Evening star., 1928-03-01
BY JOHN B. FOSTER.

PASO ROBLEs. Calf. March L.
Eat. but don't be merry" quoth DOME
Bush TO his Pittsburgh base ball play
ers, who are present champions of the
National League. but are still smart
ing under the cruel prod they got last
Fall from the New York Yankees. And
eat they do. for Pittsburgh's meal table
at Spring training camp here Is more
popular with the Pirates than knot
hole in base ball park fence is with
small boy when the evening shades
are falling.
This is another year" says DOME.
"They say let the dead past bury the
dead, but that philosophy doesn't go
here. We are only half dead and stiu
kicking. Kindly keep in mind that We
have another National League cham
pionship to win and that We thirst
for revenge Give us another tilt with
Babe and that big Gehrig and wen
look better
The first exhibits to be noted as
the gentle eycursionist passes down the
middle aisle is an infeld OF Harris,
first bas2; Adams. second base: Wright,
shortstop and Trayror. third base.
Infield Much Faster.
Whether Pittsburgh wins another
a
field will make more double plays this
year by big margin. and moreover,
unless Adams. Wright or Traynor picks
up the scarlet rash. the famous Tinker
by Evers to Chance" combination. won't
seem 50 wonderful By comparison. In
fact. that combination became of note
more because of a jingle htan because
it was so surprisingly good. Peckin-
paugh to Harris to Judge could block
out Tinker to Evers to Chance four
ways from Sunday. but it didn't sound
SO catchy
When Pittsburgh obtained Adams by
trade. men of wisdom said Donie Bush
and Barney Dreyfus had made the
sf1rewdcst deal in three years. because
Pittsburgh could better afford to let
an outfelder go than Chicago could
lose an outfelder. Not that an out
fielder might not help the Chicago club.
but second baseman who knew his
business would steady the Pirates. Add
To that the fact that Adams Is made
three parts India rubber. which Is i'm
portant because the Pirates needed some
cne on second base to wake them up.
Adams Is Lively.
Here It is the first day Of March
and Adams making good by twisting
and turning around second base with
such ability that Wright. in JOY and
amusement, stands on his head 20
throw the ball to him. Wright hasn't
dared to stand on his head In three
years.
The Pittsburgh inheld quartet should
make at least five more double plays
a week than the crowd did last season.
A double play almost invariably means
the cutting down Of runner who IS
near home. Il may be that five such
runners moved down will mean i've
bali games won. True, it may not be
that good. but II it were TO mean two
ball games won. l. would mean that
Pittsburgh could win 100 games In
1928. II Is not too early TO suggest
now that 100 victories viii win q
National League pennant.
Harris was the Slowest TO round into
form. but Joe Is a faithful plugge-. and
will hit as long as he can swing his
will be able TO play with more aSSur-
ance toward first base, Harris will pick
up in speed.
Only accident can prevent this Pitts
burgh infleld from being better than 1t
was in 1927. That Is as sure as there
are fielding statistics in base ball. A
sure second baSeman Is a help TO any
team. A second baseUian who s agile.
sprightiy. alert and ever on the move
Is two helps. and that is the type OF
Adams. ,1
Club Needed Speed
Six weeks must elapSe before the
first ball game is played in the National
League. but III the more than six days
that the Pittsburgh players have been
practicinS at the foot Of the paEk-t.p-
ped hills OF PaSo RobleS enough speed
has been developed 20 make IL certain
that the Pirates have found thai which
they have long sought
Any old-timer who has known Pitts
eurgh IN the past can note aS early
rs this the difference made BY an
honest St-to-goodneSS second esSsman.
who Is the keystone OF base bal. team
fCNrvr9<h. tN"St