Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-08
FINE .BAT.TERYMEN
ON BROOKLYN CLUB
Attack Back of HurIers Is
Sought by Wise Pilot
at Clearwater.
BY BRIAN BELL,
tAssoci ated Press Sports Writer.1

CLEARWATER. Fla, March g.
Uncle Wilbert" Robinson. manager OF
the Brooklyn Robins. sat on two chairs
placed between the plate and first base
as he watched his great pitchers toss
ing the ball to batsmen.
Dazzy Vance, the speed ball king. was
throwing birdshot at Wide-eyed young
sters, swinging with one foot free. Jess
Petty. with O. touch of silver in his hair,
was showing wee lefthanded hooks. and
Bill Doak. his alert face lined BY
wrinkles Of dozen years on major
league diamonds. was now and then
contributing to the young fellows edu-
cation with knuckle ball. Hard by.
the big McWeeny, even bigger Elliott,
Rube Ehrhardt and William Watson
Clark were loosening their able arms.
Manager Robinson's eyes strayed from
the pitchers to his almost equally great
catching staff, Deberry Hargreaves and
Henline. and with a plaintive note in
his voice, in a brief sentence, wrote a
prescription for his ball club.
What we need is runs" he said.
Hoping for Hitters.
The Brooklyn boss can only hope that
he will get the runs. He will not know
for some time yet II his wish is to be
fulfilled. He does not want many
Just a few will do he thinks. for his
pitchers and catchers will form the
basis for tight defense. If base ball
teams were made up only Of batteries
Brooklyn would always be in the first
division.
Dave Bancroft, former manager OF the
Boston Braves, has added noticeable
strength to the infield. He will play
shortstop. probably between Partridge
at second and Harry Riconda at third.
Bissonette seems likely TO draw the first
base assignment Partridge is the only
follower Riconda came from the Ameri-
can Association. although he has been
UP before, and Bissonette was graduated
! from the International.
| Howard Freigau, another former big
| timer, will be available as utility as
will Darcy Flowers and Charlie Cor
| gan OF last years team.
The Brooklyn outfield Is scrambled
! Capt. Max Carey. the veteran. will
start In center field. The field OF candi-
dates for the other two positions Is
| large. Tyson. another OF the men from
| the minors. who have been In the ma
| iors before will make bid. Babe Her
| man converted first baseman. Is devot-
| ing all his time TO outflcld efforts and
| Arnold STATE il back again from last
f.! year.
| Harvey Hendrick. Brooklyr's lone 800
| hitter In 1927. Is now regarded as an
! outfielder. subject TO call at first base
Overton Tremper, fast youngster. who
! played we'll at times last season, Is
| back again.
| Max West from Waco. and Dan Taylor,
| from Memphis. complete an outfield ar
ray that is impressive in numbers.
Task for Robbie.
Manager Robinson. who can go into
huddle with President Robinson with
out leaving his two chairs, has no IDEA
how he will arrange the outffelders, He
will seek combination to supply his
need Of runs.
+, Louis Koupa!. a pitcher from In
dianapol!s, has shown enough In the
early Spring to insure him further care
/ full scrutiny, and Robinson. a big Texas
amateur, second only to the 235-poGNd
Jumbo Jim" Elliott In size. may stick
around.
On a bali club less plentifully sup
n,ied with fligh-ciasS catching talent,
| Alphonsc Lopez. a Latin American from
Tampa and Jacksonville. would make
| the hurdle from class "B" TO the majors
without a stop. The l9-year-old South
eastern League product has a rife dis
| guised as aFi arm. and contagious en-
| thusiasm. II seems a conservative esti-
mate that some day he will catch for
/ Brooklyn.
The Robins have no pitching worries
| Led by Vance. Petty and Doak, already
approaching fitness. last years sharp
| shooters are almost ready TO take up
where thew left off making II hard for
| the opposition last year.
There Is no disposition 10 DISPUTE
| Manager RobinSon's diagnosis, What
we need Is runs"