The Bismarck tribune., 1925-04-03
BROWNS HAVE
BETTER CLUB
THAN IN 1924
Sisler in Better Shape and
I Hopes to Have Team in
First Division
BY BILLY EVANS

Tarpon Springs, Fla, April g.
What about the st. Louis Browns
and how does George Sisler look ?
In making the rounds Of the train
ing camps, once ! let it be known
that | have seen the Browns in ac-
tion, Sisler becomes the topic of
discussion.
Tandem and rival players are
equally interested in the condition
of Sisler. 1t struck me as quite a
tribute to the manager of the
Browns.
When an eye affliction forced Sis
Ter out of the game for the entire
season of 1923, the sympathy of the
baseball world went to the star Of
the Browns.
The return of Sisler to the game
last season was applauded, every
where. Keen interest was shown in
his play. While the Sisler of last
from the Sisler of 1922, still he per-
formed most remarkable come
back.
What will Sisler do this year? Was
his showing Of last season the peak
of his game or has a winter of rest
so improved him physically that he
will be much like the Sisler Of old?
Surface conditions make Sisler
look in great shape. The worried
look that he wore most of last sea-
son is gone. There is snap to the
eye and the swing he takes at the
ball. / would say offhand, that
physically he looks at least SO per
cent better than last season.
During. batting practice and in a
+ couple of games with the Brooklyn
. Dodgers l watched closely his form
at the plate. American League pitch
ers say Sisler can't hit low ball.
The pitching / saw him face was
perhaps shade below the major
league brand of June or July, but it
was pretty good pitching And take
+ it from me, Sisler wasn't bothered
I particularly by the curve or the fast
/ one at the knee.
Everything may look different
when the season opens and the
(! teams and pitchers swing into high,
but Judging on spring form, would
say Sisler is due to play much
improved game over last season.
Sisler hopes to improve his bat
ting about 40 points, admits that
will still be a trifle below normal,
yet he will be content with that
much progress. trusting that one or
more years will restore his 1922
! batting punch.
I What about the Browns? / asked
Sisler that question after had given
b him the once over. up and down.
will let Sisler answer that part OF
/, the story.
"The Browns are going to be a
much better ball club than last sea.
son. | want to make that most EN-.
phatic.
II am not pointing toward a pen.
nant. OF course l wouldn't offer the
slightest objection to winning, but
that isn't my goal. am SHOOTING
at the first division and feel that !
have 2 reasonably good chance tc
make it.
"My infield is poing to be much
stronger. The third base problem
long a worry on onr club, has heen
solved. There isn't better third
haseman in the American Ieaeue
than Gene Robertson. He found him
felf when he overcome his weakness
against southpaws.
se II feel that nv play will be much
better bath in the field and at the
hat. ! will hit in runs where / failed
las* season. That should help.
"At the other spots in the team
there will be no change. We are
well fortified. The veterans Of 9TH
er years will be first choice with
canable substitutes in reserve.
Fourth or better will satisfy me
and my club ard we have . great
chance to make Il"