Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-03-31

strength to play a big part in the
teams fight to regain the crown.
Brilliant Season
me Indians played the most bril-
liant ball in the clubs history and
ranked with the best teams the game
has produced when they outplayed
and outGeneralcd the opposition in
1920. The next spring the club was
intact. and apparently stronger be-
cause OF the presence of Walter Mails
with the squad at the opening OF the
season. The cans doped the Indians
TO repeat in handy fashion. Many did
not concede the opposition more than
a fighting chance. The Indian play
ers knew this. The feeling and the
knowledge that they were champions
affected their playing. And when
they found the going tough this feel
ing hurt the morale Of the club. The
players became over-anxious. Team
play suffered. Then the pitching staff
caved in. Result, a disappointing sea-
son.
Other Clubs Strengthened
The Yankees won the p%ennant and
then added playing strength to the
club by acquiring Joe Bush and Sam
Jones. The Nationals. over winter,
made Il ten-strike by obtaining Roger
MISUNDERSTANDING making that
team a feared contender this season.
The work of the St. Louis Browns last
camp. placed them in the feared
contender class. Against this oppo-
sition the Indians chances did not
become cheerier.
And so. as Speaker remarked, fans
ceased to figure the Indians Il good
bet in the, coming campaign.
So much for the psychological end
Of it.
Ono Change
Speaker and Owen Dunn made but
n move to strengthen the club. This
move. however, I believe will show
results. 1t was the acquisition Of
Stuffy McInnis to play first. That
position was filled acceptably we'll by
Doc Johnson and George Burns last
year, but Speaker could not be at ease
about it from n day to the next
McInnis can outfield either of those
men. hit as we'll, and help Speaker
more in getting results from other
infield changes he may have to make
this season.
Critics of the McInnis deal predict
that the honle-run hitting OF Elmer
Smith. sent to Boston in the McInnis
deal, will be missed.
1t may be. But Speaker is wise
enough to weigh batting from a cool
'A~N pcAiAL - ~ ouSh IL ItloVS.
Like most other men on the inside.
Speaker believes the wave Of batting
is due to ecede this year. Home runs
will not form the major portion of
the fireworks. Speaker also weighs
harmony. personality and other gem
eral conditions as well as batting aver
ages when he makes deals.
Pitchers Went Bad
But neither of these angles seems
as important in the discussion Of the
teams hopes as the pitching situation.
In 1920 Coveleskie. Jim Bagby, Uhle,
Mails. Sothoron and Caldwell deliver
ed great. Bagby was the only hurler
to hang up thirty games that year
in the A.. l..
Last year Coveleskie was the only
man to retain his form. The work
of the other hurlers was pitiful.
Speaker has reason to believe that
such a collapse cannot extend into
another season. Bagby himself, say
his slump is ended.
Kcefe May Help
In addition to these regulars, Spoke
has hopes of finding a young hurler
who can at least fill in the gaps when
needed. His best bets are keefe. OBJ
tanned from the Athletics, and Oden-
valid and Nelson Pott, both southpaws
Owner Jim Dunn himself isn't given
to boasting or wild-eyed predictions.
He's been engaged in the tedious task
of laying railroad beds too long to
make any rash promises. But I had
a little note from him the other day
and he wound it up with:
The Indians will be champions
again next October
=. THAT'S hio b1Yncb