The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-31
MANY vETSOF
BASEBALL ARE
HEADING SOUTH
Hot Springs Popular With the RAJ,
Who Need Training, and
Plenty Of 1t.
By JOHN B. FOSTER

I
Copyright, 1922, by The Areps,
New York, Jan. 31.-Hot Spring.
Ark, never has been SO popBIs.
with the ball players as it will r.
this year. An excellent reason s4-
lists for that state of affairs Thar
never were more ball players who
are between the stages OF .rba,.
on" and 'let GO" They need vo.t
and plenty of it to get their crinkIa5
arms into condition. Club owner
with players who may be servins
their last days in the big show ars
standing the necessary eypap.a
willing in the hope that the atbl
letes can bring their sinews bacz
to fitness for the coming year.
1t would not surprise good Judges
of baseball talent if this sbouI5
prove one of the toughest seasons
ball players have experienced in
years. There is a long row Of men
who are Clinging to their jobs bv
the tips of their fingers, and if thew
commence to go by the board IN
1922, it probably will mean the end
of their usefulness in the major
leagues.
There are 20 players who will
have all they can do to get through
the season and some of them will
not be able to show much until the
weather becomes very warm. That
is the reason why so many are
booked for Hot Springs.
The Giants will start their batch
of veterans to work at the springs
because they can get better treat
ment there than they can hope 10
get at San Antonio. OF course both
the Pittsburg and the Boston Amer.
lean league clubs will have all the
benefits of the bath and climate
because both of them are booked
to train at Hot Springs.
In addition to the Giant pitchers.
there will be a delegation from the
Yankees and on top Of the pitch
ers who will make the journey.
there will be a few seasoned field
ers who know that their arms need
a little renovation.
When the next scheduled meeting
Of the International league is held
in New York city, it is expected
that the question of the circuit will
be settled. If Jersey City is moi
going on both Montreal and ProYi-
dence are aspirants for the vacancy.
Montreal seemed likely to get a
place early in the winter, but if
Montreal is admitted, Franz
ShaughRessy might like to go with
the league and he is tied up in
Syracuse. If Providence is ad-
mitted, the eastern end Of the cir
cult will be made up of Baltimore,
Newark, Reading and Providence,
which might make a better balance
than would be possible with Mon
treal, although Toronto would like
to have the Montreal opposition.
Some years ago it was the Gus
tom for future Of the fans vino
were clamOrOus for a change in tle
game to suggest that the batter nor
be called out on caught fouls, no
matter whether they were to the
Outfield of behind the bat. Possibly
it would be more explicit to say
foul flies because a caught foil tip
is a strike. The same suggestion
is being made again this year but
there isn't a chance that it will be
taken up. The members Of the rules
committees of both major leagues
are satisfied to let the rules 90 for
1922 as they stand II is the Opin-
ion of those who have had expert
ence in rule making that there IS
no necessity to change them. The
argument advanced for the foul fly
not being out is that it will give
the batters more of a chance but
the agreement is general that bal
ters are getting opportunities
enough as it is. 1t is rumOred
again that Veach viii be trans
ferred to the Boston Americans IN
exchange for Dugan. II that is %.
Harry Frazee of the Boston team
says he has not heard Of it and he
thinks he should. He believes that
Dugan will run Scott a close race
as an infelder at short and he may
be right at that. 1t Will take the
best in the baseball world to run
Scott a close race" but if Dug12
plays ball as well as he knows how
he is one of the men who can De
some racing.