The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-12

lean league champions were
a fighting heart, a brain, CO.
hesion and hustle.
Physically the teem may have
been improved with the addition Of
Herb Pennock. the former Boston
southpaw. Joe Dugan's presence
for mn entire season also should
help. but there can be no means OF
knowing that the club-has had i'm
planted a heart, a brain or a hus.
Ting spirit Those virtues are hard
to cultivate In any athlete who does
not possess them naturally.
Miller Higgins Is OF the school
who believes that the strength Of
. club lies In It's pitchlng, II this
theory Is sound. the YANKEES should
win the pennsnt, because Higgins
has not only plenty OF star pitchers
but. in the opinion of many baseball
men. he IA oycrladen with so many
stars that he will be unable TO give
any of them the regular work that
is 80 essential to keep pitchers in
top form.
IL may be granted that the Yanks
have tho worst outYleld In baseball,
rnisflt infeld with two star third
base men playing third and seconS
and a dearth OF good reserve ma
,eria1. but against that they have
the greatest pitching staff In the
me jor leagues Mays, shawkey.
Bush. Hoyt. Jones and pennock.
II Fuggins is right in placing the
pitching strength above everything
elre. the outlook for the Yanks IS
rosicst.
Even II several players are forced
to hold down positions tina, they
arc not fitted for. and even II they
need urging from the corner" 70
help them out OF place that IL
not COT erred by the book. the Yanks
have n wealth OF fine material and,
as IN the case Of the st Louis Card
mails. much depends on what the
mana cement is able 20 get out OF IT..
with tho exception Of Wally
schang. wally Pipp and Joe Dugan,
and Ruth perhaps, Higgins will
have TO make his players get some
hustle in them. The realization of
the task that In ahead OF them and
the lure Of the $4,000 that no
doubt will be the winners share of
A series in the huge new Yankee
sta dunn may get the results with
out the use Of an iron bat
Babe Ruth. no doubt, Is the ono
player upon whom rcsusciiation
of the yanks rests. for II Is an axiom
that: As Ruth goes, 20 30 the
Yanks." II the Big BAN starts out
mnuIing the ball the Yanks will
maui with him.
II the collapse OF Ruth was due
to mental and physical troubles last
season. the Swat King ought 20 go
big this year, because he has i1ott
given himself mental troubles by the
financial losees his life last winter
led him Into and he is reported by
competent Judges TO be in fine
shape. But II the slump OF the
Babe was due, rs the Giants main
tain. 10 the discovery Of his long
sought-for batting weakness he has
little chance to come back,
As far as Ruth Is concerned. then.
II looks like Higgins should have
little worry from him, Promising
Of Improvement also was the way
Bob Meusel went about his spring
training. The languid California
boy seems at last 10 have decided
to take hls baseball seriously and
bu, the desirn TO DO II has
prevented him from being one OF
basetall's greatest stars Higgins
may Use him In centerfield and. 81
he gets going good. the Ysnks can
work out good outfield
II seems. after all. that the chances
OF the Yanks In the pennant race
depend largely on how Interested
they are In winning the champion.
ship and how much effort they put
forth 20 accomplish that purpose.