The Washington times., 1924-12-30

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Even so. however. the boys are
not in such bad shape. The ac-
Quisition of Shocker has given them
a classy right.hand pitcher who will
round out the pitching staff beauti'
fully. And the acquisition of Steve
o'Neill remedies gIaring weakness
in the catching department. Both
Schang and O'Neill are getting along
In years, but between them they
should be able to go through the
season handily. /,
Schang, given moderate amount
OF work to do, can still stack up
with any catcher in the league. And
O'Neil1, as an understudy,. will pro
vide a hitting power that was sadly
lacking last year when Holman
and Bengough were in the lineup.
The shortstOp position, which
has been the source of much worry
on the part OF baseball scribes, is .
not giving the club as much con.
Germ as most folks wOnId believe.
OF course Huggins would like to
get hold of an experienced young
shOrtstOp and would g.ye up plenty
Of excess material to get his man.
But, failing in his quest, he still
can get along.
In the first place, Scotty is not
so bad. The veteran had a good
season last year-hitting better than
in several seasons and fielding re-
markably well, considering his age.
True, he has slowed up a bit. but
with Dugan on one side of ScottH
and Ward on the other. Higgins can
afford to use a slow man in The
knowledge that these two can go a
long way toward making UP for the
weakness.
Then in Howard Shanks Hug
gins has acquired veteran who
can. step into the ihfield at either
third 'or short and perform credit
ably. Shanks is a good hitter.
too, as is Ernie Johnson, who did
mighty well in the games he
played last year. Neither Shanks.
nor johnson have Scottyis .un,
earny knack of Selling up plays,
but either of them. in pinch,
could be used with fair success.
The outfield as it lined up last
year was far from the worst in the
league. And with Earl Combs in
shape to take his regular turn this
year, it should be quite the best in
the Johnson circuit. Combs is
wonder. Every one is agreed as
to that, and latest reports are
that his ankle injury has = not
affected his play in any way. He
Is a speed merchant both in the
field and on the bases. Just what
part he will play in the Yankee
drive. if he is right, is best shown
by Iris Speakers comment when
he saw Combs for the first time
last year.
"Take it from me,"' Spoke. re-
marked to Higgins, that young
fellow there is the greatest pros.
spect that has come into this
league in my memory. He's a
real ballplayer." ,.;
And that means lot, for Spoke
has seen lot Of the boys break in.
BY and large, the thing sizes up
about this way as compared to last
year:
Catching Defensively just as
good; more hitting power and drive.
Pitching-Better. .Shocker should
have better season than Bush,
and Sam Jones can be- counted on
for comeback. \,
Infield-Same as last year.
: Outfield-More speed, more hit
ting power.
Which should just about put the
Yankees in the race from start to
finish. At least it will if the dope
holds true.
Manager Higgins has started re
ducing his squad. He has released
Shag Koran, an outfielder, to the
Los Angeles Club Of the Pacific
Coast League and sens Mack Hills,
an infielder. to the Toledo Club on
option. Hills Is the youngster OBJ
kninod from Atlanta