Salt Lake Telegram | 1927-04-17 | Page 14 | Mark Koenig Rated the Biggest Improvement on N. Y. Yank Club

Mark Koenig Rated the Biggest I. I Improvement on N. N N N. Y Yank Club New York Must Be Considered Considered Con Con- in American League Flag Chase By HENRY L. L FARRELL United Press Staff Correspondent NEW EW YORK April 16 for for the current season is still Ins in s swaddling saddling clothes clothe but it already is apparent Jt that one of the most ro robust robust ro- ro bust youngsters in the American league is the New York team It inherited championship strength from last season season and arid it seems t tobe to be even more capable of carrying the honor lof of the family than what might might- be term termed cd its parents We picked tho the Philadelphia Athletics Athletics Athletics Ath Ath- to win the American league pennant by reason of the opinion that mat the Athletics were a n strong team with added str strength and that the Yankees were not noti an Improved r d team ov over ove r the one that trial almost slumped lumped jut of f the the championship last year yeat It has been shown already however however how how- ev ever r. r that the Yankees are an Improved Im mi- proved club more reserved I strength and arid a vastly improved shortstop Those who found fault with the Yankees pointed out a weakness on the left side of the Infield with t tle e fragile Joe Dugan with a trick knee kneet At t third base bast and Mark Koenig with butter fingers and a distressIng distressing distress distress- ing lag inclination to err rr Inthe pinches at shortstop 1 The fragile Dugan always a powerful pl player er during the early season Is out of ot the game same with a n spike wound but his absence I I Is 13 hardly felt with Mike lUke Gazella former for for- ormer or- or mer Lafayette football star star holding hold hold- log ing d down wn the substitute Job ca ca- ca B Babe he Ruth the Ruth the m st noted rioted victim of an appetite consumed too consumed loo many many hot dogs dogs' during durinA the opening game Iame and had to retire with a stomach aCh but Ben Paschal walked up to the bat and smacked out a single sin sin- ale gle whereas whereas- the Babe hadn't even ven smelled melted on one There are arc also on the clu ciu i an In infielder in- in fielder Qt of note an n outfielder outfielder outfielder out out- fielder of oC note Durat Durst and a catcher catch catch- er of note Grabowski GrabO who weren't I around l last st year And also there is Dutch Ruether who i is minus minus' an an 3 which hampered him last season But the big Improvement in the I club Is Mark Ma l Koenig the 2 22 year ear earold old shortstop Against the judgment of ot grandstand grandstand grand grand- stand managers Miller coaxed Koenig along all last sea seu son He blew a lot of ot games because because be because be- be cause of ot nervousness and a fretful disposition and he had a big 1 part partin in blowing the worlds world's series right out from under the Yankees After Atter the St. St Louis Cardinals had won von the postseason classic the general general general gen gen- eral verdict among mOng those o outside the t family mil was that the tho Yankees would have to get another sh shortstop or or finish some place under first I this year But Huggins' Huggins insisted heI he I had a gr great at young shor shortstop st p who was fumbling around trying to find i himself and that all he needed wasI was I confidence I During the swapping season there were vere many many rumors rumors of players that might dra draw draV V tickets to other clubs and und changes in the lineup that might be made but hut Miller Huggins I saw saw to it that Koenigs Koenig's name nanie never was mentioned and he let it be I known th that t the thc youngster was as hi lila his shortstop in full tull and complete possession possession pos pos- session of the regular job That didn't do the youngster any harm Ko Koenig has been the sensation of the early season He always could i hit but now Jie Jle is hitting 1 He could field yield a I. I little last yeas yea elK this year he ht has been beena a a. frH fri ev everything g that has come conic his Just Justa a spring spurt you you rou say And per ps it is but gins doe does not think so All that boy needed wa was the kind of a start he got this son son Huggins Hug said toda today E Ii 11 found himself and y u Just him for forthe or the rest of ot the theseas sea so