Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-09
NONE OF MAJORS
ESCAPES DRUBB|NC.
lnterIeague Exhibitions Over
worked This Year-Cubs
and Robins Look Weak.
BY JOHN il. FOSTER.

NJ pOrtant TACT winch STANDS
out today is that no major
league club this year has escaped
preseason beating. To some of
them it would be novel experience
if they did miss trimming in the
spring, and still more novel if they
escaped an early trouncing when the
major league races actually were on.
There is time. however. for the lat
ter event to happen, and it will in
plentiful frequency when the leagues
start their annual steeplechase next
week
Years ago, before those intra-
league and interleague sprng COM
petitions had attained the Importance
attached to them now, and they have
been greatly overworked this year,
the Giants were wont to boast they
fadn [ lost on spring trip. They
fought minor league clubs with as
much intensity as they threw into
their campaign against their own
league rivals, and this is one reason
why they were so bluntly criticized
IN the south.
They would fight local mines and
local umpireS to FRAGILE and in
those days it was esteemed to be per-
fectly legitimate for IA home umpire
to give every close decision against
the visiting major league club. 1t
was a memory of the days in base
hall when, even in the major leagues.
there was an underground impression
that the home team should always be
favored on close decisions. That was
actually dishonest. But the opinion
really did prevail. and umpires were
ragged numerically because they
would not give each close decision to
the home team.
Value of Trip Doubtful.
The Giants have lost this year to
their major league rivals the Chi
cago Americans. but they haven't
been given much of chase by any
thing except Chicago. The SoX will
accompany them all the way to New
York and il is questionable whether
1t is worth while. In this particular
instance, the fans of New York will
get a peep at Kamm before the fans
of Chicago see him. There was a
time when all such little treats as
that Were religiously saved for the
home folks.
In the Yank Brooklyn series the
latter have made showing of sue
cess when they could slam the ball.
But the series has proved what was
demonstrated in Florida, SO far as
Brooklyn was commemorative lack of
a high-clas infield. Brooklyn must
have relief and strength there
quickly.
That is why Brooklyn put in a long
distance call for High. If he bitches
on after hanging back all spring. it's
safe to say that Johnston will go back
to third and High will play short, I'M
less Robinson is convinced that John
ston can be converted into a short
stop.
Pirate Pitchers backward.
The Pittsburgh team is being de-
Fnn Il l.,
ward. and that isn't surprising. AT
Hot Springs both the manager and
owner of the club said their pitchers
were slow because of unreasonable
weather. Both Pittsburgh and the
Boston SoX We're nearly always
wrapped up in two thick sweaters on
the bailficld, and pitchers were not
asked 20 show anything. 1t would
have meant death to their arms.
The Cubs do not look very good
They may not be unlimbering much.
but it would appear they haven't
much to unlimber, and that the win
ter season has not done much more
for them that it did for Brooklyn.
strength than last season. the St.
Louis team will run away with it for
the fourth place in the first division.
That will leave the Cubs with moth
ing better to produce than they did
last summer. and as the SoX I'M
doubtedly have better team than
they had in 1922 Bill killefer. man
ager of the Cubs, will have to be up
and doing if he expects to hold up
the reputation that the National
League club has in base ball
1t looks as if the Cubs were car
ried away with the possibility of a
greater future than their strength
will warrant Possibly the season
will bring about other results. The
Cubs hope so if no one else does.
Phillies Surprise Mackmen.
In the first encounter between the
JhillicS and the Athletics the former
won. Both teams have had a fine
spring training and the result may be
looked upon AS encouraging for the
PhillieS. 1T was IL fine game of ball.
No errors for either team, hits seven
and six. From it the fan can get a
motion of the kind of work that these
two teams have been doing in the
south. II may be fancied that the out
come was bit of a surprise at that.
Commissioner Lands and President
Heydler met at Chicago and FRESH
dent Heydler said the Benton case
had been touched upon. That WAS
all that he did say. Somebody should
rise up and explain the National
League vote of six to two against
Benton. That's the crux of the whole
dining.
Copyright, 1921