— Rain Washes Out Tuesday Contest Cardinals Defense Has Been All Wet Much Longer

April 28, 1926

Loose Fielding, Wasted Chances Haunting Hornsby Club as Reds Series Turns Sour — Rain Washes Out Tuesday Contest

CINCINNATI — Rain swept across Redland Field Tuesday and postponed the scheduled contest between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, but the dark weather hanging above the Ohio River matched the mood already surrounding the St. Louis club.

The Cardinals leave the grounds tonight carrying more than wet uniforms.

They carry concern.

What began two weeks ago as the sharpest club in the National League has started showing dangerous cracks around the edges, particularly afield where sloppy handling and mounting mistakes have begun feeding opponents extra life at costly moments.

The trouble has compounded steadily through this western swing.

Routine chances are no longer ending innings cleanly.

Throws have drifted.

Double-play turns have slowed.

Ground balls once swallowed cleanly are escaping gloves and extending frames that should already be dead.

Against good clubs, that becomes poison.

Cincinnati made the Cardinals pay dearly during the opening games of this series. Extra chances granted to the Reds have stretched innings and tightened pressure onto Cardinal pitching already forced to labor through difficult situations.

Inside baseball circles around the league, rivals have started whispering the same thing:

The Cardinals may hit like contenders, but they are beginning to field like a nervous ball club.

Manager Rogers Hornsby has shown growing irritation near the bench through recent afternoons, particularly after missed defensive chances. No man in the National League demands sharper baseball than the Rajah, and the club’s recent untidy play has plainly tested his patience.

Still, St. Louis receives reinforcement.

Veteran right-hander Jesse Haines now stands with the club and is expected to steady the pitching staff as the season pushes deeper into rough National League territory. Infielder Wattie Holm has also joined the roster, giving the Cardinals another glove option as Hornsby searches for steadier infield work.

Meanwhile encouraging reports continue drifting northward from Texas.

Young infielder George “Pepper” Martin, recently playing fast baseball for Dallas, has opened eyes with his early hitting and aggressive field play and has now earned advancement to Houston in the Texas League’s higher classification ranks.

Baseball men around the Cardinal organization continue speaking highly of the youngster’s fire and speed.

Wednesday’s contest now grows important for St. Louis.

After two straight defeats to Cincinnati and defensive troubles beginning to shadow the club, the Cardinals badly need sharp baseball in the series finale before continuing deeper into hostile league territory.

The Reds smell weakness.

Another ragged performance may encourage them further.

And in this National League, confidence once lost does not return easily.

— Mike Allen

Bird Chatter Express