South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-13
COBB FACES HARD
TASK TO PUT OVER
APENNANT WINNER
Must Bolster Up Infield and
Develop Winning Corps
of Pitchers.

DETROIT. Mich March H.
Two major problems confront T--
rus Raymond cobb as he inausu-
rates his second attempt to pilot the
Tigers into "a pennant.
The Detroit leader must bolster
up his inaeId. wrecked last year
when the keystone combination gave
way. and from a coterie of dozen
/ pitchers taken into the training
camp at Augusta. Georgia. Eight or
ten must be found To bear the brunt
Of the coming campaign. ON last
Iyesr's showing. the catching and
outfeld corps can mold ghelr own
with anything i'm the American
! League, while Blue and Jones. also
veterans. are without competition
| for their places at first and third
this season.
If Pep Young is back in form
that marked his playing prior to
last year, Manager Cobbs worries
about second base Will DE ended. il
not, George Cutshaw, the National
] League veteran. is expected To have
the call for the post unless one OF
the youngsters aspiring for a berth,
shows major league ability.
At short. the field probably viii
be open to recruits only, as Flag
stead who filled in last year after
DOME Bush was benched. is CLASH.
fled as an ourfelder.
Garry seven Infelders.
/ Cobb has let it be known that sew
en- infielders will be carried this
year, in order to assure plenty OF
utility strength. and with Blue and
Jones assured Of their jobs. the fight
/ for the other five places lies between
Young. Cutshaw. s T. Barnes, from
Kalamazoo; y. c. Clark. Wichita
Fails Fred Haney, Omaha J. l.
Mann, Evansville; z. +. Rigney
| Fort Worth; F. G. Herman. Edmon-
tor, Alta. and H. G. Merritt. who
wss with the Tigers in the latter
par of 1921.
Rigney. who cost Detroit $500.
is considered one of the leading can
didates for short, and glowing ad.
vance notices have also been re-
ceIved Of Mann
] =
records as indicative of the task
Cobb faces in whipping his pitching
staff into shape. OF the hurlers
counted as regulars Cole alone was
credited with more victories than de-
feats, the figures being IA. Leon
ara, another lefthander, led the To-
cal pitchers in point Of effectiveness
with 3.74 earned runs per game and
he ranked fourteenth i'm American
League averages. The other. Old
ham, Hollings, Dauss and Ehmke,
trailed far behind.
Youngsters Experienced.
Seven youngsters, including Stew
art, who saw service with the club
last year, constitute the additional
material on which Cobb has TO draw.
OF the lot, principal attention is
ccntering on Herman Pilette and
Sylvester Johnson, the pair of right
I handlers for whom the club paid
around $4,000 to Portland
The catching staff. which last year
| consisted of Bassler Woodall and
Manion, has been augmented by r.
| II. Spencer, from Raleigh, y. c.
Cobb plans 20 carry only three re-
| cetvers. and the veterans are ex-
pected to have the preference.
PAIRING injury or illness. Cobb.
Heilman apd Veach will likely con-
sti;ute the Tiger outfeld when the
bell rings on opening day. If Cobb
keeps five outfielders 10 round out
the legal complement Of % men. the
other places furnish a contest for
Flagstead, Robert Fothergill re
called from Rochester, and Johnny
Mchardt, the recruit from Notre
I Dame.