Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-08

/, Unquestionably the former Giant
snortstop Is the peer of Philly leaders
chosen since Pat Moran went to Gin
cinnati. Fletcher: like McGraw. is
same players retain their positions
year after year. He believes in con
stantly trying to transfuse new blood
into the lineup in order to keep the
machine up to full fighting strength
FIetcher's View of 1t.
The way 1 have the regulars lined
up now may or may not be the way
they will start the season." said
Fletcher in discussing the general
outlook. Just because certain man
played certain position last year is
no reason in my eyes why he is going
to be there again this year.
For instance, I haven't yet decided
by any means how / will work the
inffeld. l feel pretty sure I'll use
Walter Holke at first base. but as
for Rapp, Parkinson and Sand, ! am
not sure. At present 1 am using Rapp
and Atkinson at their old positions.
third and second, and Sand at short
stop. I may go through with this
arrangement, but, on the other hand,
if / think 1 can shift them around
in such a way that the club will be
strengthened. 1 won't hesitate to do
it. Also if there is another man feel
is better than any of these he's the
man VINO VIII get the JoD.
II believe in giving everybody
chance to play the position he can
play best for the interest of the club.
and that is the way l Intend to
work it,
fright now it is entirely too early
to say anything that even approaches
a prediction. But j will say this, the
club looks to be right now a much
better one than finished the season of
1922.
There are several reasons for this.
In the first place, several OF the
younger players, especially Head,
Kaunas, Woehrs and Dennehy, look
very good.
Concerning the Pitchers.
CAS- for the pitchers, there isn't any
doubt that the veterans are far better
now than they have been for a num-
Der of seasons. / expect Meadows.
Ring and Hubbell to win many more
games this year than they did last.
1t is absurd for pitchers of their abil-
ity to win the ridiculously few num-
Der of games they did last year, and
1 am sure they are all going to have
a far better record this year.
Then there is Weinert. AS far as
his stuff is concerned, there is moth
ing to worry about. He has always
had that. What he needed was con-
fidence and / think he has that now.
| won FIVE out of his last six games last
season. That surely ought to have
given him confidence. He has every
thing a pitcher needs. so there isn't
any reason why he shouldn't be a
great help to us this year and be
among the topnotch left-handed
pitchers of the league.
Henline Is First Catcher.
"Henline, of course, will do most Of
| the catching. but he must have some
| one to go along with him. I can't say
| who that will be, but Jimmy Wilson
| looks awfully good. Then, I'll have
| to have another catcher to use in the
| bull pen and to send into the game in
| case of emergency.
| But the most encouraging feature
| is the fighting spirit which I see de
| veloping. In the Yannigan-R Regulars
| games I required the teams to fight
| to win. That is the way to learn in
| the spring. Plays come up then
| which will come up later in the sea
son: If they are played wrong in the
| spring. it doesn't matter, but the
| men learn how to handle the situa-
| ton the next item it arises"