Damon Runyon
El Paso Herald/March 30, 1912
McGraw Is Busy in Working Veteran Pitchers in an Effort to Catch Up
That the Giants have not reached their hitting stride has been demonstrated by events of the last few days. They have been tornadoes against poor heaving, but when a pitcher showed a little something on the ball he managed to hold them up. The best hitting club in the National League is well behind itself in that department, at least. McGraw is now sending his veteran pitchers along in earnest, and is bringing them to form as rapidly as possible.
Mathewson has given indication that he is about ready. George Wiltse, the lefthander, has shown good form. Marquard’s Texas performances have been all that could be desired this early in the season.
Of the recruit pitchers the left-hander, “Hickory” Munsell, has demonstrated that he has about as much as any pitcher in the business; whether he will be able to control it is another question. There is a chance that McGraw will go along with him for a time.
That Jeff will be given every opportunity to make good after the season opens was a settled fact from the beginning of training. Reports from the second team indicate that Evan Evans, the tall Texas left hander, is showing nice form. It may be that after all McGraw will find his pitching problem solved in part, at least, in unexpected fashion.
Will Retain George Burns
The chief subject of discussion as the Giants near home is the make-up of the Polo Ground aggregation this season, aside from the regulars. McGraw has intimated that he will carry twenty-five men, if he can find twenty-five worth carrying.
Within the past two weeks it has become almost certain that he intends to retain George Burns, the Utica outfielder, who was found by McMahon, the old Baltimore pitcher, and McGraw’s scout. Burns has come along in wonderful style. He has picked up the fallaway slide, and can go in from either side with equal facility. He hits well, and is very fast. Also he is but twenty years old, a converted catcher, and only lacks aggressiveness.
That would give McGraw three utility outfielders, if he retains Beals Becker and Harry McCormack, the come-back. It seems unlikely that the Gotham manager can use that number to advantage. He has an embarrassment of riches for his infield. There isn’t a chance that Henry Groch will get away from him, and the same seems to be true of Arthur Shafer, another infielder. Then he still has Arthur Devlin, veteran third baseman, who is spacing out at first. Add to these Bues and Stock, both of whom have shown amazing promise, and McGraw has more infielders than he could be expected to handle.
Some one, apparently, has to go, and the time for the going is drawing near.
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