The Washington herald., 1921-04-06
CRIFFS WILL GIVE
OTHER TEAMS LOTS.
OF TROUBLE'MAC''
Makeup of Regular In
: field Is New Managers
Biggest Problem.
NJ JACK .NYn.

SPECIAL CAR, SOMEWHERE IN
THE SOUTH, April 5.-Perched ON
his seat In the aged Pullman which
has served as home for the Ma
tionals ever since they left Tampa
on their .glsdsome journey homes
ward, George Mcbride deftly thread
ed a needle and proceeded to re-
place the buttons which the laundry
had removed from his select as
sortment of silk shirts.
Between stitches the new manae-
er Of the Griffmen talked Of his
team and OF his men. He talked
freely-but also wisely. He was
evidently optimistic. but he made
no rash predictions. He Is facing
the future with confidence, and IL
he fails to give the fans at home
something for their money he won't
dish out a flock of aIibis. That's
not the way Mcbride does business.
Manager Mac is evidently of the
same opinion as other keen baseball
men who predict that his men will
make lot of trouble this season IL
their pitching stands up. And he
has faith in his pitchers.
He Is satisfied with his outfieid
and catching department. The in
neld presents his chief problem. On
one side of the inner works he has
couple OF stars who have proved
their worth. On the other side
things are still in the experimental,
stage, though IL. looks as IL they
will work out all right
There will be no weakness at
short IL Frank o'Rourke's arm
stands up. and with Foss, Ellerbe
and Shanks to choose from at third
the outlook Is far from dismal. At
present the youthful Foss has the
inside track. He has looked like
a real "phenom" during the entire
training season.
Some of this has been gathered
from observation. and some from
the views expressed by the mana
ger. Mac doesn't talk a lot. He is
brief and to the point. He also
knows how to keep from saying
too much.
This particular conversation with
the new boss ran something like
this:
We'll. how do they look now"
They look pretty good to me-"
Better than last year at this
timer"
That's hard to say. You know
~e were going mighty fast last
season until injuries threw us of
our stride. But we are pretty well
fortified with reserve material this
year"
How are your pitchers stack
ing up at this stage of the game p"
With the exception of one or
two they are rounding into form
in fine shape. They ought to de-
liver the goods. And then be-
lieve Walter johnson is going to
be right. His first appearance in
Tampa didn't look 80 good. but no
man can pitch with a sore neck.
Later he showed his old stuff.
His arm seems to be in perfect
shape. With Barney in shape, you
know. we will have a fine start
toward strong staff.'
What about your new men.
Foss. Miller and Brottem. for in
stance?"
81 like those boys. Foss looks
good. He has all spring. He is a
nice fielder. has q good arm and
is hitting well. At present he is
probably batting better than he
will later. but he handles himself
well at the bat. / am using him
good deal to find out just what
he can: do. j know what the other
third sackers can do already.
"ORourke Is smooth worker
and a handy man with the bat.
Miller looks as though he could hit
field. Brottem Is a likely looking
catcher"
Mac failed to say that O'Rourke's
arm is worrying him and possibly it
isn't. The International League
shortstep has not yet developed, a
free overland throw to first. He
gets the ball across with a shot-put
motion. But, as one of the gang
remarked, he gets it over, SO what's
the difference?
O'Rourke gets the ball away
faster. with the underhand throw,
which he developed when his arm
began failing, but the youngster
believes that Bonesetter Reese has
cured the twisted muscles perman-
nently. As the arm grows stronger
he will probably begin to favor 1t
less. With the exception of his
arm, O'Rourke is the stuff. He can
snag 'em on both sides and handles
himself remarkably well.
As far as hitting goes, there is
nothing to worry about. Every
body has been whaling the ball,
even the recruits. Last season the
Mats were much feared around the
circuit by reason of their clubbing
power, and this year. according to
Indications, they are going to pack
a more powerful punch. With con-
sistent pitching, such slugging is
bound to get results.
In view of all these facts there is
little wonder that Mcbride radiates
good cheer; that President Griffith
is feeling like a boy again and that
the entire team Is full of pep and
ambition. Everybody is determined
to show the folks at home some
real baseball from start to finish,
which Is all the fervid fans can ask.
-.