Evening star., 1923-07-29

A manager started the fun. He
tore off several yards OF vigorous
language about the impossibility of
finding anything in the minor leagues
that looked like ball player who
was not tied up to some major league
club already.
They Are Hard TO Find.
Most Of them who are tied" he
added. with tinge of bitterness In
his voice. ARE not worth the rope to
hold them"
Just look over the formidable list
Of just teams that need new infielders:
BOSTON NATIIONALs-That COM
bination cannot get through another
year one whit better than it is going
now.
BROOkLYNS-This team held up
temporarily through the solid whack-
ing OF jacques Fournier. an old and
tried first baseman 1t can never win
a championship as 1t stands.
PHILADELPHIA NATIONALs-
Most decidedly. II has an infield that
cannot protect its pitchers. and that
will leave the team stranded on the
bar in 1924 as 1t is now.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES-Absolute-
~ yes. The turnover of the infield
would not hurt now. The team has
suffered for two years from an in
field with perforations In it.
CINCINNATI REDs-As likely as
not two or three turnovers Will be
needed for the Reds. More likely
than not If they fail to win the pen
nant this year.
CHICAGO CUBS-Does anyone think
Killefer dares to stand pat on his
infield and claim that he can win a
championship next year? He gets
need a first baseman. and maybe a
better batter elsewhere would not
hurt.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS-Yes,m most
decidedly. One side OF the infield is
beginning to be covered with barna-
cles, and the craft will never sail into
Port Pennant equipped as 1t is.
BOSTON AMERICANs-Got to have
men there on the infield. No doubt
about it,
NEW YORK YANKEEs-I they
win the championship they may stand
pat. but they will not be likely to
win fourth pennant in succession
with the infield they now have.
wASHINGTON-The need infield
sojers" Is not strong enough to prop
the Washington pitchers when they
get into straits.
CLEyELANDS-Chan may come
there. 1t is a better infield than 1t
was last season. but 1t must be bet
places on the infield could stand fill
Ing with better players
DETROITS In abominable luck
with its infield all year, and Ty Cobb
must reach out again. If he could
get a combination to work at second
and short with the ease of a Barry
and an Eddie Collins what a team
he might have!
CHICAGO WHITE SOX-Better than
they were. but they can be better
than they are. If they were provided
with shortstop as fast SCollins at
add some strength to pitchers that
need the best defense II they are to
got anywhere.
ST. LOUIS BRoWNs-1f .Sisler can
play no more first baseman is
needed who is as fast as the re-
nainder of an infield which is as
speedy as anything in the majors.
Two Clubs Well Fixed
Only the Giants and the Athletics
in the two leagues seem strong
enough to go through another season
without Strengthening their infields
And the Giants have on their team
old players and they cannot last for
ever.
Not often have the major leagues
started to play a season in which
they expected SO much rivalry only
to find themselves bankrupt of in
helders before the first day of August
That Is why they are asking what of
the crop of kids for 1929 1t is the
year Of general infleld bust" because
the two or three exceptional infields
that have managed to hold up fairly
we'll cannot make out for the year to
come.
Looks as II there will be trades
next fall and winter and plenty of
them. 1t will be folly to go back to
the well In 1924 with the same old
1eaky can that failed in 1928:
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