nobody" And, on
paper, they didn't seem TO have
any one or two players who stood
head and shoulders above the pack.
They were all fair enough. OF
course, and the pitching staff was
very good looking. but Robbie al
ways gathered together good
pitching STAFF and that was nothing
unusual.
| And it was well along in the sea-
son before Pete" Kildum and Olson
were hailed as stars and old Ed
Konetchy figured. for anything bug
"has-be
1t was even later beforo tbs staff
of hurlers, Grimes. : r9uard,
NamauX. PfeffeI. Ca Witch
ell. was termed ~ the
league. But all Clou \ the
year the Robins had 81 who
was a very real asset indecd-Wil-
bert Robinson.
Robbie took his team OF never
weres" and "has-beens" and made
them believe that they could play
lgood baseball-champions base
ball. The pitchers he handled with
the infinite tact that is one of his
possessions.
Marquard he had developed .as a
Giant and he made Marquard pitch
well again. Only the "Rube's" ca
lpacity for finding trouble and
stepping into it detracted from his
ll9l9 record And Robbie instilled
some of that quality known as fight
4 into his group. The result was
Brooklyn pennant. Now Robbie ap-
lparently thinks that he can repeat
next season.
MORE DIFFICULT PATHWAY.
) But the Brooklyn Club is going TO
find it a bit harder sailing this year.
The rest of the league is waiting for
them. They're champions now, not
lust the Robins. And two teams, the
Giants and Pirates, are a good deal
better prepared to cope with the situ-
The New York team. while little
lchanged< from the last season, viii
iprobably not have TO suffer the jolt
dealt them last year in the shape of
Frisch's illness. Frank will be in
there all the way, and the clubs late
season squirt was proof enough of the
value of this. Then there is small
doubt that the gap at second base
will be completely filled.
! alg hn a
to start off, and will very probably
have a far speedier companion at sec
ond than was the case last year, The
Giants pitchers remain as much of a
problem as ever but with stronger
team behind them it is probable that
they can maintain evenly the pace
that they set here and there last
season.
In the Pirates, Brooklyn will have
a young. fast organization, stiffened
with the acquisition of Rabbit
Maranville, and the new-born knowl-
edge that they have real ability as
team. 81.
STRONG HITTING OUTFIELD.
In Zach Wheat, Hy Meyers, Griffith,
and Neis, Robbie has four very likely
looking outfielders. There is plenty
of hitting power in this group. Myers
and Wheat both finished over 800,
and Myers led his league in triples.
Neis and Griffith were both somewhat
lower, disappointingly so, but held up
their end fairly well. Taken as
whole, the outfield looks well. Taken
one by \one, they are not so impress
sve.
The infield. as it now stands, is
comprised of Ed konetchy on first.
veteran of many a long campaign;
Pete Kilduff on second, Olson at
short, and Jimmy Johnston at third.
| None of these men appears startling
I'M any sense of the word. Yet each
proved himself capable of turning in
good game throughout the season,
Olson took some time in hitting his
pace as a fielder and drew the epithets
of the bleachers on his head. john
ston and Konetchy were the heaviest
hitters of the ,lot, konetchy batting
over 800. and the third baseman came
} near to the charmed circle.
If Eonetchy can maintain the pace
for another season and the two mid
die men continue to prove their right
to a place in the big leagues, the
infield should not cause much trouble.
There has been some talk of try
ing Clarence Mitchell the left-handed
pitcher, at first. but there is small
likelihood of this while Ed continues
to pole at a 800 clip.
Miller handled most of the catching
assignments throughout the season,
with Kruger as his running partner.
Both of these men batted about
equally, around 200 and both were OF
rather mediocre ability in the field.
They were good enough catchers, but
this department gave the impression
of being the weakest on the team.
The pitching stan stands, on paper,
as about the strongest I'm the league.
SO the Robins will enter upon their
season as champions with the same
makeup. Just a good ball club, but
with championship to defend and
, with Wilbcrt Robinson.