The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-08
ROBINS NEED
RUNS, STATES
UNCLE BERT
Great Pitching and Catching
Staff Will BE Useless
Without Scores
BY BRIAN BELL
(Associated Press Sports Writer)


Clearwater, Fla, March 8.-tR-
"Uncle Wilbert" Robinson, manager
of the Brooklyn Robins, sat on twt
chairs placed between the plate ant
first base as he watched his grea
pitchers tossing the ball to batsmen
Dazzy Vance, the speed ball king
was throwing bird shot at wide
eyed youngsters, swinging with ont
foot free. Jess Petty, with touch
Of silver in his hair, was showing
wee lefthanded hooks, and Bill
Doak, his alert face lined by
wrinkles Of dozen years Of Major
league diamonds, was now and ther
contributing to the young fellows
education with knuckle ball. Hare
by the big McWeeny, even bigger
Elliott, Rubc Ehrhardt and William
Watson Clark were looscning their
able arms.
Manager Robinson's eyes strayed
from the pitchers to his almost
equally great catching staff, De.
berry, Hagreaves and Henline, and
with a plaintive note in his voice, ir
a brief sentence, wrote a prescrip-.
ton for his ball club.
"What we need is runs" he said
Sees Fight Defense
Robinson does not want many
runs, just a few will do, he thinks
for his pitchers and catchers will
form the basis for tight defense
If baseball teams were made up on.
~ of batteries Brooklyn would al
ways be in the first division.
Dave Bancroft, former manager
of the Boston Braves, has added
noticeable strength to the infield. He
will play short stop, probably be.
tween Partridge at second and
Harry Riconda at third. Bissonette
seems likely to draw the first base
assignment. Partridge is the only
holdover. Riconda came from the
American association although hi
has been up before, and Bissonette
was graduated from the 'Interna'
tiOnal.
Howard Freigau, another former
big timer, will be available as utili.
ty as Will Darcy Flowers ani
Charlie Corgan of last years team
Outfield Scrambled
The Brooklyn outfield is scram
bled. Captain Max Carey, the vet
eran, will start in center field. TIL,
field of candidates for the othe
two positions is large. Dyson, an
other of the men from the minors
who have been in the majors before
will make bid. Babe Herman, con
verted first baseman, is devoting al
his time to outfield efforts and Ar
mold STATE is back again from las
year. Harvey Hendrick, Brooklyn
lone 300 hitter in 1927, is now re
garded as an outfieldcr, subject t
call at first base. Overton Trempel
fast youngster who played well a
times last season, is back agar
Max West from Waco, and Dal
Taylor from Memphis complete a
outfield array that is impressive il
numbers.
Louis Koupal, pitcher from In
dianapolis, has shown enough i
the early spring to insure hin
further careful scrutiny and Rob
inson, q big Texas amateur, secon'
only to the 235 pound "Jumb
Jim" Elliott in size, may sticl
around.
Latin Looks Good
On a ball club less plentifull
supplied with high class catching
talent. Alphonse Lopez, Latin
American from Tampa and Jackson
Vile, would make the hurdle from
class "B" to the majors without
stop. The 10 year old southeastern
league product, has a rifle disguise
as an arm and contagious enthusi
asm. It seems q conservative est
mate that some day he will catcl
for Brooklyn.
The Robins have no pitching wor
ries. Led by Vance, Petty an
Doak, already approaching fitness
last years sharpshooters are almos
ready to take up where they left Of
making it had for the opposition las
year.
There is no disposition to disput
Manager Robinspn's diagnosis
"What we need is runs"