Evening star., 1923-04-16


About the only change in the aspect
of the champions is in the pitching
corps. At this time last spring Phil
Douglas and Fred Toney were under
the McGraWian banner and bidding
fair to do a lot To carry it forward.
They started valiantly enough, but
soon weakened and were cut down
Douglas through a loosening of his
personal morale and Toney through
gradual falling off in his powers. due
10 age and teSty temperament. But
there is no denying that Douglas and
Toney were good fellows when they
had it,. and the question is whether
Jack Scott and Hughie McQuillan, the
pitchers who We're brought into the
fold when Fisherman Phil and
trederick the Grand Old Golem''
were cast adrift, are quite up to
SupGr-Star standard.
McQuillan might be considered to
haiance IoneyS removal. Hughie is
Younger than Fred for one thing. and
If he will bend his merry and easy
going disposition to the yoke of hard
work the Astoria boy ought TO have
better year with the Giants than
lie ever had with the Braves OF
course, Hughie has not the supreme
strength and cunning that once was
Toney's. Fred even last summer was
;thie to pitch a two-hit game but it
was last dying flicker of form. as
Tar as his work with New York was
Scott Has Repented.
Will Jack Scott offset Douglass Is
one big southern Scotch Irish pitcher
as good an asset as another? At least
the North Carolina "Scottie" will be
more tractable TO handle. The fine he
drew from McGraw in San Antonio
for some alleged infraction of club
rules was Jacks first fine of his
. career. and he intends to let it be
his last. He has since labored dill
gently and was the first Giant pitcher
to round into real form He wants
to make good in repayment for all
the club did for him last summer in
financing the Reconstruction" of his
starboard salary wing. 1t is doubtful
If any one could better a Douglas
performance when Phil really was in
the mood to work. but Scott lately
mas developed a great faith in him
self and a will to win that should
make him something a little more
2oo-pounder with fast ball. fade
away ans speeder. In the exhibition
games in the south he did stunninsIy
against the Sox and it looks as il
ne would carry on right from where
be left off last season when he was
credited with winning his last five
starts and topped his dramatic come
back by winning the best-pitched
game against the Yanks in the world
series.
Bentley Is Confident.
Bentley is another pitcher who has
world of confidence in his own
abilities Boiled down" to proner
weight and boiled up to form by a
heiated and brief. but intensive, re
ductlon' campaign in Texas. the prize
Oriole purchase will be ready to take
ms turn about ten days after the
season opens. 1t is predicted that so
good is his curve ball and his cool
headed pofse and nerve at all times
that he will push Nehf for the honor
OF being the first Giant pitcher to an
mex eighteen victories. And he will
often be allowed to demonstrate his
pinch hitting abilities. for he is of
the big husky type that is best when
having lot of work to do.
The rest of the Giant staff is the
same, and there is no reason to sur
mise that it will not be Just as ef-
fective, which in 1922 wasn't the peak
of effectiveness, but was still good
enough to battle through to victory.
And it must be realized that with a
team as strong on the offense as the
champs, who in 1922 had eight regu-
lars hitting over 800 and with the
braln1eSt 1nfield in the business, and
an outfeld extraordinarily strong and
versatile. pitching staff almost 80
per cent weaker than the technically
easily be carried through to success.
But IT McGraw'S expectations are
not disappointed several new young
tWirlers have developed to bring the
paper strength of the staff up to the
level of any in base ball. The black
browed coal miner from Tennessee,
Earl Webb, the right handed sensa
tion with Memphis last year, has
panned out the best of the recruits,
and is almost sure of being retained
The southpaw Swede, George Wal
berg. from Portland, might be CON
sidered a fixture, but for the fact that
the Giants have not yet clear title to
him, and will have difficulty in pay
Ing for him with the usual pawns of
other players on account of the coast
leagues stand against the draft
clause in such players contracts.
Red Fred Lucas, the pint sized right
handler, who toured with the second
team. is also in high favor, and what
ever his immediate fate it is certain
the Giants will keep a string on him.
In Mike Cvengros. the Slovak from
Little Rock, the Giants have their
fourth southpaw. Maybe Mike makes
the Giant craft list too heavily to the
port, though surpluses of southpaws
are rare. If he has to go 1t will only
be to return later
Jonnard in Good Shape.
Claude Jonnard is due to come
through great this year, say the
mented by a fast curve. He was over
looked In dealing out bouquets for last
years trlumphs, and should have been
gwen more praise for finishing ont
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