The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-23
THE SECOND BASEMEN,
AIrar TSn4lla
National League

Trowhr!dge Collins. CORNER columbia
star. after all these years OF wear ana
tear. SIN stands a. the top az the "opc
IN the study OF the second htScmen.
His closest rival in ether league, &C
CordirG TO the figures. j. Rogers Horns
by, who lltts the ~. Louis Cards I"
top rank in the National League, al
though Hornsby is hard pressed by the
youngstrr Tr!sCh OF The Giants. who
seems 10 he 'he coming Eddie Collins.
While the dope indicates plainly that
there Is a tremendous difference in the
dope values OF the second haScmcr or
the two leagues. the range OF values
IS much wider in the National LeaGu"
than In the American. where every
club has managed to MI the Keystone
position with fairly good men.
The range in the Nattona! = due
largely 10 Hornsby's terrific hitting
power and all-around attacking ability,
combined with the weakness Of Chicago
and philadelphia in this position
Chicago has made strenuous efforts
to strengthen the second sack and has
a swarm OF material, but thus far the
spring reports do not indicate that the
average strength OF the TWO or three
mon who will MI the job during the
year.
Study Is Interesting.
The extreme Importance OF the sec
ond base position makes the compare
tive study OF the men who MI that posi-
ton most interesting. The shifts that
have taken place during the winter have
given every club in the American league
fairly competent second hasemcT. and
undoubtedly Washington and Detroit
both have strengthened their intields By
shifts.
Ii Is we'll 10 explain that. n studying
the strengths OF second hascmen or
shortstops especially. and more or less
in the study OF the position strength OF
any lnfielder. the figures cannot be con-
fined 10 expressing the indtridual
strength OF tho man. His defensive
strength IS not only his own ability but
that OF the in'elders working with him.
A good ShortStop. for instance. ADDS
much 10 tho strength OF Il second base
man, and n strong second baseman adds
many points TO the value OF weak
Shortstop. The adjusting OF the Wash
ington. New York and Boston 'nhe!dS
In the American and the several changes
In the National all work to affect the
strength not only OF that position but
TO figure in that manner If we are TO
arrive at any proper conception Of the
strength OF inflelds or OF teams.
Senators and Indians Ttsd.
We find an odd thing in the American
league, and that Is the fact that Wash
ington and Cleveland are exactly tied
in strength so fas as second is con-
cerned, with st. Louis slightly behind.
New York. even allowing that .Fewster
may return 70 the form hc promised TO
have before his injury, is no: in first
div~$on class At second and Ward the
ngures show, Is now strong. Detroit
promises considerable Improvement at
second, and Boston and Philadelphia.
while ranking close together for last
place. are not far diStaaced IN tho
figures. In fact. Philadelphia may de-
velop as the season progresses and move
up close 10 or ahead OF Detroit.
There Is TO denying Hornsby's right
10 be ranked a. the top among the Ma
ton league second Sackers. Ho mas the
hitting power the general attacking
ability. and ne leads the league In de-
fenSive strength in addition TO all this.
He needs 10 have that extraordinary
ability. as Frisch back a: second base.
where he always has desired TO play, IS
one of the great youngsters NJ the game.
There is n problem about Frisch which
only this sea son Will answer. Some OF
the kesneS, judges OF bail players have
the idea that Frisch really is too fast
Cor a second baSenan. an odd complaint.