The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-14
McGraU Fears to Talk
Too Much, But Thinks
Giants Are Stronger

MEMPHIS, Tenn, April John j.
McGraw, so years old, 80 years in
baseball winner of three world series
and loser of four, once conceded him
self and his team the National league
pennant before the season began.
He and they finished outside the
money.
Returning home now from the 1928
training camp of the world cham
pion giants at San Antonio, Tex,
McGraw begs to be excused from
making the same mistake again. 1t
is difficult for MeGraw to discuss
this 1928 team of his at all under the
circumstances. For he is confident
of what they can do. To avoid the
Graw sorts over and picks his words
as carefully as one ambassador cal
ling another one liar.
Il don't know whether We'll win
or not?" so far McGraw hasn't claim
ed the pennant, has he? But" he con-
tinues, Juggling against his own re-
straint, Il will say that the Giants
are stronger this year than they
were at the close of the 1922 seas
SON" Which is to say that his
Giants who were better than any
other club in the league last year are
still better this year, whereas none
of the others has improved very
much. Il look for some strong OPP
position" McGraw continues, hedging
a little bit. Cincinnati and Pitts
burg will be strong. 1t will be
race"
The Giants infield, the most nearly
perfect combination ever seen with
in the skinned borders of diamond
has matured as such and will play
together more smoothly this year
than in 1922 when the personnel was
referred to as the million dollar in
field.
O'COnnell Slumps.
Jimmy O'Connell as the alternate
of Bill Cunningham in center field,
is capable of much better baseball
than he has shown in the training
camps. He is either homesick or
suffering from buck fever. Those
who saw him with san Francisco say
he Is not in real FORM. although his
physical condition is excellent. Be
hind Cunningham and O'Connell in
line for the centerfield job are Casey
Stengel. growing old but an agile
fly-trapper and hitter to be envied.
and Ralph SINNERS, the Giants most
expensive recruit of the 1922 season.
SINNERS was hit on the head last
season and has never been quite as
good since.
AS a recruit to the pitching de-
partment there Is Jack Bentley OBJ
tanned from the Baltimore Orioles.
knowing that he was going to be
late in reporting to camp because of
his bonus fuss. Bentley might have
had the sense to do some training at
home. He didn't and he Is still too
fat and soft. However. baseball men
believe he will be good for Is VIC
tories at least. Earl Webb, a recruit
from the Memphis club. probably will
be retained by McGraw for the same
sort of schooling that was given to
Virgil Barnes, Rosy Bryan and JON
nard before they became graduate
pitchers.
Veterans MOundsmen.
AS veteran pitchers there are Art
Nehf. the Barnes brothers, Jess and
Virgil. Rosy Ryan, Hugh McQuillan,
Claud Jonnard and Jack Scott. Me-
Quillan and Scott are not in the best
Of shape, and Scott was bruised the
other day in practice, necessitating
4 lay off
Behind the bat there are Frank
snyder, not the headiest catcher in
he game but a reliable order taker
or the McGraw system. Earl Smith.
among the players, and Aleck Cas-
ton, last years third string man.
From top to bottom of the batting
order the Giants can hit. Their at
tack will be the strongest in their
league.
The Giants get along" together.
They have to. McGraw makes them.
But generally speaking they shouldn't
find it hard to endure one another
his year. and the comraderie will
help. In fact. eover-confidence,' the
thing that McGraw fears most. seems
to be their only enemy. They think
no team can beat them over the sea-
son. but they are sufficiently intelli-
gent to know that cockiness has
spoiled many good club before.
O o o
White Sox Seem Frail.
The White Sox of Kid Gleason,
who have been touring with the