Evening star., 1927-02-16

n 7 NEW YORK, February ls.-
nj Rogers Hornsby will train
VI slowly. with caution and for
4 a goodly period in the New
York Giants Spring training
quarters. There is a reason. The
Hornsby in 1926. when Picinich of
the Reds collided with him, was un-
derestimated during the world series.
Some of the sharpshooters who
were after Hornsby said he was
making his injuries appear worse
than they We're because he was not
playing as good base ball as had
been expected of him. That was un-
just. He was going along doing the
best that he could with a backbone
which was not In prime condition.
Hornsby played through the world
series under disadvantages. He did
not play as well as he had been known
to play, but he Is not the first star
who has suffered a partial relapse In
a world series. The most consistent
world series player is Eddie Collins.
He has been in often and leads in
many of things that he has tried to
do. 1t is one of the regrets of Ty
Cobb that he has not been more fire.
quently in a world series, for he
would like to see it he couldn't
do better than he did years ago. Even
the mighty Babe Ruth fell down I'm
his time. Against the Giants in 1922
he was awful.
Cards May Hold Edge.
If Hornsby's body fails to hold I'D
in the season to come, the trade be-
tween New York and st. Louis will
be all to the advantage of the Cardi-
nails. unless Frank Frisch. too, has
bad luck physically. Frisch has spent
all the Winter in the Adirondacks
building up a constitution that was
run down by worry and irritation be-
tween him and the New York club.
Frisch seems to be in the best of
condition. If he starts out we'll with
st. Louis the Cards wifi have two
of the fastest men in base ball on
second and at short-the shortstop
being none other than Tommy Theve-
now. The speed possible I'm that pair
exceeds anything I'm the National
League. Sand and Thompson of the
Phillies will cover a lot OF ground
also. and there is problematicai
pair out in Chicago in Sparky Adams
and English of Toledo.
A sudden strain to Hornsby might
upset lot of the good intentions
"ASh SiC o1dhtS dEt DdflHk tIl0
way for the next season. If Rogers
should be incapacitated for any length
of time this New York team of 1927
might become like that great New
York team of 1906 which went forth
to conquer the National League and
by July 4 appeared like six wards in
a hospital.
Hornsby on Form.
Hornsby did not bat as well in til
1926 season as he usually had batte'i
He dropped far below that standar,
of 400 which he had maintained fo
so long. There was plenty of reaso,
for it. The man could not swing witt
his wonted force during the season
and in the world series he was no
overfed with good balls to hit.
If Hornsby is to be of as much
use to the Giants as John j. McGraw
counts on this year he must harden
himself by degrees to the conditions
where he ca nstand everyday base
ball that will make him sweat. Those
who are counting heavily on the
Giants to win a pennant because OF
the addition of Hornsby and Roush
had better look out, for there are
three other teams in the league which
can turn a barrage into New York
that will take the stoutest defense of
which the Giants are capable and per
haps a little more.
(Copyright. 1927