The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-22

and 90 per cent will 'give it up" That
makes just 30 per cent of wisdom to so per
cent of misguided enthusiasm.
Baltimoro's team has the call because II
has won it for the last two years. A cham
pion Is always prime favorite for the next
event. Besides, tho team from Maryland's
metropolis is acknowledged to be one of
the best ever got together. And yet that
old but oft proved provcrb that baseball
Is mighty uncertain causes the wise man
TO give it up
Accidents and sickness have great deal
to do with the winning or losing of n base
ball championship III luck usually comes
in n bunch and carries all before it on the
diamond. That fact is the first one which
must be faced while trying to pick a win.
ner
With the exception of the Baltimorcs
and the ClcvclandS, most of the other
strong teams have been materially changed
since last season. and the two teams lust
named finished heads apart with nip and
tuck race down the home stretch One
would naturally argue that 1t should once
moro be Il close contest between them.
But there are others. The Bostons, Phil.
adclphias, New Yorks, Chicagos. Pitts.
burgs, Brooklyns, Cincinnatis and Louis
villcs will begin the season stronger than
=
in each instance il is hard to say. The VA
rious trades of players last winter were
wisely made. and in several instances, cs-
pccially the exchange of Nash for Hamil-
ton and Doyle for Gleason, each club in
the deal was benefited by getting player
exactly fitting into its nine ut IA weak
place. The Philadelphias for some years
have needed an intield captain. They get
one in Nash. The Bostons needed a hard
hitting outflelder to replace Mccarthy, and
they get him in Hamilton.
Baltimorc's nine suffered last year on
account of their weak hitting first base
man. So they wanted Doyle, and they got
him. New York had two other good first
which they got in Gleason.
The Boston team last season were torn
asunder by discussions. The result was
the same as has always followed team
wranglng. SO Mccarthy was released to
Brooklyn, Nash was exchanged for Ham
ilton, and Tcnny replaces Tucker at first
base. The cause of much of last years
slump being removed, Boston is once more
looked upon with much favor by pennant
pickers
That same old cry has already gone up
Look out for the Phillies,' 1t has been
shouted annually for the last ten years
We've looked out, and that's all the good
ii did us. Those Phillies have q habit of
flashing to the front at some time every
season, and then, just rs one is preparing
to hail them as champions, the hreeching
breaks the end gate comes out of their
cart, their hold slips, and the cry to ''Look
out for the Phiilies!" comes from the clubs
in their rear
The club has always been weak in
pitching. 1t has the greatest collection of
batters seen on one nine since the days of
the famous Detroit sluggers, but they're
lost in the box. II they batted out 16 runs.
their opponents, weaker batsmen, would
pound for 20. They expect material aid
this year from Orth and Inks. II thew get
1t, then Well shout again, Look out for
the Philies.'
With Meekin and Rusie at their best
the New Yorks gave the Baltimores a
close race In 1894. Last year Rusie had an
off season and Meekin was disabled most
of the time. The team missed Ward at sec
ond, and the result was altogether disas-
trous. Meekin has recovered; Rusie thinks
he is once more in form; the team will
have the veteran Pfcffer ut second. and,
with the help of Gleason and several prom
ising young stars. the club homes to be
up among the leaders most of the year
PlttSburg has secured strength by the
acquisition of Ely. Brooklyn certainly
gains in Mccarthy, and seems to have sew
eral young players of promise. while Gin
cinnati and Louisville should show added
strength over last year.
Last but not least there is the Bismarck
of baseball, Adrian Cathode Arson, and
his colts. Tho old gcntlcman's claim of
the pennant is perennial and annual. He
has issued it unusually early this year.