Evening star., 1927-03-07
DISPLAYING LOTS OF PEP
INPRIMINC FOR SEASON
Bancroft, Who Has Training Ideas of His Own Has
His Team Well Advanced-Cooney's Injury
May Prove Hard Blow to Clubs Hopes.

for batting practice at the beginning
OF the training period, and contrary
to the usual batting spreed indulged
In from the jump. the Braves spent
tnelr time bunting for the first week
ana the pitchers tossed on the side
lines instead of the mound.
Protects His Pitchers.
This is mainly to protect the
pitchers Bancroft said. In prac-
tice when sharp hits ring from the
bats, although the pitchers are put
ting nothing on the bail. there Is an
unconscious inclination to bear down
and soon they are cutting loose at "a
much faster clip than should he the
case before they have had some good
warm weather to loosen them up"
The pitchers have reacted favor.
ably to this program. Charley Rob.
ertson. of no-hit fame when he was
wearing the spangles of the Chicago
White Sox, declared himself never
better. Ilearn, furnishing with Mog.
ridge the left-hand pitching staff Of
the club, now that Cooney is out of
the picture for the time being with
a chipped bone in his elbow, seems
almost ready to pitch a game.
Smith. regarded as one of the main.
stays of the club, is taking It easier,
but Knight, late of the Phillies, has
struck fast early stride, as have
Mills and Holshouser, two promising.
recruits. Benton, Genewich and WertI
are available again and Edwards,
graduated TO the Braves from Provi.
dence ast season. seems to have won
definite place on the staff.
j. Francis Hogan, a big young
catcher. who hits the ball hard. Is;
about to win a place as assistant TO
faylor and Gibson. A short time ago
ne was Boston high school player.
tie Joined the Braves last year after
serving an apprenticeship at Lynn and
acquired major league ways so readily
that for time this Spring he was a
holdout. He has been a striking
hgure in the camp. using a big bat as
letter of introduction.
Eddie Moore, whose services were
acquired from Pittsburgh last season.
VIII play third base, with the veteran
Andy High in reserve. Manager Ban.
croft will again take care of short
Walter Gautreau. diminutive second
Daseman, Will probably be back at
his station, but Herbert Thomas.
almost as broad as he is long, will
he Kept as an understudy. Two first
basemen will also be retained. both
Dick Burrus of last years team and
Jacques Fournier, late of BROOKLYN.
Delng slated. Fournier, not so young
as he was, can still hit at a mighty
pace, but Is not so fast of foot =
Burrus.
Richb0urg Impressive.
Lance Richbotug has shown enough
to Justify his employers judgment i'm
paying Milwaukee a fancy price for
his release. He will be one of the reg.
uiar outfielders from the jump. with
the hard, hitting Eddie Brown and
fast Jim Welch likely to fill the other
two places. Jack Smith, Leslie Mann
and Red" Barron are on hand, and
all may be kept.
Manager Bancroft is cheerful and
believes his club has a good chance
to get somewhere in the race. al.
though carefully disavowfng cham.
pionship claims. He points with pride
TO the spirit OF the Braves and thinks
IL cannot be denied--in reason,
The destiny of the Braves in n
measure is on the laps of the base
pail gods. When and il Cooney re-
covers is an important part of the
equation. He may be out for months
and the Braves may not be able to
carry on without their valuable lack
or all trades. who pitches and can
be generally useful