The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-07

St. Louis, with Fournier fourth among the first basemen, Hornsby first on the list of second sackers, Stock leading the guardians of the far cor ner and Lavan fourth in line among the shortstops, presents the strongest intield in the National league. The margin is very slight over the Giants, and if Kelly and Frisch improve in hitting this year as they should the difference will probably be wiped out before the close of the season
 Every one of the Cardinal inns squad is a fast man. Hornsby and Fournier are two mighty sluggers, anu Stock and Lavan will bat normally close to the 2S0 mark. Stock and Hornsby are fine ieldeps, and Lavan covers plenty of territory and has a good arm, though subject to many errors. Fournier ids a good mechanic, but likely to become rattled at a critical stage.
 Right now the Giants appear to have the second, best infield. Konetchy, Daubert and Fournier all outhit George Kelly last season, but he is much faster than either Koney or Dau- bert, and is improving in all-roun1 work. Frank Frisch, who flashes around second base is a wonder. He batted .2S0 his first year out and aver
 
 games. Last year Frisch played a, third, but second base is his natural and chosen position.
 Kapp goes to New York with a good record made in the American asso- . citation, and with 10 years of experi- ence as a player. If George Whitted is compelled to play third for Pitts burg, Rapp can be rated fifth among the third saclSers but if Whitted is | a to at iv, ho Ga1I al moves up a notch. On their big league experience and individual records. Stock and Johnston get first and sec ond places, while Bohne of Cincinnat; another Class A recruit seems to be | judged from his spring exhibition work as good a fielder as Rapp and q heavier hitter, thus getting third place
 Bancroft is trying hard to regain the strength lost by his illness of two months, and judging from his recent | performances he is succeeding. If | Dave can stand up during the summer | he will rank as the second snortstor I l of the league. He is as good a fielder l as Maranville and a better hitter Charlie Hollocher outhits both and therefore gets first place.
 l The New York combination. Kelly ! Frisch,s Bancroft and Rapp, is surely strong and, but for the terrific slug ging of Hornsby and Fournier. would get first place. Jack Monroe, a Texas | league recruit, is a good lukking sub for second. and Ross Young shows up l well at third.
 | Years make little difference to Ed Konetchy and he is still entitled to rank as the leagues first guardian of the in itial sack. Koney hits 300 or more year | in and year out. He handles all kinds l of throws with much ease as he die | 10 years ago. Ray Schmandt, who fields well but can not hit much, will proba bS relieve Koney once in a while. Thougr | little Pete Kilduff could only solve tn, mysteries of the Cleveland pitching tt the extent of a .095 average, he hit fol | PIP in his own circuit. He ought to dc that well again, and perhaps better. Pete is a dandy fielder and besides making | fine record for the season he handled f chances in the big series without a bob ble. Jimmy Johnston gets second place among the thrd-sackers, which makes it unnecessary to say much about tn; class of the thrd-basemen. Not thai Jimmy is so bad, but he is an outfielder and not particularly fast. or without anJ especial aptitude for the job. Ivan Olson will start at short but he may not last Tn the event he is removed the cham pions have Buster Caton and Chuck Ward to choose from.
 Daubert, Groh. KopI Crane and Bohne give Pat Moran fast and strong .nfed at Cincinnati. At this writing Kopf and Groh have not reported but there is little doubt that they will be oil hand in time. Daubert is still fast con- tinues to be a good hitter. as we'll as n