When the Giants open the season New York baseball enthusiasts will watch with much interest the working of the infield. John McGraw has made many changes, and the biggest have been in the infield.
At first base, where Dan McGann reached for wide ones and scooped up low ones for years, Fred Tenney will be in command. The veteran Boston player is a left-hander and one of the best first baseman in the game. Though a fast man in the infield, he is at his best at-bat on the bases. All the fine points of the game are at his command, and he is a past master at advancing a runner.
At present it is undecided who will cover second base. It lies between two youngsters, Larry Doyle and Fred Merkle. In build they are entirely different. Doyle is short and stocky, Merkel tall and lanky. Doyle played second with the Giants in sixty-odd games last year. He was green, but his work was satisfactory. Since he has been in the south he has shown much improvement. Merkle plays best at first base, but that position is well covered. McGraw likes Merkle. He will find something for him to do, and second base is the weakest point on the team. Therefore Merkle is getting his chief practice there. Doyle will probably be the regular and Merkel general utility man.
Al Brideell will play shortstop. In the territory where Bill Dahlen held forth so many years the young Boston player is expected to do some fast work this year. He outclasses Dahlen in every department of the game. Bridewell is coming, but Dahlen has almost reached his limit of usefulness.
The only veteran Giant in the infield will be Arthur Delvin, at third base. For steady, reliable playong he has few superiors. This is the sixth year in the New York uniform, and he is faster than ever. Devlyn is a hard worker, and his playing is filled with ginger.
—New York Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment