The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-28
DDIANSDUE TO FINISH BETTER,
 SAYS SPEAKER
Leader Doesn' t Figure on Pennant, but Would
 Improve Status
MANY NEW FACES LOOMING
lob of Reconstruction Begun as Team Began
 to Wane

CLEVELAND, Feb. 2S. - "The h. dians will finish higher this year than they did last.'
 This is the confident prediction of Iris Speaker, gray-thatched leader of the tribe for three and one-half sea- sons, in one of which, 1920, he piloted his team to the worlds championship; in another finished second, being nosed out in a gruelling finish at the wire in 1921, when his pitchers failed to stand the strain, and last year con- ing in fourth behind the Tanks, Browns and Tigers.
 Spoke" is laying no claims to a pennant The work of rebuilding a team that may in time become a con- tender for the highest honors was begun in midseason last year, when Speaker realized that his veterans had passed the zenith and could no longer be depended upon; and when the um- pire's "Play ball!" is heard at Dunn
 
 the field in Cleveland's home uniforms will not be recognized by one who watched it make it's fights for pen nants in 1920 and 1921.
 Many New Players
 New men will be seen at third base, where Walter Lutzke, obtained from Milwaukee this winter, will replace the veteran, Larry Gardner, whose batting eye is still good but whose pins" have seen their best days.
 At first "Stuffy" McInnes, long con- sidered the best fielding first base man in the league, will have to fight for a place with Louis Guisto, sub on last years team, and Frank Brewer obtained in a trade with Washington this winter. Brewer was used both in the outfield and at first base by Milan and is said to have a healthy swat that may manufacture many home runs over the short right field fence at Dunn Field.
 The other infield positions will have Bill Wamby at second and Joe Sewell at short, with Riggs Stephenson ready to put in, should either show signs of faltering.
 Behind the bat Speaker believes he has the best string of catchers in either league.
 Steven O'Neill will again be first string" man, with Glenn Myatt and Luke Sewell to relieve him in case of necessity.
 Iris Rejuvenated
 In the outfield "Spoke' himself ex- poets to have one of the best seasons of his long career and declares that the trouble he had with a bad knee last season has been entirely remedied by long hunting trip in the noun tains of Wyoming, from which he re- turned only a few weeks ago. Jamie son will be back in left field, while the third regular will be selected from among a number of promising young sters, Joe Evans having gone to Wash ington, and Joe Wood, the Smoky Joe" of Boston pitching fame, now coaching baseball players at Yale.
 For pitchers, Coveleskie, Morton and Uhle are the only veterans, but in Sherrod Smith, secured from Brook lyn last year, Metivier Bedgood and half dozen others who have come up with good records in the minor leagues Speaker believes he has the making of first-class pitching staff.
 well finish higher than last year" was his parting prediction. eff Covel- eskie, Uhle and Morton make good and we uncover a real find among our youngsters, look out! I'm not claim ing anything more than improved standing but''-And the Indian leader left his sentence unfinished.