The Washington times., 1903-04-19
BASEBALL EXPERTS
ADVANCE OPINIONS
Majority Pick Cleveland TO
Win American Race.
SENATORS SLATED AS LAST
Washington Club Unanimously Select
ed For the UHcoveted Place at
Bottom Of the Ladder.

Last Saturday the New York Evening
Telegram" published symposium Of
predictions oy the leading baseball
writer's throughout the United states as
10 the chances of the National League
clubs in the championship race.
Pittsburg was selected by a large me-
jority to win the coveted strip of bunt-
ing, Cincinnati was good second
choice and there was much vacilIation
as TO the chances Of New York and
Brooklyn to finish third and fourth.
Today the opinions OF the same
gentlemen in reference to the chances
/ Of the clubs in the American League
are made public. There is pronounced
unanimity Of opinion so far as some
t Of the positions are concerned, and the
! critics appear to think that form IN the
+ American League is a matter easier Of
solution than it is in the National
/ League
Eleven Pick Blues.
For the first place Cleveland finds
eleven young men who think the team
of which the redoubtable Lajofe Is a
member viii be at the top when the
maple leaves begin to turn. Ten are
equally positive that New York viii giu
the championship. a most fatterine
tribute, truly. to the ball players that
have been assigned to that city by the
fortune Of baseball war. With only one
difference Of opinion among twenty
who are accustomed 10 estimate bal
players at their actual worth as a base
ball asset, 1t is plainly evident that The
race is considered to be a struggle of N
mean moment between the Western
team and that which represents New
York.
-Four believe that Boston viii be II
first place, and four have leaning
toward St. Louis, Only two are of opin
ion that the Athletics are strong enough
TO retain the championship that the
won by their skiIlfuI team work in 1902
Five who favor Cleveland TO win III,
pennant are sanguine that New Yorl
. viii finish in second place -Four thini
New York can do no better than stoI
at third when the umpire calls time a
: the end Of the season. One puts TIT
New York outfit down for fourth place
another says fifth and the lowest mari
] predicted IS by one alone, who can Sc
nothing ahead of the men in the GTifitl
7 camp but q hammock and shady nool
5 at the sixth hole.
Various reasons are assigned for tn
possible excellence Of play on the par
of the New Torks, but the general opin
ion seems 10 be that the good pitchin
. stan and the good outdelders viii b
material advantages to the new outfit,
Base Hopes On Batting.
-. CieveIand's strength is based upon tn
D, good batting Of the team. and the fac
that it has a pitching corps Of giants
= actual giants. so far as physical dimen
sions are concerned.
= Washington and Detroit are seiecte
- almost unanimously for the honor
O bringing up the rear guard An eve
twenty can see Tom Lotus Senator
shouldering the camp kettles and bas
p gage. trailing dejectedly after h
troops that have marched ahead.
Eight Of the wise men Of baseball dc
clare that Detroit viii win the boob
: prize. although rest assured not one
a the eight lives in Detroit.
= One bold and adventuresome chap say
=, Cleveland viii draw the blank. SUI
= posa he should be right. His reputaJto
as a prophet would be made for all tin
to come. Another puts St. Louis in la
place. and he Is alone IN his convit
Jiou.
In I'll there is a great deal of intel
=. estiug baseball information III thes
predictions. Added to that is a heap
. fun It is a source Of satisfaction eve
n 10 the baseball writer's, many of Who
0 have looked upon baseball games for q
2. most q quarter of a century. TO feel ;hs
= they have so correctly estimated tea
{ ability in a championship race as
T be able to name the place where &c
F., tain mines viii land at the end of q
baseball year
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