The Richmond Virginian., July 30, 1910, CITY EDITION, SPORTING SECTION, Image 9

About The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
SECTION
. '
SPORTING
SECTION
RICHMOND, VA., SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1910.
-r—
«* «. 4 jti t * ■»
. DOBSON WlliS OUT
FOBJBST OISE
Brennan Objects to CaroTina and
Goes to His Home at
Albany, H. Y.
REVELLE TO TWIRL
SATURDAY’S GAME
Veteran Feels Well and is Ex
£ IT
j»eeted to Win—Welcher
Will Oppose.
.Him.
HINTS FOR FANS.
Weather predictions — Clear and
arm. - ._. . . . - — -
«v Probable batteries—For Richmond, i
_Lv RevelU and Meesitt: for Petersburg,
Welcher and Kunkle.
Gama called at 4:aG-o’clook.
By T. D. BONNEVILLE.
Local fans who h«v_ been favorably
Impressed with the work of Robson
at first base will be triad to know that
the youngster has made goo<J In the
position and from this time on will
be the regular first saeker of the Colts.
Robson's work has been of such a char
acter that Manager Lawlor Could find
no way to let him go and put Brennan
In the place.
Brennan, who was secured from the
Binghampton club of the New York
State League, hnr returned to his
home In Albany. N. Y. Arrangement*
were about completed to send Brennan
to one of the Carolina clubs with a
string on him, hut he ssked to be al
lowed to go home and Law lor granted
his request.
The first saeker explained that he
could not stand the climate down South
here; that It makes him slow, and
that he was not ahle to do his best
work. Lawlor was favorably Impress
ed with Brennan and wanted to keep
him farmed out so that he could be
called In at any time. The playdb,
however, was so anxious to get home
and pleaded Illness so th*t he was al
lowed to have his way.
Brennan started out stronger than
Robson with the stick—and that was
what was needed, a hitter—but Rob
son did so well in the Roanoke series
that he passed the other man. Bren
nan did not have many chances, how
ever. as he appeared In only two games.
In one of these he got two hits. He
proved himself .a capable pitcher In one
of the games In Roanoke, and as a
utility twlrler he would have been of
great value.
' While the princiiJRl reason for Dob
son's retention for the position at first
Is that he Is a faster fielder than Bren
nan and prol ably a* strong with the
stick, there Is another fact that influ
' enced Lawlor Ifi holding on to him.
Bunting mads good from the start at
‘ third, and as he and Dobson have
been going so well together all season
Ijswlor was afraid to break up the
- combination. Without Dobson at first
Bunting might not go so well and this
would be serious trouble.
Tho two youngsters have proven
their worth to the club, and if they
continue their present stride they will
be of the most valuable lnflelders In
e the league. They are sure of their po
!> sitions now and they have an excel
f lent chance of finishing the season with
the Colts, and will doubtess be back
- on their jobs next season.
* Boyce, the young southpaw who was
supposed to join the Colts Friday, did
not put In his appearance and had the
local manager guessing for a little
while. A telegram came Friday night,
however, announcing that he would
arrive here Saturday, and he will
d* doubtless be with the squad when it
V turns out Saturday afternoon.
Boyce has & good reputation in the
Feninsnla League and on the Eastern
Shore, where he has done much work
in the box. If his side-wheel delivery
looks good to Lawlor In his warming
up be will be put In to work In one of
the games early next week.
SL
fc
i.
Malcomson, the young catcher who
joined the Colts Thursday will not
have a trial behind the plate just
yet for the reason that he has a bad
finger. He has a bad split between
two fingers, sustained In a game just
before he reported. The wound will
be cured up in a few day's and he
will be able to throw and may get In
the game.
Halcotnson Is young and inex
perienced bat he is a likely looking
recruit and^ Lawlor is favorably Im
pressed with him. The manager stat
ed Saturday that he will hold the
youngster until his finger gets well
and then may give him a try out
Owner Bradley received a telegram
Friday from tho manager of the
Raleigh club asking for a catcher.
This ts nothing unusual, however,
since letters and, telegrams come
nearly every day from different clubs
asking for catchers.
The Colts, however, have three
catchers now and it Is a good chance
to dispose of one of them. The mat
ter will probably be kept open until
Malcomson gets his try-out and then
one of, the three will be sent to
Raleigh
Hamilton was too strong for the
Colts Friday and displayed form that
he has not shown this season In any
game with the locals. His speed was
terrific and the locals could not begin
to find him safely.
-Saturday the-tables will probably
be turned apd unless something un
fortunate the Colts will take the third
game of the series and make It two
firing line for the Colts and the Dutch
man Is feeling wait and aspects to be
IB his beat form.
The veteran wllk be expected to
duplicate the performance of Deacon
Morrissey in Thursday's game and if
he can come anywhere near this the
game wlu be easy. “Fop” Messitt will
wear the pads and the visitors will be
up against the Colts’ veteran battery,
somethin# hard to beat*_—
Welcher will be on the mound for
Petereburg and this twirler has been
going well of late. If he is tn his
usual form Saturday a hard -and ex
citing game may be expected. Kupkle
wilt be behind the bat again for tho
vtsttatn.—---—5—i—
Coming down to the truth of the
' < matter there waa no question about
the decision on Xuftkie at the plate
when he tried to steal' home
vf'* f
|ffgjsjgagf
r jw IU
Russell Ford the One Best Find
for the Highlanders This Year
^.. 1 ” —-—=
il
L
J
RUSSELt Ford,
As a Winning Asset He Hanks
Very High Among Ai^erican
League Pitchers.
(Special to The Richmond Virginian.)
NEW YORK. July 30.—If every
baseball manager, whether manager
of a major league club or a minor
league club, were sure that he could
develop otic good pitcher every year,
he would also be sure that he would
hold his position as manager.
The pitcher ia not all of the game
by any means, but in the lottery of
baseball, as It is played at present,
more is paid for a jlcket which ia
likely to draw a first cjkss pitcher than
is paid for one which is likely to
bring forth a first class outfielder or [
a first class intielder. ,
For the average manager, and not
without reason, reckons that It is
more to his purp<*se, and more to
hia success financially and artistically,
if he can weld together a strong pitch
ing staff than it is if he develops good
fielders, for good fielders do»not al
ways shine unless there be good pitch
ers to assist in their share of the
work.
Thrse Be Winning Assets.
The major league manager looks
longingly to the day when he can hold
three or four first class pitchers, for
ho reasons that with their assistance
he can make his team stand up for
a part of the race, even though It
lags at the finish. The minor league
manager would like two or three good
pitchers, but he will be satisfied with
cne. and especially if in a smaller
league, for the amount to be realised
by a favorable disposal of the pitch
er's service may pull the minor league
club through the season without loss
and with a entail profit.
For four or five seasons the New
York American League Club, wrlth
varying success, has been trying >o
tie' elop a pitcher who not only c4n
t in, but who will give some indica
tion of winning consistently and of
holding his own for more than a sin
gle season.
At the present moment it looks as
if such a pitcher has been secured
In Ford. He is young and strong, b*«
got d command of the ball, is of the
type which is easy to handle, has a
p ensant manner, and if all goes well
with him, has a future which is not
likely to W gutlloUned at-the ond of
his first season in major league com
pany <r ,
_ Real 8taS Was Hiem _
In iJSe game Bo pitched against StT
Louis recently he had all the essen
tials which go to a no hit game and
It was something of a misfortune that
he should lose the honor of attach
ing a contest of that kind to his credit
In his first year In the American
league—for this gs practically hi*
first.
When St. Louis players hit the ball
U was with little assurance. The beat
hit made In the afternoon waa a line
drive by Powell Into Wblter'a hands.
He put more speed behind the ball,
and It looked more like a base hit than
the real base hit which balloonedjroer
Roach‘a head.^^ ^ ^
for Ford before he la through with
major league baseball, unless aU signs
are crowed and double; crossed, and
the Chances are that he will get that
no^hlt game, and perhaps more than
* - «liKwfh>
COLTS BUNKED
I IN SECOND GAME
Hamilton Proves a Complete Puz
zle and Allows Only Two
Hits. :
SALVE NOT IN FORM
BUT SHOWS FLASHES
Southpaw Starts Out With a
Rush and Proves Very Ef
fective in the
Pinches.
Friday's Score*.
Richmond, 0; Petersburg. 2.
•Danville, 4; Roanoke, 7.
Lynchburg, 4; Norfolk. 1.
How The)' Stand.
Clubs. Won. Lost. P.6
Danville . 47 30 .«!•
Roanoke . 43 36 .661
Lynchburg . 38 43 .4*9
Richmond. 37 43 .4*3
Petersburg . 36 43 .40
Norfolk . 34 42 .447
Saturday’s Schedule.
Petersburg at Richmond.
Lynchburg at Norfolk.
-Danville at Roanoke.
The visitors evened up with the
Colts Friday and Hamilton made them
look Just about as weak with the stick
as the Goobers looked Thursday under
the delivery of Deacon Morrissey. The
visiting pitcher was simply Invinci
ble, and allowed, only two scattered
singles. He struck out ten Colts and
gave only two free passea
Salve was hit hard, but he kept his
hits soatteered. and the visitors found
him a complete pussle with men on
bases. Had the.Colts been abla to hit
Hamilton Salve would have won hla
game. He showed good form through
out. though a trifle wild at times. He
whiffed nifae of the visitors, and eight
of them "were left on base tor the
reakdn that he Would not allow hits
when hits were wanted.
Salve started out strong, and only
six men faced yrim in the flrst two
Innings; four -of .these struck out. He
retired the side with three strikeouts
In sucesSlon in tke Second inning.
Colts Lose Chances.
The Cotta had * several chancea to
score in the early Innings, , but as the
game1 progressed Hamilton got strong
er, and after the third Inning the lo
cals did not have a look-in at the
scoring. .
:. Burke drew a pass to open the flrst
toning and went to second on a wild
was nailed several feet from the bag.
The next two men were, easy outs.
i. In that second the best ohance to
eoorewad offered _4nd -missed. After.
Waits*# was ont Tftman drew a
........
'fekfv':. -
CXTGHER PROBLEM
MUST BE SOLVED
Arrival of Youngater Maleomson
Call* for*Some Action in
Receiver Department.
COWAN MtrCH IMPROVED
MESSITT GOING SLOW
Younger Man is Working Well
Now While Veteran is
Not in Good
Form.
The catcher problem that has been
eta ring the Cotta In the face practi
cally all season has not yet been eotv
ed, but from present Indications an
Improvement Is on the way. and. It may
be expected that before long there wilt
be a big Improvement In thla depart
ment.
The release of Irvine, after he had
done such good work for the club,
raised quite a bowl, since It was be
lieved that he was the most capable
receiver with the club. The fact that
Irvine was let go while Cowan was
held did not meet with the approval of
anyone who had seen the two men
work behind the plate.
But Cowan has undergone somewhat
of a change and for the past few
weeks has been putting up a good
article of ball in the position. Base
runners no longer run wild on him, as
in former games, and he seems to be
able to work very well with any of the
local twlrlers.
It Is a welcome sight to see Cowan
pick up In his work, since he la a local
boy and moat of the fans want to see
him stay here. Earlier In the season
when Irvine was with the dub any
everyone noticed Cowan's mediocre
work It was believed that he had no
chance whatever to retain his posi
tion.
He suddenly picked up. however, and
it is now quite probable that Lawlor
would not release him under any con
sideration—that la, unless he was
about to sign up some star receiver.
The fact that Steve Griffin, of the Dan
ville club, tried to purchase Cowan
recently Indicates that he Is thought
something of as a receiver. At any
rate, his work with the Colts has of
late been very satisfactory. His arm
Is strong and true and he is often
able to connect safely with the ball
when a hit Is reeded.
Messltt has not been going very well
this year and has been considered a
weak point In the line-up for some
time. He has a great head and han
dles the twlrlers well, but he Is slow
on hla feet, cannot peg to second as
well as he should, and is weak-with
the stick. "PotT Is a favorite, though,
and It would come as a great surprise
If he should be let go at this late stage
of the season.
Maloomson Looks Good.
Tot there Is a youngster In camp
and If ho proves stronger than one
of the present receivers somebody will
have to go. Malcomson looks good,
from what has already boon seen of
him. One thing is certain, he is the
best thrower that has been seen on
the local grounds since the big league
teams left here this spring.
Malcomson has the peg that is re
Sweeney, the famous backstop of the
Yankees, was worthless some time ago
on account of the way he made his
peg to seoond. He has Improved his
form hdw. however, and Is being spo
ken of as the best catcher in the
American League.
The method of throwing practiced
by the big catchers Is to draw the arm
back only a short distance and whip
the ball to second. The hand does not
go back further than on a line with
the shoulder and is not drawn back of
the head, as moot catchers do who
have not perfected the throw.
Malcomson has the proper style and
the ball goes to second like a shot and
as straight as If from the mouth of
a cannon. There will be few bases
stolen on this youngster If he goes in
for a trial with the Colts.
If Maicomson should make good
either Messitt or Cowan will have to
go. It will be a hard matter for Law
lor to decide. Cowan is young and
active and is going well, while Mes
sitt is getting slow and la not going
at his beat. Yet the veteran has been
with the Colts a long time and it would
be a hard matter to cut him off In the
mtddle of the season, especially since
R Is probably his last year In baseball.
COMISKEY m OF
BIISEillLHNIUlGE
“Old Roman"’ ia Richest Man in
the National Game
A penny li a penny earned, tn
the parlance of the arise man, and base
ball affords one road to riches for the
thrifty, industrious diamond star. Some
have laid away fortunes of colossal
proportions durinr-yMKTbf success In
the bis and little leacvea, and many,
actlns at tha instance ef warm friends
In dally touch with the doing* of the fi
nancial world, have doublea end trebled
their savins*. Others, |MIns a tone
whirl at some sood tt
It rich.
Chances for aces
wealth are better now
days of Goldsmith. Spa
bare struck
Ins preat
k the balmy
Brouthera,
Anson. Bennett, or Flint,
plus now adornln* the
clubs are drawlns prlnos
comparison with the Mu
former greats. says one
thority. Wise men *(..
Prmament are unanimous
tlon of Charles A. Corals
the Chicago White 80S, 1
man now Identified with \
Fr owner 01
the richest
1 same who
Ue Wearing
as to the
HUGH CHALMERS
TALK OF BIG TOUR
“Bill” Bolger, the irtan who drove the
Chaim era No. S, winner of the Glldden
Trophy. “In real life” Bolder is head
of the final testlnge dpartment at the
factory.
Expresses Surprise at Action of
Premier Motor Car
tt Company.
CHALMERS CAR GETS
THE GLIDDEX TROPHY
President Explains Use of Stock
Car and Cause of Con
troversy Over
Decision.
DETROIT. MICH., July 89.—The ac
tion of the Premier Mdtor Car Com
pany In seeking an Injunction to pre
vent the A. A. A. contest board from
delivering the Olldden trophy to the
Ch&lmera Motor Company la causing
considerable comment in local automo
bile circles. Hugh Chalmers, presi
dent of the Chalmers Company, ex
pressed surprise that the Indianapolis
PRESIDENT WELLS
HERE EOR MEETING
Will Call Magnates Together to
Transact Regular League
Business.
UMPIRE SCHEDULE
FOR AUGUST £TXBD
President Has Taken a Hand and
Equitable Arrangement
is Now Expect
ed.
Preeldent Jake Welle, of the Vir
ginia League, has written that he will
reach Richmond .Saturday, and this
mean* that the league magnates will
soon hold a meeting and learn the
present standing of things.
I Ever since the Portsmouth club got
' in financial trouble and the league
stoking fund was called upon to fur
nish money to keep the club up the
magnates have been asking for a
meeting. To add further to the trou
ble some of them did not receive
j their share of-tfte fourth of July re
ceipts, and this raised another howl.
About two weeks ago the magnates
Insisted on having a meeting, and
come down and preside. Later, how
ever, he wrote saying that he could
not get away from New York, but had
Instructed his secretary to get up an
Itemised statement of the standing of
the league and send a copy to each
of the dubs.
tftatcmfcnt Not FulL
The statement was received, but It
is understood that it was not in full,
and did not show everything on the
league book*. What the magnates
want fs a. complete statement of ev
erything, so they can understand Just
where they stand.
In his letter President Wells, asked
that a meeting be arranged for Sat
urday, but the magnate# could not be
notified in time to get here, and It will
have to be hejd sometime next week.
The meeting will he held either in
Richmond or Norfolk, hut Richmond
Is the moet ilkeiy place, hlnin the
. ""iiconttnned en •*nsft **«nA
concern should take such a step In
view of their agreement upon enter
ing: the Olldden tour.
“The entry blanks signed by all en
trants In the Olldden tour," aald Mr.
chalmers. "hear a clause to the effect
that the signer agrees to abide by all
of the rules of the contest , hoard and
to accept all stipulations and condi
tions therein contained.
“The entrant agrees to abide by the
spirit as well as the letter of the rules
governing the contest. And In the
rules themselves la one which states
that all entrants have no legal claims
agalnat the American Automobile As
sociation. or Its agents, through dis
satisfaction with decisions of the offi
cials or because of disqualification.
This rule Is inserted because the en
trant has already agreed to accept
the decisions of the contest board as
final.
"The Premier Company entered into
these agreements when they entered
the contest. Just as all the other en
trants did. The Olldden tour Is an au
tomobile contest for rtock cars to be
run under a set of rules formulated by
the contest board of the American
Automobile Association. The contest
is to be run under these rules ovef
the roads of the country and not In the
courts.
“The hearing of the case by the con
test board was fair and impartial and
I centered about an extremely simple
proposition. We had entered a strictly
stock car in the Glldden tour in full
accordance with the rules of that event.
We believed that the Premier car* were
; not stock cars. Under the rules gov
erning the Glldden tour we entered a
protest to that effect. Through a mis
understanding of the rules. Referee
Whiting did not give us a hearing on
the protest, at the end of the tour is
Chicago, so It was later carried before
the contest board in New York. At
i the recent hearing the Premier Com
pany sind the Chalmers Company
submitted evidence on the proposition
as to whether the Premier cars in the
Glldden tour were stock cars.
“The attorney for the Premier Com
pany saw to It that none but strictly
legal evidence was submitted to the
contest board by the Chalmers Com
pany.
“On the ■'Other hand, the Premier
Company flailed to submit, as Chair
man Butler's' official statement of the
hearing says, evidence sufficient to
sustain the stock status of tbs Premier
Glldden tour cars in respect to equip
ment of auxiliary oil tank and pump
for Injecting oil direct to the crank
1 case. They failed to do this, as Mr.
[ Butler’s statement further says, in
spite of repeated demands on the part
of the technical committee of the
American Automobile Association from
June *9 to July »1, during which period
three the members of the commit
tee visited the Premier factory.
“The contest board of the A. A. A
is the owner of the Glldden trophy and
may sward It to whomsoever wins the
reliability tour of the association, in
accordance with the rules governing
that event. The 1915 tour was a regu
lar annual reliability tour ol the A.
A. A.: It was promoted and managed
according to the -rule* governing that
event, and the contest board, which
Is the court of last resort in motordom,
and so acknowledged by all entrants in
the Glldden tour, has ruled that Chal
mers *90' Number 5 won the Glldden
tour in strict accordance with the rules
and has regularly declared this oar the
winner. This le enough for ua Other
people may run the tour over in the
courts as long M they please”
E
FOB THE WEST
With 12nd of Racing Game in the
East They Seek Pastures
New.
NEW YORK, July *0.—'Though the
racing game In the East will practi
cally end with the eummer meets now
In progress or scheduled, horsemen
profess to see hope In the West. Own
ers racing their stables on the Metro
politan tracks have received word that
• the Emeryv ille (CAT) meet will open
November IS and continue until April
1, If not later. Not a purse less than
1300 will be offered during the tong
meeting.
The Jaures (Mexico) Jockey Club
has posted notices about the jockey
clubs In New York that It will hold si
100-day meeting on the new track op
1 poslte El Paso, Texas, also beginning
| In November. The Mexican promoters
have received assurances from a num
ber of Owners that they will race their
stables at Jaures instead of in Jack
sonville. Fla. The fact that the Mexl
aros havs hnng up mdre than 1300,000
in stakes and purses seems to show
that track a greater magnet than all
the other winter tracks for owners of
| fast horses.
Bloomer Girls Lose.
SEAFOHD, DEL., July S0.*-In a
well played game Seaford defeated
the Western Bloomer Girts, of Chi
cago hers yesterday by * score of 4 to
I. Score:
Score by Innings: A R,
Seaford .0 0 1013 •—♦
Bloomer Girls ----0 2 0 0 0 0 0—2
'Umpire—Davia of Laurel.
Cube and Phillies Trade.
CHICAGO, July 30.—Announce
ment was made to-dsy of the trading
of First Baseman Luderua of the
Chicago Nationals, to the Philadelphia
Nationals tog Pitcher Faxes, a hit
Coach Hecox Has His Men on
the River Every
SEND ENTRIES IN
_ a. . FOR TWO EVENTS
Will Row in Junior and Intermed*
iate Eight Oared Shell
Races of National
Regatta. /
With Coach C. W. Hecox working
overtime on them, the Virginia Boat
Club crew are fast rounding into fora*
and from present indication* the Vir
ginian* will give a good account-sd.
the national regatta
-c'.l on the Patomao
themselves in _ _,
that is to be held on the Patomao S
river at Washington August IS «H
Coach Hecox has his charges on tit* I
river every afternoon now, and they <
are getting plenty of work to put thorn jjS
in condition for the races. Coach Ho- S
cox came last Tuesday and bofoo* S
his arrival the crew was not doing ■
much in the way of work, but as soon V
as he arrived on the scene things be
gan to happen, and In a few hoots 3
the members of the crew forgot that 3
there was any such thing as leisure, a?:
The members of the crew have now i
been established in their positions, -J
and the coach Is giving all his tint*
to getting the men in the best posai- -v
bis shape. The men and the position* -
they will have in the Virginia «*■«» '
are as follows:
No. Name.
1. 8. Smith.
2, Forrest .... ..
2. Watt_... ..
i, Johnson.
6, L. Wellford ..
*. Haslatt ......
7, 8avllle.
Stroke. Tyler.
Coxswain, Waddey.
Substitutes, E. Gilliam, J.~ Wheat, *
J. H. Jones and McD. Wolford. iiv
Send Entry Blank* "“g
Captain Crawford, of the Vtrglnta
Boat Club, sent in his entry 'blanks
Friday, and they will bo Ailed at '
once with the regatta committee. The <
Virginians will enter two of xacea
the Junior eight-oared shell rwcd and
the
Intermediate sight-oared shell
race. The same crew will row In both
of the races.
Coach Hocox will remain her* and
work with the craw until they leave
for Washington, and he will make
the trip there with them to se* that
they remain In the boat possible con
dition for their hard work. .
Many Events SobednML -
Th# national regatta 1* bold ■»
the direction of the National fiasai
tlon of Amatelr Oarsmen, and *
year Is being hold under the awmt
of the Potomac Bom Club pf Whi
lngton. . It is th* biggest aquatic m
of th# year In this country, and dr*
entries from all tha leading oarsn
and crews of the country. *
This year there will , be thtrti
events, and two days wiU b* recall
to run thorn oft. The'entries v
close Saturday night, but they i
ba held over until August I. h «n
to allow the competitors in the Sal
regatta at St, Catherine's, Canada,
enter. ••
The events are aa follows: "
1. Quarter mile senior slngto ant
2. Single senior sculls, In termed Is
4. Championship senior
oculla
8. Doable scull sheila lnUrmsiWat*
8. Double scull shell*! senior.
7 Quadruple scull sheila senior.
* 8. Pour oared shells, tntermedlata.
8. Pour oared sheila senloa
national. , . - 'f ",
10. Four oared shells, senior tats*
11. Eight oared.sheila Intermediate
12. Eight oared sheila senior.
IS. Special race (Or Junior dM
oared shells. ’ ■, r
The Virginians participated in fli
Washington Post regatta last year
one of the biggest aquatio aveat* *1
the year, and made an excellent sheer
The eight finished second luthM
lng. The eight finished seoond J
Intermediate eight oared shall
The crew this year wUl 1*
against worthy opponent* bat <
Hecox/ has gotten the men In
shape,'and \ thoee who have ass*
at work have been Impressed wit
Idea that they will row a great
World’s Champion But Six Gant*
_Behind Cuts and Climbing „
PITTSBURG, PA, July tj
Pirates have hit their atrlde*
Slad >to>an In the smoky d
the faithful fan* who StUCh
world's champions in their J
adversity are almost preylhj£ i
run of victories of Fred Clark
enoujch to the Cubs to'stake :
race for thrf National, Isa sue
The pennant winners of the
to a bad breaks In t
The pitchers could
batters could not m
were rumors that
angry because orwi
not paid the bonus
testing Detroit.
Of late, however,
"hit their stride" at