“Here’s the way; I had it fixed up,” Dolph was saying, referring as he spoke to a paper in his hand. “Truesdale, Jones, Grady, Warner, Cook, Smythe, Cassart, Watkins and Phillips. What do you think?”
“I’d have Harry Smythe bat first,” said Sam. “He’s a heap better on the bases than Truesdale.”
“He’s faster,” said Ted, “but he takes risks at the wrong times. Truesdale can draw a pass three times out of five, too. Then, with Dolph up next he’s pretty sure of second on a sacrifice.”
“All right,” agreed Sam. “I see, though, you’ve got Cook down for left field. Why don’t you give Jack here a chance? He’s every bit as good as Cook.”
Dolph glanced at Jack and hesitated. Ted smiled, and then went to the rescue.
“Cook’s had more experience, Sammy, and in a Boarders and Towners game it’s a good idea to play fellows who have been through it before. You see, Borden,” he added, turning to Jack, “everything goes in these games, and it isn’t so much science that wins as it is keeping your head. When you go to bat you’ll have thirty or forty idiots standing around and yelling like Indians and doing everything they can to rattle you. Still, Dolph, you might put Borden in for part of the game. I dare say it’s a good experience for a fellow. If Borden can get through a Towner game without getting rattled he can stand anything.”
“Don’t bother about me,” said Jack.
“That’s the ticket,” said Sam. “Put Jack in for the last four innings. You needn’t be afraid of his getting scared. I’ve never seen anything feaze him yet. He’s just about as nervous and fidgety as a granite post!”
“All right,” laughed Dolph, making a memoranda on the sheet of paper. “Borden goes in in the fifth. Heard anything, Sammy?”