Show 1 Larry Kopf Will Wil Bolster Up Boston Braves' Braves Only Vulnerable Spot ST. ST PETERSBURG Fla March 28 Manager Fred Mitchell l of th the Boston Braves is convinced that his club is in the National National National Na Na- going to be he a a. strong factor league race IThe I I The Braves as they take the field for the 1922 campaign loom up as a club without a single weak spot The Braves stand ready and look able to give the Giants Glants Cardinals and Pirates the fight tight of their young lives Last season many a ball game was lost around The de deal l which brought Larry Kopf to the Braves Cincinnati has plugged up that hole bole Offensively the Braves of or 1921 ranked next to the St. St Louis Cardinals The club retains its batting strength and in addition has been much improved defensively Larry Kopf at shortstop in combination combination combination tion with Horace Ford at second base is expected to be the making of the ball club defensively Ford Is rated as a one of the best second basemen the National league has produced produced produced pro pro- in years Working with the vet veteran yet yet- eran Kopf Kept it is believed that his game will be improved 25 per cent Manager Mitchell Is convinced that the stories coming out of Cincinnati relative relative relative rel rel- rel- rel to Kopf's Kopl's poor condition are bunk His legs are sound and his arm as good goodas as ever u Kopf says any ailment he had while in Cincinnati was mental rather than physical He is thoroughly satisfied with his and prospects and likes to play for Manager Mitchell He expects to have havo a a. big season The club is well equipped for Mitchells Mitchell's secondary defense JI is in keeping with his regulars Another thing which greatly favors the Braves if It you will take Manager Mitchell's Mitchells Mitchells Mitchell's Mitch Mitch- ells ell's word for It it is the schedule lule This season the Braves will have the advantage advantage advantage ad ad- vantage of playing away from Boston during most of April and May thereby escaping the keen knife of the Boston east wind so hard on ball players players' con con- The bulk of the home games in Boston Boston Bos Boa ton are scheduled for June and September Septem Septem- ber her when if ever come l perfect days to the codfish country It took direct action by Pittsburg and New York t to put the Braves out of ot the running last season Against all other clubs they did as well as the Pirates and Giants Not until late In the S race did the Braves Brayes surrender and then it was n-as the collapse of the pitching staff due to double headers which caused disaster Last season the Braves Brayes were without a seasoned southpaw This year Mitchell Mitch Mitch- ell has Rube Marquard and Lefty Letty Tyler Either of ot these two would have saved a dozen games for tor Mitchell l last season The Boston Braves are ready rendy and to go The team like Manager l Ito Mitchell believes it has a a. great chance to upset the dope in the National league Hero Here Is the way the Boston leader sums up his chances I I have a a. young team It is fast No NoI club has a more reliable corps of ot catch catch- ers The pitching staff is 15 above the average av av- av- av I My infield will compare favorably favorably favorably favor favor- ably with any other combination In the league Best of all there is harmony I and a desire to win I I I |