The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-28

PITCHER MERCER OF WASH NGTON.
crease their standing. Anson's nine of
largo young players is as usual, coming
up fast when 1t is too late. The veteran
does not deal in buncombe when he says
he would yet land we'll up toward the top
If no had either the Cleveland or New
York pitchers to hold down opposing
mines In batting.
The Clovcands arc handicapped by the
absence of Childs, and rs the nine is now
made up 1t is nearly the weakest batting
combination in tho National league Still
they have pitchers which in degree offset
that weakness, point of advantage to
which called attention carly in tho soa-
son. The Pittsburgs' batting is satisfao-
tory, but they are weak lin the box" If
any western team ends the season In the
front division, it will be either Cleveland,
Pittsburg or Chicago. 1t would not sur
prise mo to SEQ the Chicagos pass the Pitts
burgs before Sept. 80
Who will win the pennant? 70 looks
like Boston now. With tho east against
the west for tho remainder of the season,
there seem to be only three clubs which
have chance for ''one- two three''--nnmc-
ly, the Bostons, New Yorks and Balti-
mores. The Philadclphias, with their
serious weakness in the box and their bad
position in the race will do we'll to keep
among the first six, and do not believe
the Clcvelands or tho Pittsburgs can bot
ter their present standing during the rest
of the season.
Tho light, therefore, narrows down to
the Bostons Baltimorcs and New Yorks,
The champions are playing their usual
strong game ut the seasons close and
do not see how they can be headed for any
great length of time, inasmuch as they
meet exactly the same teams which tho
New YorkS and Baltimorcs meet from this
timo till the Both of October The Bos-
tons pitching department is far from be-
ing strong, but their batting, especially
while at home, makes them well nigh in
vinciblc. If they can start west in Sep
TENDER with lead of three or four games.
the pennant'will probably DO assured to
them.
The Baltimorcs have strengthened what
seemed for time to be fatal weakness
kid" Gleason is pitching a strong game
for them, and Espcr is doing better than
he did in Washington, probably because
his field support is better. The New
Yorks are encouraged by the fact that
German appears to have rounded into
form, thus giving them set of three of
the best and most reliable pitchers In any
League club. The finish among tho three
leaders should be u memorable one.
This year the interest is not conferred
alono in the winner of tho pcnnant There
is almost as much desire among the teams
themselves to get second place as to win the
championship because the first two teams
in tho race will have that October fight
for tho Temple cup, which cost $500, but
which will he worth probably $4,000 or
$10,0 to the contestants, and as the
members of the two teams will divide the
net gate receipts of tho series in propor-
lions OF 80 and 65 per cent it means from
$500 to $500 extra money for each PLAYER
of the contcnding clubs. A knowledge of
this fact will cause tho baseball public to
watch the struggle of the teams to win
out second or BETTER With more than
usual interest, know from personal in
formation that the Bostons are anxious
that tho New Yorks shall get the place"
for In that event most of the games of the
extra series would be played in Now York,
where the patronage is So much greater
than in any other city. IF we can't win
It, said one of the Bostons to me a few
weeks ago, Two would like to see the New
Yorks get it and let us in second To tell
you the truth, the boys would almost rs
soon be second as first if New York could
end at the top. But of course we shall
endeavor to win every game"
AS the race reaches the homo stretch the
dcplorablc weakness in pitchers becomes
more and more apparent, and the scores
grow larger and larger. The hope of some
that when the dog days came few of the
'disappointments" would round to" has
not been realized, and 1t looks as if the
ranks of the order of ''has beens" will be
materially recruited by the deadwood
from National League clubs. Let us look
over the list The Bostons have one pitch.
or, Nichols, upon whom they can mostly
depend. but Stivetts and Staley are weak
ut times, while their new man from tn,
Pennsylvania State league, Hodson, hasn;
given great promise
Perhaps New York is better off than
any club in the League If German may he
said to have recovered from the effect OF
his last winters illness, rs seems probable.
In Rusie, Meekin and German the club.
will como very near to having the three